North Carolina Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in North Carolina, based on N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. North Carolina is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home School (DNPE Filing), the most common of North Carolina's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). Deadline: At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting).
Deadline: At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)
More details
Include: address where instruction takes place
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to current public school.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED. Alternatives: GED.
Deadline: Before you start
Ongoing
Show your child's progress
Standardized test — annually.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
Good news
No specific subjects required
North Carolina does not mandate specific subjects under this pathway.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
Education savings: Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible)
Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible): ~$2,000-$3,000/student (income-based cap) — NC residents, K-12, income-tiered. Homeschoolers became eligible starting 2024-25 school year.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)
- Deadline
- At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)
- How often
- one time
- Official form
- Download / access form
Your notice must include:
- •address where instruction takes place
N.C.G.S. 115C-552; N.C.G.S. 115C-560 (via 115C-564)
Ongoing requirements
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Home School (DNPE Filing): null; Private Church School / School of Religious Charter: [3,6,9]
- Accepted types
- Standardized test
- Frequency
- annually
See our full assessment guide for North Carolina for details.
N.C.G.S. 115C-549; N.C.G.S. 115C-557 (via 115C-564)
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Home School (DNPE Filing): "1 year (test results); attendance and immunization records maintained at home school"; Private Church School / School of Religious Charter: null
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
N.C.G.S. 115C-548; N.C.G.S. 115C-556 (via 115C-564)
Instructor qualifications
Varies by pathway. Home School (DNPE Filing): ["GED"]; Private Church School / School of Religious Charter: []
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
Alternatives: GED
What you don't need to worry about
No specific subjects required
North Carolina does not mandate specific subjects under this pathway.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
Education savings: Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible)
Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible): ~$2,000-$3,000/student (income-based cap) — NC residents, K-12, income-tiered. Homeschoolers became eligible starting 2024-25 school year.
Other ways to homeschool in North Carolina
This checklist covers Home School (DNPE Filing), the most common pathway. North Carolina offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home School (DNPE Filing)(this checklist) : You file a one-time notice with the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) online before you start, teach on a regular schedule for at least 9 calendar months, and administer a nationally standardized test each year. No mandated subjects. The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED. No minimum test score required — results are kept at home, not submitted.
- •Private Church School / School of Religious Charter : You enroll in a private church school or school of religious charter that files with DNPE on your behalf. No high school diploma requirement for the instructor and no required subject list from the state. Standardized testing is required at grades 3, 6, and 9 (not annually). Best for families affiliated with a church or who want reduced requirements compared to the direct home school pathway.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for North Carolina
Education savings available
North Carolina offers Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible). Learn about ESA programs
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your North Carolina checklistRequirements sourced from N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026