West Virginia Homeschool High School Guide

Parent-issued diploma recognized. Learning pods and microschools may also issue diplomas (W.Va. Code 18-8-12, amended by HB4945, 2024). No state homeschool diploma.

Parent-created. No state template.

West Virginia colleges accept homeschool applicants.

Program

Part-time public school class attendance

Eligibility

County board approval required

How to enroll

Contact local county board of education

Cost

Free (public school courses)

W.Va. Code §18-8-1(c)

W.Va. Code 18-2-25(d)

What's covered

Sports and Other activities

Eligibility

4th stanine or above on standardized test; under age 19 by August 1; reside in attendance zone; comply with WVSSAC rules

W.Va. Code §18-2-25(d)

West Virginia offers 3 different ways to homeschool. High school options like dual enrollment and sports access may vary by pathway.

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  Option 1: School Board Approval Pathway : You submit a detailed educational plan to the county superintendent on or before the date home instruction begins, and the county board reviews it for adequacy. Annual assessment by a certified teacher, standardized test, or portfolio review is required, and the board determines whether your child is making acceptable progress. More oversight than Option 2, but offers portfolio review as an alternative to standardized testing.
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  Option 2: Less Regulated Pathway (Annual Standardized Testing) : You file a one-time notice of intent with the county superintendent — no educational plan to submit and no board approval needed. Your child takes an annual standardized test and must score at or above the 4th stanine (or show improvement from the prior year). Test results are submitted at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent. Most West Virginia homeschool families choose this less-regulated pathway.
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  Option 3: Learning Pod or Microschool : You organize or join a learning pod (parent-organized group) or enroll your child in a microschool (teacher- or entity-operated, charges tuition). File a one-time notice with the county superintendent. Same instructor and assessment requirements as Option 2, but no 180-day instructional minimum. Multiple families can group their children together, and outside instructors can teach. Established by SB268 (2022).

Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for West Virginia