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. Teach five subjects, and plan on the 1,140 instructional hours a year the department applies to home schools. No testing.
Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · corrected September 23, 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
- 1,140 hoursNew Mexico's home-school statute, § 22-1-2.1, sets no minimum days or hours. The Public Education Department applies § 22-2-8.1(A) to home schools — 1,140 instructional hours a year (half-day kindergarten, 550) — and prints it on the registration form you sign and in its home-schooling FAQ. Current law sets no minimum number of days; the earlier day-and-hour framework was replaced effective July 1, 2023.
- 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
- 5–18A child is school-age in New Mexico only if they turn five before 12:01 a.m. on September 1 of that school year (§ 22-1-2(O)), so a later fifth birthday waits until the next year. Attendance runs to at least 18 unless the student has graduated, earned a high school equivalency credential, or withdrawn on a hardship waiver; between 16 and 18 a parent may give written, signed permission to leave school in a hardship approved by the local superintendent (§ 22-12A-4(A)).
- Ways to homeschool
- Independent (registration with NMPED)
- Law
- NMSA §§ 22-1-2(E), 22-1-2.1, 22-2-8.1(A), 22-12A-4
- 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. Annual re-notification is required; the Department revises its form from time to time, so use the current one from its home-schooling page.
What subjects does New Mexico require homeschoolers to teach?
New Mexico requires instruction in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies/History, and Science. The five subjects come from § 22-1-2(E), the statutory definition of a home school. No textbooks or methods are prescribed.
How many days or hours of instruction does New Mexico require?
New Mexico's rule: New Mexico's home-school statute, § 22-1-2.1, sets no minimum days or hours. The Public Education Department applies § 22-2-8.1(A) to home schools — 1,140 instructional hours a year (half-day kindergarten, 550) — and prints it on the registration form you sign and in its home-schooling FAQ. Current law sets no minimum number of days; the earlier day-and-hour framework was replaced effective July 1, 2023.
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. A child is school-age in New Mexico only if they turn five before 12:01 a.m. on September 1 of that school year (§ 22-1-2(O)), so a later fifth birthday waits until the next year. Attendance runs to at least 18 unless the student has graduated, earned a high school equivalency credential, or withdrawn on a hardship waiver; between 16 and 18 a parent may give written, signed permission to leave school in a hardship approved by the local superintendent (§ 22-12A-4(A)).
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. Teach five subjects, and plan on the 1,140 instructional hours a year the department applies to home schools. 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, checked against these sources on June 5, 2026 and corrected on September 23, 2026 after re-reading the official source for what changed. 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
States that share a border with New Mexico:
All 50 states & D.C. →