Homeschooling in North Carolina? Here’s your plan.
some requirementsThousands of North Carolina families homeschool successfully. The process has more steps than some states, but every one is manageable, and we'll walk you through it.
North Carolina's homeschool system is administered through the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). Under N.C.G.S. 115C-547 et seq., you file a notice with DNPE, teach on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months, give an annual standardized test, and keep attendance, immunization, and test records at home.
North Carolina also has a Personal Education Student Accounts for Children with Disabilities program for students with disabilities. Check the program's current amounts and eligibility with the state's scholarship authority before you apply.
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North Carolina homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. Last reviewed October 2026. Current through the North Carolina legislative session that ended October 8, 2026. State education department page checked for changes October 27, 2026.
- Regulation level
- Moderate
- Compulsory ages
- 7–16
- Notification required
- Yes — simple notice to Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least five business days before you plan to begin your home school; do not withdraw your child or begin until DNPE acknowledges receipt of your Notice of Intent
- Assessment required
- Yes — Standardized test, annually
- Required subjects
- None mandated
- Primary statute
- N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565
Conditions and exceptions
Home School (DNPE Filing)
- G.S. 115C-552(a) sets no filing deadline; the five-business-day lead time is DNPE guidance.
- If your child is enrolled in a school, DNPE says to complete and sign that school's withdrawal paperwork there (Opening, Closing, Reopening Home School FAQs). DNPE also says not to withdraw your child until it has acknowledged receipt of your Notice of Intent (Requirements and Recommendations page).
- No subjects are prescribed for instruction. Separately, the annual nationally standardized test must measure achievement in English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics (see assessment requirements).
- No state minimum score. A home school operating under Part 1 sets its own minimum grade-11 score for graduation under G.S. 115C-550.
- The notice also gives the school's name and the name of the school's owner and chief administrator; DNPE asks the parent to list his or her own name in those roles.
- You file a Notice of Intent once, when your home school starts (G.S. 115C-552(a), 115C-560(a)).
- Updating your information in the DNPE portal each year is recommended, not required by state law.
- Tell DNPE when your home school closes (G.S. 115C-552(b), 115C-560(b)).
- Keep each year's standardized test results at your home school for at least one year and show them to DNPE if it asks (G.S. 115C-549(b), 115C-564).
Private Church School / School of Religious Charter
- DNPE asks private schools to update their information each year, and schools taking state scholarship funds must file the DNPE annual report by April 30; the statute itself requires only the new-school notice and a termination notice.
- Grade 11 is the high school competency test under G.S. 115C-550, measuring verbal and quantitative competencies.
- No state-set minimum score. The school must set its own minimum grade-11 test score for high school graduation.
The essentials under the Home School (DNPE Filing)
- 1Notification requirements vary by pathway
- 2Assessment requirements vary by pathway
- 3Reporting requirements vary by pathway
North Carolina offers 2 options. See all below.
What to know about homeschooling in North Carolina
North Carolina requires a Notice of Intent filed with DNPE before you begin operating. This is a one-time filing, and you do not need to renew annually. DNPE asks families to submit the notice at least five business days before they plan to begin, and not to withdraw a child from school or start the home school until DNPE acknowledges receipt. The statute itself (N.C.G.S. 115C-552) sets no filing deadline; the five-business-day lead time is DNPE guidance.
The annual standardized test has no state minimum score. You administer a nationally standardized test, keep the results on file for at least one year, and make them available if DNPE asks. You do not submit the results.
The parent providing instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent (N.C.G.S. 115C-564), and DNPE asks for documentation of it with the Notice of Intent. This applies to the Home School pathway. The Private Church School pathway has no instructor credential requirement, though it operates under a different framework.
Teaching for nine calendar months means you choose the exact schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations. The law sets no minimum daily or weekly hours. Parents determine the scope and sequence of instruction (N.C.G.S. 115C-563(a)). State law does not require a list of subjects. The annual test must measure English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics, so plan to cover those areas.
