Homeschool Guide
Homeschooling is a growing school option in the Triad — and there are many established groups and resources that help both new and veteran homeschool families navigate the journey. Whether you’re just starting to consider homeschooling or you’ve been doing it for years and are looking for new co-ops, curriculum options, or homeschool day opportunities, this guide is your comprehensive resource.
If you know of a group or resource we should add, please email us and we’ll include it. This is a living resource — we update it regularly.
Define Your Homeschooling Vision and Goals
Start by taking time to analyze why your family decided to homeschool. Write those reasons down and rank them in order of importance. You’re creating a vision that will guide the decisions that follow.
If you decided to homeschool because the traditional school situation doesn’t work for your child but you still want them learning the same things as their peers, your vision might lead toward virtual schools. Popular options in North Carolina include:
- North Carolina Virtual Academy
- North Carolina Connections Academy
- North Carolina Virtual Public School
- NC School of Science and Mathematics Online
- Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy — an online private school serving K–12 families across NC and SC, powered by K12, with flexible personalized learning plans, peer clubs, field trips, and early college credit options
Private schools are also increasingly offering hybrid options. Locally, Cathedral Oaks in Clemmons and The Covenant School in Greensboro offer a classical, University-Model hybrid. Liberty University Online offers a virtual hybrid option.
Talk to Experienced Homeschool Families
Send that Facebook friend a private message. Ask that family at church. Knock on the neighbor’s door. There are many ways to homeschool and countless curricula to choose from — but don’t start with something that doesn’t sound interesting to you. Think about your goals and values. Consider how your child learns best. And know that if you start a curriculum and hate it, you do not have to continue.
Attend a Homeschooling Conference
Conferences feature speakers and a wide variety of curriculum vendors — a great chance to see materials in person. Go in with a focus based on your conversations with other families to avoid overwhelm. The greatest thing about a homeschool conference is the sense of community.
Shadow a Homeschooling Family
Every family does things differently: some are very structured; others have a schedule that ebbs and flows. Some start at 7am; others let kids sleep as long as they wish. The more families you can shadow, the more realistic your expectations will be.
Don’t Overdo It
The more research you do, the more amazing opportunities you’ll find. If you’re not careful, you’ll wind up with three extracurricular activities per kid per day and no actual time to teach. Give yourself a few months to see how much spare time you have before registering for anything.
Give Yourself Freedom to Change Your Mind
You aren’t marrying any decision you make. If your co-op isn’t working after a year, try a new one. If a curriculum isn’t clicking, change it. One of the tremendous benefits of homeschooling is that you can constantly make adjustments based on your child’s needs.
Homeschool Resources in the Triad: Conferences
Thrive! Conference — End of May in Winston-Salem. Religious and secular options. Most convenient for Triad families.
Teach Them Diligently — Early May, typically in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Great Homeschool Conventions — Very popular; closest location is Greenville, SC, usually mid-March.
For The Love of Homeschool — A wonderful virtual conference with 35+ sessions if you prefer learning from home.
Why Consider a Co-Op?
You don’t have to join one — NC is relatively lenient in requirements — but a co-op can be a great source of support and encouragement. Co-ops range widely in purpose and price. Those aligned to a specific curriculum (Classical Conversations, Charlotte Mason) have less risk but often higher price points. Independent co-ops tend to be more affordable but require more trust in the parents running them.
Triad Co-Ops
Winston-Salem / Forsyth:
Forsyth Home Educators | Winston-Salem Homeschoolers | Classical Conversations | Mt. Pleasant Church | Arrows & Sparrows | Trinity Home Educators | Hiking Homeschoolers | Hillcrest Homeschool Enrichment | Stokes Home Educators
Greensboro / Guilford:
Piedmont Homeschoolers | Catholic Co-Op – Greensboro | EACH | Firm Foundations of Greensboro | EMMA | Wild + Free Groups
High Point / Triad-Wide:
High Point Home Educators | Triad Homeschool Activity Group | Triad Family Homeschoolers | Friendly Educators | Wayfinders | Central STEM | Lighthouse Christian Homeschool Association | Charlotte Mason | Tinkergarten
Online / Specialty:
The Mindful Mentor (math classes) | The Secular Homeschool | Homeschool Connections | Homeschool Legal Defense
Nature-Based:
Piedmont Forest School (Winston-Salem) — Nature Explorers club, Forest Kindergarten, nature tutoring | Hiking Homeschoolers
Homeschool Resources in the Triad: Curriculum stores
Guillion’s Christian and Homeschool Supply — King and Statesville
The Homeschool Room — Matthews and Huntersville
The Gathering Place — Raleigh
McKay’s Used Books — Winston-Salem and Mebane. Great for used curriculum at significant savings.
