8th Grader Failing consistently, is homeschool our answer?

Welcome to teens. I have had this same thing happen to each of my 4 kids and it does drive me crazy. They are bright, maybe even do the homework (or not) and fail to turn it in and thus get poor grades. It's all a matter of irresponsibility. Fortunately, my kids outgrew this stage when high school and graduation was actually an achievable goal.

I never had a good solution, though they did outgrow it. I did mandate summer school and did try tutoring. I even tried to be more rigorous in follow up (review backpack each evening, emailing teacher regularly, checking school's grading system for missing assignments (our school has that online via access code) and checking teacher's calendar (via weblink). I also did make a schedule for big projects to break it into little parts since that can be overwhelming. I got rid of binders and purchased accordiann files with slots for each subject so they could put work in that.

If she's not doing well, I'd also check with counseling. It could be that the social dynamics/pressures are mounting and she's not able to articulate it. I wouldn't pursue individual counseling unless you think it's serious & necessary. I'd look into group counseling of some sort that helps teens make better choices about friendships.

Homeschooling would prevent her from having failing grades - most states do not insist homeschoolers be graded. College admission can be harder as a homeschooler but it's certainly possible to gain entrance into college if homeschooled and it's also possible that further down the line, you could reenroll your daughter in public school.
If you punch in the name of your community or your county into google along with homeschooling, you'll find the names of homeschooling groups in your area- they might have the best advice for you as to how homeschooling works in your state as each state has different laws. In mine, it's possible to homeschool a child but to have them attend some classes in school such as art or music - maybe your state is the same.

It seems as though you know your 8th grader pretty well. Learning to take responsiblity for homework so that it is completed and well organized is essential as she moves from the 8th grade and beyond.
Trouble is, you don't learn these qualities in school, you're only given assignments. I would recommend a tutor, and a good one! Explain to the tutor that she she smart but needs to learn how to organize her study time and complete her homework. If this is a case of her not understanding the assignments, a tutor can help with that as well. Be very selective when it comes to a tutor, as anyone can call themselves a tutor. Might as them their plan of action.
The early teen years are important for social growth, I agree, but there's a reason she is in school and it's not for the reason to socialize. Good luck

I think before your make a decision you need to get to the underlying cause of the behavior. Has your daughter always had difficulty in staying organized, completing assignments in a timely fashion, and remembering to turn them in? If so, you might consider having your daughter tested by the school for a learning disability. If you request an assessment the school must provide testing and evaluation at no cost to you. Many students struggling with these issues have a learning disability. They are extremely smart - extremely sociable - but highly disorganized. Additionally, symptoms, often do not really manifest as a problem until middle school when students have more work and transitions to balance while navigating, in a larger, less structured and supervised environment. Although your daughter may have the ability to do the work - something is preventing her from doing it.
Another possibility is that your daughter is experiencing the freedoms and privileges associated with the passage into adolescence.. This is a confusing time for kids. Often they act in irresponsible and uncharacteristic ways as they experience all the feelings associated with the change in the bodies, hormones, and interests. This is not uncommon, but should not discounted. Although she is growing up - she is not grown-up. She needs to understand responsibility, accountability, and consequences appropriate to this age group.
The other piece of advice I have to offer, is to take her in to the pediatrician for a routine check-up. It is always important to share and changes behaviorally and physically with your child's doctor. Sudden behavior changes - especially at this age - can be related to drug or alcohol use. A doctor can do a simple blood and urine test. It is hard to contemplate this possibility - but it is out there -and parents need not be afraid to rule in or rule out the possibility.
I hope some of this information is helpful.
I wish you and your daughter the best of luck.
Please stay in touch.