How to start homeschooling in North Carolina
The legal steps, in order, checked against North Carolina law.
Short answer: In North Carolina a home school is a type of nonpublic school. Parents file a Notice of Intent with the Division of Non-Public Education, and the person teaching must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. The school must run on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months a year, keep attendance and immunization records, and give each student a nationally standardized test every year.
Checked against N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-563 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 7 to 16. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home school (nonpublic school)
Parents or guardians who will set the scope and sequence of instruction for the children of no more than two families or households.
Steps
- Confirm that each person providing instruction holds at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Choose a name for the home school and decide whether it will operate as a religious school or a non-religious school. The law has you elect one of the two nonpublic school parts of the statute.
- File a Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School with the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) through its online portal, with the school's name and address, the chief administrator's name, and proof of the teacher's diploma.
- Wait for DNPE to acknowledge the notice before withdrawing your child or starting school. DNPE asks for the notice at least five business days before you begin and does not accept notices in May or June.
- Run the school on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months of the year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Keep annual attendance and immunization records, and give each student a nationally standardized test each school year.
- Notify DNPE if your address or enrollment changes, and when the home school closes.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education, Department of Administration When: Before the home school begins operating. DNPE asks for at least five business days' notice and accepts notices July through April. The notice does not need to be renewed each year. Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | None required by law |
| Time | A regular schedule for at least nine calendar months of the year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations |
| Parent qualifications | Each person providing academic instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent |
| Testing or evaluation | A nationally standardized test or equivalent measurement, chosen by the school's chief administrator, given every school year. It must measure English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. Results are kept for at least one year and made available to the state for inspection. |
| Records to keep | Annual attendance records, disease immunization records, and standardized test results for each student |
The law: N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-563 N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-564 N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-548, 115C-549, 115C-552 (religious schools, Part 1) N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-556, 115C-557, 115C-560 (qualified nonpublic schools, Part 2) N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-378 (compulsory attendance)
Leaving public school mid-year
DNPE says not to withdraw your child from their current school or begin home schooling until DNPE has acknowledged your completed Notice of Intent. DNPE also says records from the previous school are not needed to begin, other than the student's immunization record.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
DNPE says the home school's chief administrator designs and keeps all transcripts and issues graduation verification, since a home school is a nonpublic school. DNPE does not keep student transcripts or diplomas. Its guidance lists what a transcript should include, such as subjects and grades by year, credits, annual test scores, and the month and year of graduation. The statute for nonpublic schools also calls for an 11th grade test of verbal and quantitative skills with a school-set minimum score for graduation.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in North Carolina?
Yes, under the home school (nonpublic school) route, you notify North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education, Department of Administration before the home school begins operating. DNPE asks for at least five business days' notice and accepts notices July through April. The notice does not need to be renewed each year..
Is testing required for homeschoolers in North Carolina?
A nationally standardized test or equivalent measurement, chosen by the school's chief administrator, given every school year. It must measure English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. Results are kept for at least one year and made available to the state for inspection.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in North Carolina?
None. North Carolina law does not set required subjects under the home school (nonpublic school) route.
What ages must be schooled in North Carolina?
Ages 7 to 16, per state law.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-563
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-378 (compulsory attendance)
- Home Schools, NC Department of Administration, Division of Non-Public Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.