North Carolina Homeschool Laws

Thinking about homeschooling in North Carolina? You’re not alone – the state had over 94,000 homeschools in the 2022-23 school year alone!

Whether you’re looking to transition your child from traditional schooling or just starting kindergarten, figuring out all of the legalities and requirements can feel overwhelming. Luckily, the North Carolina homeschool laws are fairly straightforward.

It’s important to do your research, as homeschool laws vary by state. Once you’ve taken care of the legal aspects, you’ll be set to embark on your new homeschooling journey!

Homeschooling in North Carolina at a Glance

North Carolina – The Tar Heel State

Required Age	7-16
Standardized Testing	Required annually
Subjects	None required
Time Requirements	Nine months per year
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent
Special Requirements	Instructors must have a high school diploma or equivalent
Financial Resources Available	Yes

Parent Qualifications

As your child’s educator, you must have a high school diploma (or equivalent). If you do not meet these requirements, you may hire a private tutor to teach instead.

Notice of Intent

In North Carolina, homeschooling isn’t just doing school at home. Instead, the person teaching at home must register the homeschool as a non-public school with the state. This is the necessary first step to legally teach at home in North Carolina.

To do this, you’ll need to file a Notice of Intent with the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (NCDNPE) to establish your homeschool. This notice needs to be submitted only once, beginning after July 1.

To establish your homeschool, you’ll need to first give it a name. Homeschool names must abide by the following:

Must not exceed 30 characters in length
Cannot include the words “charter,” “college,” “elementary,” “grade,” “grammar,” “high,” “incorporated” (or “inc.”), “junior,” “kindergarten,” “lower,” “middle,” “primary,” “public,” “residence,” “schooling,” “secondary,” “seminary,” “senior,” “the,” “university,” or “upper”
Cannot include the name of the curriculum you are using (ex: Miacademy, Always Icecream, Clever Dragons, MiaPrep)
Cannot be changed once intent is filed
Will be assigned to you if your Notice of Intent does not include a name

Attendance

All children between the ages of 7-16 must attend school in the State of North Carolina. You are allowed to begin homeschooling before 7 and continue after 16.

Homeschools must operate on a regular schedule for 9 months of the year, and you must keep attendance records for each student. This schedule can also help you stay on top of deadlines and get all of your documentation submitted on time.

Homeschool Curriculum

There are no curriculum requirements for North Carolina homeschoolers. Parents are able to choose a homeschool curriculum that best suits their child’s needs. The North Carolina Department of Administration recommends teaching content that is at least similar to the quality, scope, and duration of local public schools.

The NCDNPE also suggests that you should check in with the administrator of the school (public or private) that your child would be attending if you weren’t homeschooling. This can help you bridge the content gap between homeschooling and conventional schooling if you enroll your child in their school in the future.

Testing

North Carolina requires all students to participate in annual standardized testing, regardless of their type of schooling.

The assessment must cover English grammar, reading, spelling, and math. Test scores must be kept on file at the homeschool for at least a year and provided to DNPE upon request.

Homeschoolers typically cannot take the state end-of-grade tests and must purchase their own. The most commonly used achievement tests in North Carolina are:

Cat/5®
TerraNova (CAT 6)
Woodcock Johnson
Iowa Test of Basic Skills
Stanford Achievement Test

You can find these tests available for purchase online or from third-party testing administrators.

Record Keeping

To homeschool in North Carolina, you’ll need to keep attendance and immunization records at minimum.

While it’s unlikely you’ll need to submit documentation of your child’s schooling to the NCDNPE, they can request to see your records at any time. Good records to have on hand:

Subjects studied
Report cards/grades
Yearly standardized test scores

You can choose to keep physical records or digital to save space.

Record keeping is one of many homeschooling areas that Miacademy and MiaPrep can simplify for you. From our parent portal, it only takes a few clicks to generate records and track your student’s progress.

Transcripts

Transcripts are not required by the state but are typically necessary for college applications. Transcripts should include a list of all courses, credit hours, and final grades from grades 9-12. You can find templates available online, such as the one from North Carolinians for Home Education.

Graduation Requirements

For parents of homeschooled teens, navigating graduation can be difficult. Luckily, in North Carolina, your child is eligible to graduate when you feel that they’re ready. In addition, when you create your own homeschool, you gain the ability to provide your child with a high school diploma.

Colleges in North Carolina typically accept diplomas and transcripts from homeschooled students without issue.

Your homeschooled student doesn’t need to miss out on the rite of passage that is graduation, either. A state-wide graduation ceremony is hosted annually by the North Carolinians for Home Education to help your student (and entire family) celebrate this milestone!

Financial Resources

If your student has a disability, you may be able to take advantage of North Carolina’s Education Savings Account (ESA+).

The ESA+ lets parents use money meant for public school to pay for other schooling options. The program is for students ages 5 and older with an IEP from a North Carolina public school. The funds can cover private school costs, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, speech therapy, and tech for education.

In addition, Miacademy is now an eligible educational purchase for ESA+ recipients! To learn more about how to use your ESA+ funding for our accredited homeschool curriculum, check out our blog post!

If your child does not have a disability, you may be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Students aged 4+ may qualify if they meet the financial requirements, have not graduated high school, and have not enrolled in a post-secondary school. For more information, visit the Opportunity Scholarship Program’s website.

Other Tips & Resources

Still have some questions about homeschooling in North Carolina? Check out these resources for more information:

Wondering how Miacademy and MiaPrep can become part of your homeschool journey in North Carolina? Reach out to our wonderful customer service team at any time!

Please keep in mind that the information provided is intended for research purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. To obtain accurate and comprehensive details on North Carolina homeschool laws, we recommend consulting the official resources and guidelines provided by your state. Additionally, staying informed about any changes to these laws is important, so be sure to look out for any updates.

FAQ

How do I start homeschooling in North Carolina?

To start homeschooling in North Carolina, you’ll need to:

File a notice of intent to homeschool with the NCDNPE
Submit proof that you have a high school diploma (or equivalent)
Select a name for your school
Choose a curriculum
Test your child annually

Do homeschoolers have to take standardized tests in NC?

Yes, homeschooled students must be tested each school year. Common standardized tests include:

Cat/5®
TerraNova (CAT 6)
Woodcock Johnson
Iowa Test of Basic Skills
Stanford Achievement Test

Information accurate as of: 05/03/2024. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.