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Homeschooling in New Mexico
A year-round New Mexico homeschool marketplace — curriculum, tutoring, therapy, STEM, arts and enrichment providers, plus a plain-English guide to New Mexico's home school law, the PED notification, diplomas and the HSE, where New Mexico stands on school choice, district classes and NMAA activities, dual credit, the Lottery Scholarship and driver's licenses for home-schooled teens.
New Mexico homeschooling by topic
- New Mexico Homeschool Laws & Requirements
- How to Start Homeschooling in New Mexico
- New Mexico School Choice, ESAs & Scholarships
- Homeschool Sports & Activities in New Mexico
- Dual Enrollment & College for New Mexico Homeschoolers
- Special Needs & Special Education Homeschooling in New Mexico
New Mexico Homeschool Options at a glance
- Overseen by: The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) receives home school notifications and, by law, enforces the requirements for home schools; on finding a home school out of compliance, it may order the student to attend a public or private school (NMSA § 22-2-2(H)). The school district does not approve or supervise a home school.
- Start and renew: the notification: Notify PED within 30 days of establishing the home school, then on or before August 1 of each later year (§ 22-1-2.1(A)) — online through PED's Home School System (the online period opens June 1) or on PED's paper form. Print or save the Parent Notification Report as your proof; it carries a 5-digit notification number for each child for each school year.
- Instruction required: A home study program providing a basic academic program including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science, given by a person with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. The operator must be the parent or legal guardian. PED answers the hours question with the public school minimum in § 22-2-8.1 (1,140 instructional hours a year; 550 for half-day kindergarten).
- Testing and records: No annual standardized testing is required. Keep immunization records or a waiver (§ 22-1-2.1(B)). Other records — notifications, hours, materials, portfolios — aren't legally required, but PED encourages them for students who later transfer or go to college.
- Diplomas: A parent-made diploma, or one from a correspondence course, private online school or purchased program, is not recognized by the state. State-recognized routes are a high school equivalency credential (GED, HiSET or NEDP; from age 16 with a parent's permission) or finishing at a public or non-public school. New Mexico's public colleges and universities may not require an equivalency credential from a home school graduate with qualifying test scores (§§ 21-1-1, 21-1-1.1).
- Homeschool funding: None. New Mexico has no ESA, voucher or state tax-credit scholarship. College aid is the exception: home school graduates can qualify for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship (§ 21-21N-2) if they were registered with PED.
- School choice status: As of November 2026: public charter schools, two statewide online public charter schools and open enrollment among public schools; no private school choice program. ESA and tax-credit scholarship bills in 2025 (SB 286, HB 324, HB 387, HB 388) and 2026 (HB 193, HB 240) died. The Governor announced the federal scholarship tax credit opt-in on November 4, 2026; New Mexico was not on the IRS list as of its October 22, 2026 update.
Coming up in New Mexico
- Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · Nature at Night: Planets
Los Alamos · Los Alamos Nature Center (PEEC), 2600 Canyon Road · Free
After-hours evening at the Los Alamos Nature Center (4–6 p.m.) with a free planetarium show and themed activities about the planets. - Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · New Mexico Boating Safety Course (Logan)
Logan · Logan Public Schools · Free
Free 8-hour boating safety class (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) taught by New Mexico State Parks; many New Mexico boaters are required by law to complete a boating safety course. - Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · Birding Walk at Villanueva State Park
Villanueva · Villanueva State Park Visitor Center · Regular state park entrance fee
Ranger-led birding walk, 9–10:30 a.m., to learn how to identify birds along the Pecos River; binoculars available to borrow. - Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · Harvest Season: Beaded Corn Activity
Albuquerque · Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW
All-day hands-on activity (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) making a beaded corn decoration while learning about corn in Pueblo culture and harvest traditions. - Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · Native American Student Art Show Opening Reception
Albuquerque · Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW
Opening (2–4 p.m.) of the 46th annual Native American Student Art Show, "Shaping Tomorrow," with artwork by Native American K–12 students in New Mexico; the show runs through March 5, 2027. - Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · San Juan College Dual Credit Information Session (Spring 2027)
Farmington · San Juan College, Information Technology Center Room 7128 (and Zoom) · Free
Noon info session with enrollment help for high school students taking their first San Juan College dual credit class in spring 2027. - Mon, Nov 23, 2026 · Central NM STEM Research Challenge: Prior-Approval Review Deadline
Albuquerque · UNM STEM-H Center (paperwork submission)
Deadline to submit paperwork and the review request form for any Research Challenge project protocol that needs prior approval from the Central NM SRC-IRB regional review committee (for example, projects with human or vertebrate subjects). - Mon, Nov 23, 2026 · Dig This! Archaeology Camp (Nuclear Museum)
Albuquerque · National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, 601 Eubank Blvd SE · $85 per single-day session (extended care 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. included)
Campers collect and analyze artifacts, map an archaeological site and piece together evidence to solve a mystery. Science is Everywhere day camp for grades K–6, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. - Mon, Nov 23, 2026 – Wed, Nov 25, 2026 · Santa Fe Children's Museum Winter Workshop: Thanksgiving Break
Santa Fe · Santa Fe Children's Museum, 1050 Old Pecos Trail ·