NH · Homeschool requirements
Low regulation

Homeschooling in New Hampshire: requirements, laws & how to start

New Hampshire asks for a notice when you begin, subject coverage, and an annual evaluation — but the evaluation results stay in your own records, not the state's.

Homeschooling is legal in New Hampshire and considerably simpler than it was a generation ago. You file a notice with a participating agency — typically your local school district — when you begin, and it stands until you stop homeschooling; there's no annual re-filing.

New Hampshire keeps two ongoing expectations: teach a required set of subjects, and complete an annual evaluation (a standardized test or a portfolio evaluation by a certified teacher). The results belong to you — you keep them in your records rather than submitting them for review.

What New Hampshire requires

Notice & registration

Notify a participating agency — your resident district, a private school, or the state education department — within the required window of starting your program. Check the current timeline when you begin. The notice stands until you end the program or move.

Required subjects

The program covers science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the United States and New Hampshire constitutions, and exposure to art and music appreciation.

Testing & assessment

Each year, choose either a nationally standardized test or a portfolio evaluation by a New Hampshire certified teacher (or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school). You keep the results; nothing is filed with the district.

Records & attendance

Maintain a portfolio of records and materials — a log of reading materials plus samples of writings and worksheets is the traditional format. It doubles as everything your evaluator needs.

How to start homeschooling in New Hampshire
  1. 1

    Send your notification to your school district (or another participating agency) and keep proof of delivery.

  2. 2

    Withdraw your child from their current school if enrolled.

  3. 3

    Start the portfolio on day one — one folder per child, work samples added monthly.

  4. 4

    Decide between test and portfolio evaluation now, and if choosing portfolio, line up a certified teacher early.

  5. 5

    Pick a curriculum that produces evaluation-ready evidence as a byproduct — Cullinan Academy logs every lesson and can print a progress record your evaluator will love.

The record-keeping part, handled.

Whatever New Hampshire asks for — attendance, subject coverage, progress evidence, transcripts — Cullinan Academy tracks it automatically as your kids learn: verified mastery records, time-on-task, printable transcripts with GPA, and state report templates. No spreadsheet required.

New Hampshire homeschool FAQs
Do I send my child's evaluation results to the district in New Hampshire?

No. Since the law was streamlined, you keep evaluation results in your own records. They are not filed or reviewed by the district.

Do I renew my New Hampshire notice every year?

No — the notification stands until you terminate the program, move to a new district, or your child ages out.

Who can do a portfolio evaluation?

A New Hampshire certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school. Many homeschool-friendly evaluators do this every summer and charge a modest fee.

What if my child tests below grade level?

The evaluation exists to inform you. Because results stay private, a weak year is a signal to adjust — not a compliance crisis.

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This page is general information, not legal advice. Homeschool law changes, and districts sometimes apply it differently. Verify current requirements with your state's department of education or a local homeschool association before filing anything. Content last reviewed 2026-07.

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