Homeschooling in South Carolina

The South Carolina law, in plain English — and how Larose Christian Academy keeps your family covered.

📌 The short version

South Carolina offers three regulated homeschool options (district, SCAIHS, or 50+ member association), all with diploma and 180-day requirements. The church school route LCA provides is a private school path under §59-65-10(A): the school is the operator of record, parents are not subject to the homeschool statutes, and there is no district filing or state testing.

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Compulsory Attendance

Ages 5 to 17

Notification / Registration

Three legal homeschool pathways: (1) independent homeschool approved by the district, (2) membership in a homeschool association (SCAIHS), or (3) membership in a 50+ member accountability association. Separately, a child may attend a church-related private school (which satisfies compulsory attendance under §59-65-10(A)) without any state registration.

How a Cover School Helps

Families may enroll in a church-related private school and the school maintains the records — this is the route LCA provides. It is a private school path under §59-65-10(A), distinct from the three home-school options that require district filing or association membership.

Curriculum

Homeschool options: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies (plus composition/literature grades 7-12). Church school route: the school sets its own curriculum.

Attendance

Homeschool options: at least 180 days per year, at least 4.5 hours per day (excluding lunch/recess). Church school route: the school sets its own calendar.

Records & Testing

Homeschool options: parent keeps attendance, academic progress records, and semiannual progress reports. Church school route: the school maintains enrollment and scholastic records. Homeschool options: annual statewide testing and Basic Skills Assessment (options 1-2). Church school route: no state testing requirement.

Teacher Requirements

Homeschool options: the parent-teacher must hold a high school diploma or GED (options 1-2; option 3 per association standards). Church school route: no parent qualification requirement — the school directs instruction.

Official sources

Informational only — not legal advice. Laws change, and this summary may not be perfect. Please double-check what we wrote against your state's education department or the linked statutes before relying on it.

Want South Carolina families to be legally covered — the easy way?

Enroll with Larose Christian Academy. We handle the school-of-record side, file what needs filing, and issue official report cards and transcripts.