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Homeschooling in New Mexico

Homeschool rules in New Mexico, in plain English

You must notify the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) within 30 days of starting a home school, then renew by August 1 every year. The person teaching must be the parent or legal guardian and hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Teach reading, language arts, math, social studies and science, and keep your child's immunization records or a waiver on file.

See another state

This explains each state's homeschool rules in plain English, from the state's own published sources. It isn't legal advice, and we aren't lawyers. Laws change and every family is different, so check with your state, your school district or a lawyer before you rely on it.

How much it asks
Some paperwork
School age
5 through 18
Time
180 days a year

Home school under New Mexico's home school law

Parents who teach their own children at home as a home school operator. The parent or guardian is the operator and files the notice with the state.

  1. Before you startWho teaches

    Check the teacher requirement

    The parent or legal guardian operates the home school. Anyone who gives instruction must have at least a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential, such as a GED. A parent may hire someone to teach one subject, but the parent stays responsible for the notice, the records and the teacher's credential.

  2. Within 30 days of startingPaperwork

    Notify NMPED of your home school

    File the Notification of a Home School form with NMPED. You can use the online NMPED Home School System or mail the paper form to New Mexico Public Education Department, Attention: Home School Notification, 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501, by certified return receipt. Online, add each child and click the Notify button for each one. Save or print the Home School Parent Notification Report, which lists a registration number for each child.

  3. OngoingRecords

    Keep immunization records or a waiver

    Keep a record of each child's disease immunizations. If your child has an exemption, keep the approved waiver, NM Health Form 454, instead. Keep these records at home with your other home school papers.

  4. OngoingWhat to teach

    Teach the five required subjects

    Provide instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. The state does not choose your curriculum or approve it.

  5. OngoingTime

    Plan the school year length

    The law ties home school time to the length of the local public school year, which the state describes as based on a 180-day year. Keep a log of teaching days so you can show it if asked.

  6. Every year by August 1Paperwork

    Renew your notice every year

    Notify NMPED again for each school year you keep homeschooling. The notice period opens June 1. Use the online system or mail the form, and save the new registration report for each child.

Subjects to teach

  • Reading
  • Language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Social studies
  • Science

Tests and reviews

New Mexico's legal requirements for home schools do not include standardized testing, portfolio reviews, evaluations, or curriculum approval. If NMPED finds a home school is not in compliance, it may order the student to attend a public or private school.

Records to keep

  • Proof of your NMPED notification for each child each year, including the registration number
  • Each child's immunization records, or the approved waiver (NM Health Form 454)
  • Recommended but not required: notifications, instructional hours, educational materials, and portfolios of student work

About time

The state's home school law ties the required time to the local public school year, which NMPED describes as based on 180 days. NMPED has also cited a 1,140-hour yearly minimum; whether that applies to home schools is not confirmed, so no hour figure is set here.

Also good to know

  • Compulsory attendance runs until age 18 unless the student graduates or earns a GED. A student may leave earlier for a documented hardship, but only with written, signed parent permission approved by the local superintendent.
  • Online public schools in New Mexico are not home schools. A student enrolled in one is a public school student.
  • Home school students may take part in district programs. NMPED says the student would enroll with a STARS ID and would likely be a part-time student, funded in proportion to enrollment.
  • A home school student may apply for the New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship, but the student must have been registered with NMPED while completing the requirements.
  • If you keep homeschooling after the child reaches 18 or graduates, NMPED notice is not required by law, but NMPED's own FAQ does not address this case.

What we couldn’t confirm

  • Whether the 1,140-hour yearly minimum applies to home schools or only to public and private schools
  • How long families must keep records, and for how long each type of record must be kept
  • Whether local districts must provide special education or related services to home school students
  • Whether a parent-issued diploma is accepted for admission or employment
  • Exact details of part-time enrollment rules set by each district
  • Whether NMPED requires a separate withdrawal letter to a school when a child leaves

From New Mexico’s own sources

Last checked against these sources on November 7, 2026. We check every state each week.

How Study Naturally helps in New Mexico

Choose New Mexico in your dashboard and these steps sit on your home page, next to each child's work and progress.

  • Set each child’s lessons, in the subjects you teach
  • A patient tutor teaches every child at their own level
  • A learning record counts days and time against what the state asks
  • Print it, save it as a PDF, or download a spreadsheet for your files

Homeschooling in New Mexico

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