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Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 68 / 68
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 66
- Confirmed not required by law
- 2
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
28
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check North Carolina's official sources for changes twice a week.
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How homeschooling works in North Carolina
North Carolina offers 2 options to homeschool. The most common is highlighted.
North Carolina offers two main pathways. The Home School pathway (filed directly with DNPE) is covered in detail on this page. The Private Church School pathway operates through church schools or schools of religious charter, often called umbrella schools. It has no instructor credential requirement, but it requires nationally standardized testing at grades 3, 6, and 9, plus a high school competency test in grade 11 (N.C.G.S. 115C-549 and 115C-550). Each umbrella school sets its own additional rules, so ask about them before you enroll.
| Home School (DNPE Filing)Most common | Private Church School / | |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | One-time (At least five business days before you plan to begin your home school; do not withdraw your child or begin until DNPE acknowledges receipt of your Notice of Intent) | One-time |
| Testing | Test, annually | Test (grades 3, 6, 9, 11) |
| Credential | HS diploma/GED | None |
Home School (DNPE Filing)
N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
Instructional time
See instructional-time requirements in the cited source
N.C.G.S. 115C-548; N.C.G.S. 115C-556 (via 115C-564) ·
Sourced from N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. Last reviewed October 2026 · 30 individual claims tracked
Private Church School / School of Religious Charter
N.C.G.S. 115C-547 et seq.
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
Testing / assessment
Standardized test — at specific grade levels
N.C.G.S. 115C-549; N.C.G.S. 115C-550 ·
Sourced from N.C.G.S. 115C-547 et seq.. Last reviewed October 2026 · 27 individual claims tracked
Forms and filings
Home School Notice of Intent
Issued by: Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)
When due: At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)
View form →Private Church School / School of Religious Charter Notice of Intent
Issued by: Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)
North Carolina-specific tips
Practical guidanceDNPE filing. You submit the Notice of Intent through the DNPE website. There is no fee. DNPE does not accept Notices of Intent in May or June. Keep a copy of the acknowledgment DNPE sends you.
Co-ops. Under N.C.G.S. 115C-563(a), a home school consists of the children of not more than two families or households. If your co-op involves shared academic teaching (not just activities), confirm with DNPE how it fits your filing.
Dual enrollment. The Career and College Promise (CCP) program offers college courses for homeschool students age 16 and older, with tuition and fees covered. Students need to show college readiness. Contact your local community college to ask about homeschool enrollment.
Sports. North Carolina does not have a Tim Tebow law. Homeschool students do not have a statutory right to participate in public school athletics. Some districts may allow it on a case-by-case basis.
Special needs funding. The Personal Education Student Accounts for Children with Disabilities program helps families of students with disabilities pay for approved education expenses. Check current eligibility and amounts with the state's scholarship authority.
High school. Your home school issues the diploma in its own name. There is no state-issued homeschool diploma. Create a detailed transcript for college applications.
Education savings / school choice programs
Opportunity Scholarship
Up to 100%, 90%, 60% or 45% of the prior year's average State per pupil allocation, depending on household income, and no more than the nonpublic school's required tuition and fees (N.C.G.S. 115C-562.2(b2), (b4)).: A North Carolina resident who has not received a high school diploma, is eligible to attend a North Carolina public school, is not a full-time postsecondary student, and was not placed in a nonpublic school by a public agency at public expense (N.C.G.S. 115C-562.1(3a)). Grants pay tuition and fees at a participating nonpublic school. Not available for a home school: the State Education Assistance Authority, which runs the program, states that a student enrolled in a home school cannot use Opportunity Scholarship funds.
Explore North Carolina homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in North Carolina
Compliance Checklist
Every requirement in one checklist
Documents & Templates
Forms, letters, and what to file
Deadlines & Calendar
Filing dates and assessment deadlines
Assessment Requirements
Testing rules and what scores mean
High School
Transcripts, diplomas, and college prep
Special Needs
IEP services, therapy access, and rights
Compare with Another State
Side-by-side law comparison for relocating families
Your independent resources
Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
State Law
N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565Last reviewed October 2026 · How we verify