Homeschooling in North Carolina: what the state requires
A home school is a nonpublic school of the children of not more than two families or households, where the parents determine and provide instruction. The parent elects to operate under Part 1 (religious) or Part 2 (non-religious) of Article 39; requirements are the same for home schools.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official North Carolina sources. State page: NC Department of Administration — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE), Home Schools. Compulsory school age: 7 to 16.
Home school (nonpublic school under Part 1 religious or Part 2 qualified nonpublic school)
A home school is a nonpublic school of the children of not more than two families or households, where the parents determine and provide instruction. The parent elects to operate under Part 1 (religious) or Part 2 (non-religious) of Article 39; requirements are the same for home schools.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. At least five business days before beginning the home school — Notice of intent to operate (school name and address, owner and chief administrator) filed with the Division of Non-Public Education; DNPE says file at least five business days before beginning, after July 1, and do not withdraw from current school until DNPE acknowledges receipt. Notify DNPE (or close in the portal) when the home school stops operating. One-time filing: not renewed annually, even when adding a child. Registration required when a child is age 7. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — No required subjects; parents determine the scope and sequence of instruction. Annual testing must cover English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics. |
| Days | Operate on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. |
| Hours | No hour requirement. |
| Testing or evaluation | Required every year. Each student takes a nationally standardized achievement test every academic year (first within the academic year the home school starts) measuring English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics. No minimum score; results kept at the home school at least one year and made available to DNPE on request. |
| Records | Required. Annual attendance records and disease immunization records for each student; standardized test results kept at least one year; available at reasonable times for annual inspection by a state representative. |
| Teacher | Persons providing academic instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. |
| Other | Immunization law applies; safety and sanitation inspections waived for schools in a private residence. Home schools complying with the Part are not subject to other education laws except immunization requirements. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade; testing applies every year.
High school and graduation
DNPE does not maintain homeschool transcripts, records or diplomas; the home school administrator issues the diploma and keeps records. Statutes for Part 1/Part 2 schools also require an 11th-grade nationally standardized competency test in verbal and quantitative areas with a school-set minimum score for graduation (G.S. 115C-550/558).
Official sources:
- G.S. 115C-563 Definitions
- G.S. 115C-564 Qualifications and requirements
- G.S. 115C-565 Requirements exclusive
- G.S. 115C-548 Attendance; health and safety regulations
- G.S. 115C-549 Standardized testing requirements
- G.S. 115C-550 High school competency testing
- G.S. 115C-552 New schools; notice of intent
- DNPE — How to Start a Home School in North Carolina
- DNPE — Standardized Testing Required for Home Schools
- DNPE — Opening, Closing, Reopening NC Home Schools FAQ
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Whether the 11th-grade competency test (G.S. 115C-550/558) applies to home schools is not addressed on DNPE's home school testing page; recorded from the statute text only. Part 2 sections (G.S. 115C-556 to 560) were not separately fetched; G.S. 115C-564 states the same Part 1/Part 2 requirements apply.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 4.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Health/Physical Education 1 | 1.0 |
| Technology Computer Science 1 | 1.0 |
| Electives Electives (CTE/Arts/World Language) 2; General Electives 3 | 5.0 |
| Total | 22.0 |
|---|
Students entering grade 9 in 2026-27 and beyond. Math: NC Math 1, 2, 3 and a fourth course; Science: a physical science, Biology, an earth/environmental science; Social Studies: Founding Principles/Civic Literacy, Economics and Personal Finance, American History, World History. CPR instruction required; at least one arts course in grades 6-12 for students entering grade 9 in 2025-26 and later. Students who entered grade 9 in 2021-22 through 2025-26 have no computer science credit and take 6 elective credits (2 CTE/Arts/World Language + 4 general); total is still 22.
Source: NC DPI — High School Graduation Requirements
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
Home schools register as Part 1 or Part 2 nonpublic schools with DNPE (NC Department of Administration).
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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