Are expenses to attend private high schools eligible for the education credits?

No. Expenses paid to attend high school do not qualify for the education credits because a high school is not an eligible educational institution. An eligible educational institution is any college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education. It includes virtually all accredited, public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately owned profit making) post-secondary institutions.

Can the Lifetime Learning Credit be used for a high school student taking classes at an approved college prior to graduation from high school?

College courses taken while attending high school may qualify for the Hope Scholarship Credit or for the Lifetime Learning Credit if the student meets the qualifications for claiming either of the credits.