New Mexico homeschool requirements
To homeschool in New Mexico, register with the NM Public Education Department within 30 days of starting, then annually by August 1. Provide 180 days and teach five subjects. No testing.
Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below
New Mexico homeschool requirements at a glance
- Notice
- RequiredWhere it goes: New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED). When: Within 30 days of establishing; annually by August 1.
- Required subjects
- Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies/History, Science
- Instruction time
- 180 days180 instructional days/year (or the length of the local public-school year).
- Testing or evaluation
- NoNew Mexico does not require standardized testing, portfolio review, or any academic evaluation. The prior testing requirement was removed years ago.
- Records
- Yes — immunizations
- Parent qualifications
- Required
- Compulsory attendance ages
- 5–18
- Ways to homeschool
- Independent (registration with NMPED)
- Law
- NMSA § 22-1-2.1
- Official source
- web.ped.nm.gov ↗
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED). How: Home-school registration/notification form (online or mail). When: Within 30 days of establishing; annually by August 1. Form revised 2024; annual re-notification required.
What subjects does New Mexico require homeschoolers to teach?
New Mexico requires instruction in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies/History, and Science. Five subjects per NMSA § 22-1-2.1; no prescribed textbooks or methods.
How many days or hours of instruction does New Mexico require?
New Mexico's rule: 180 instructional days/year (or the length of the local public-school year).
Is standardized testing required to homeschool in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. New Mexico does not require standardized testing, portfolio review, or any academic evaluation. The prior testing requirement was removed years ago.
What records do I need to keep to homeschool in New Mexico?
New Mexico requires these records: immunization records or signed waiver. How long, or where they go: Duration of enrollment. No portfolio or progress reports required beyond immunization documentation.
Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico sets a qualification for the parent who teaches. The person providing instruction must hold a high-school diploma or equivalent (GED). No teaching license or degree required.
What ages does New Mexico's compulsory attendance law cover?
New Mexico's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 5 to age 18.
What are the ways to homeschool in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, families homeschool under this pathway: independent (registration with NMPED).
Is homeschooling legal in New Mexico?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in New Mexico, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in New Mexico, register with the NM Public Education Department within 30 days of starting, then annually by August 1. Provide 180 days and teach five subjects. No testing.
How to get started in New Mexico
Sources for New Mexico
Every requirement above comes from our review of New Mexico’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.
Nearby states
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