North Carolina Homeschool Deadlines & Calendar

Initial filing deadline

At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)

Send to

Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)

N.C.G.S. 115C-552; N.C.G.S. 115C-560 (via 115C-564)

Frequency

annual

Must administer a nationally standardized test or equivalent measurement each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. No minimum score requirement. Acceptable tests include Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), California Achievement Test (CAT), Stanford Achievement Test, Woodcock-Johnson, Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT), and others. Results retained at the home school for at least one year; must be available for DNPE inspection upon request but are not routinely submitted.

See our full assessment guide for North Carolina for accepted test types and scoring details.

N.C.G.S. 115C-549; N.C.G.S. 115C-557 (via 115C-564)

These deadlines are for Home School (DNPE Filing). North Carolina offers 2 pathways, and each may have different deadlines:

• •
  Home School (DNPE Filing)(this page): 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 calculates the right deadlines for your pathway. Compare all pathways for North Carolina