Discounts for Homeschool Families
Local venues: Kaleideum | Greensboro Science Center | NC Zoo | NC Aquariums
Retail and curriculum: Barnes & Noble educator discount | Homeschool Buyers Co-op | Carson Dellosa Publishing | Scholastic Book Fairs | Kaplan Early Learning | OfficeMax / Office Depot / Staples teacher discount programs
Homeschool Resources in the Triad: Home Educators Organizations
Forsyth Home Educator
Greensboro Home Educators
High Point Home Educators
Homeschool Legal Defense
Consider Joining a Home Educators Organization
These organizations support homeschool families with information, activities, sports programs, and other resources typically provided by local school districts.
North Carolinians for Home Education advocates for homeschooling families at the state level. They’re also a wealth of information. Need to know how to build a transcript for your high schooler? They’ve got a template. Need info on registering your homeschool? They’ve got that, too. Pretty much everything you need to know is on their website, and you support that mission when you join.
Depending on your location, you might also want to join. These organizations host sports teams, high school proms, field trips, and activities for kids of all ages.
Piedmont Forest School offers a homeschool group in Winston-Salem. Details HERE. Nature Explorers is a club-like nature-immersive adventure and creative play program which can incorporate nature tutoring if needed. Forest Kindergarten is a play-based and child-lead nature immersive program embedding integrated and applied STEAM experiences and utilizing place-based learning.
Homeschool Days
See our full Places for Homeschool Days in NC guide for details on each.
Triad Area:
Airbound Winston-Salem | Bethabara Park (2x/year, check FB) | Greensboro Science Center | Korner’s Folly | Level Up LLC | Marshall Muse Art Museum | Old Salem | Piedmont Environmental Center | Pilot Mountain State Park | Reynolda House | Rescue Ranch | Sawtooth School for Visual Art | Tinderbox Fitness PE Classes
Day Trip / NC-Wide:
Biltmore House | Carolina Classic Fair | Carolina Raptor Center | Carolina Renaissance Festival | Chimney Rock | Dan Nicholas Park | Discovery Place | Fort Dobbs | Jamestown Settlement | Marbles Kids Museum | Morehead Planetarium | National Building Museum | NC Aquariums | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | NC State Fair | NC Transportation Museum | NC Zoo | Sea Life Concord | Williamsburg
Website Resources
The Book It Program | TMoM Arts & Enrichment Programs Directory | Wild WNC (AZA and ASTC museum memberships nationwide) | Visual Arts Classes with Kara Elizabeth
Yearly Testing Services
North Carolina requires annual academic assessment for homeschool students.
Brewer Testing Services | Bowman Academic Services | Maria Elliott | Piedmont Ed Services | Kipman Psychometry Services
Getting Started
It’s true– getting started is often the hardest part! Here are some of our recent posts that cover the early stages of homeschooling — from deciding to homeschool, the benefits, how to prepare for the ‘back to school’ season each year, and more.
Tips for homeschooling
Once you’ve made the decision to homeschool… now what?! Don’t worry, we’ve got that covered too. Check out our collection of posts to help you get started — from organization tips and managing multiple kids to a simple “Homeschooling 101” guide for beginners.
Some Favorite Homeschooling Resources
No, homeschooled kids are not exempt from testing — it just looks different, and so does the potential for test anxiety.
Learning to spell is fundamental – and these resources make it FUN too!
Stock your homeschooling resource library with these fun and educational games.
Homeschooling Parents Share Their Unique Perspective
One Dad’s perspective in homeschooling his daughter
The Homeschool journey i never intended to take
Homeschooling with Special needs
What single-parent homeschooling is really like
Homeschool resources in the higher grades
Additionally, homeschooling through high school looks a lot different than the early years — teens are more independent, and their focus starts shifting toward the future. We’ve gathered a collection of resources to help you navigate this exciting stage of the homeschooling journey, from tips on teaching high schoolers to guidance on getting a driver’s permit and preparing for college.
FAQs About Homeschooling in North Carolina
Is homeschooling legal in North Carolina?
Yes — legal in all 50 states. NC is relatively lenient. You’ll need to register your homeschool with the state; NCHE has a complete guide.
Do I need a teaching license to homeschool in NC?
No. NC does not require parents to be certified teachers. A high school diploma or GED is required.
How do homeschooled kids socialize in the Triad?
Through local co-ops, sports teams, extracurricular classes, church groups, field trip groups, and community events. The Triad has an especially active homeschool community.
What curriculum should I choose?
It depends on your child’s learning style and your goals. Attending a conference like Thrive! in Winston-Salem or visiting a curriculum store like Guillion’s or McKay’s in person is one of the best ways to evaluate options before committing.
Are there homeschool testing requirements in NC?
Yes — NC requires annual assessment of homeschool students’ academic progress. See the Testing Services section above for reputable local providers.
Can homeschooled students attend college?
Absolutely — many colleges actively recruit homeschool graduates and have clear application guidelines. See Can a Homeschooler Go to College? for details.
Where can I find homeschool days at NC attractions?
See our Places for Homeschool Days in NC guide for a comprehensive list.
More resources: Teen Driving Resources | Tutoring Services | Homeschool Days in NC | Job Skills & Leadership Development | College Bound Resources | High School Resources
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