How Cayman Islands Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each country, it is a parental responsibility to check on their country’s requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about some country’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their country’s requirements at hslda.org/legal/international and/or the Cayman Islands Department of Education Services, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in many countries; however, with the freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! As you review your country’s homeschooling requirements, keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation through Cognia and ACSI. This accreditation allows Enlightium to serve students worldwide and provides a high school diploma recognized nationally and internationally. For families living in countries that require an apostille to validate foreign educational records, Enlightium can help guide you through the apostille process should you choose to pursue official recognition of your student’s U.S. studies.

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research the Cayman Islands’ requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

Enlightium Academy is a U.S.-based, online, accredited school, rather than a Cayman-registered institution, providing full-time schooling on the Islands. Families should apply to the Department of Education Services for homeschooling approval and treat the program as home education rather than an independent/private school in Cayman.

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Cayman Islands’ Requirements at a Glance

Parent Notifies Country = Yes

Country Educational Funds = No

Academic Calendar Requirement = Yes

Subjects Required = Yes

Age Requirement = 5-16

Instructor Qualifications = Yes

Standardized Assessment = Required by Enlightium

Immunization Requirement = Unknown

Keep a Portfolio = Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Cayman Islands Families = Yes

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Country Educational Funds

There do not appear to be any educational funds in the Cayman Islands at this time.

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Notifying the Country

Parents must apply for approval to homeschool their children from the Director of the Department of Education Services before beginning instruction. Approval must be renewed annually by August 1st of each school year, or within ten days if commencing home instruction after the start of the school year. You can find the Homeschool Request Form on the Cayman Islands Department of Education Services page; on the “Registration” dropdown, select “Registration Forms”. Once approval has been granted, you will need to formally withdraw from your current school, using the Student Withdrawal Form found on this page. 

The notification process involves creating an Individual Homeschool Plan (IHSP), which is a written description that informs the Department of Education Services of: 

• The curriculum and materials to be used for each subject, 
• The methods for evaluating student progress, and 
• The location where learning will occur 

Click here for a sample IHSP.

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Calendar Requirements

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services requires 185 days of instruction of at least 5 hours each school day.

Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays, allowing them to easily reach 185 days of instruction.

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Required Subjects

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services requires students to take reading, writing, mathematics, sciences, and social studies.

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

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Age Requirement

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services requires students to receive an education between the age of five years before 1st September and ending on the date when the child attains the age of 17 years, or has met the requirements to obtain a secondary school diploma or its equivalent, whichever is earlier.

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Instructor Qualifications

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services requires the instructor to be a licensed teacher. Documentation will need to be provided. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. Several of our faculty members hold Master's and Doctorate degrees in their respective fields. Please email principal@enlightiumacademy.com for your student’s teacher’s documentation.

Students in the Book-Based Program use textbook Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum (available to select grade levels). Students in the Sapphire Live program use a collection of the best-vetted curriculum options by our curriculum department. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

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Standardized Assessment

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services does not appear to require a standardized test for homeschooled students; however, a record of evaluations of the students’ progress should be maintained and will need to be provided to the Department of Education Services. Additionally, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing. Enlightium provides the following options per grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. We recommend the IXL diagnostic assessment, as it provides more flexibility in scheduling and does not have an additional fee.

• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

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Library Requirement

The Cayman Islands Department of Education Services requires the student to have access to a library. Students at Enlightium Academy have exclusive access to an online library of books.

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Keep a Portfolio

A semi-annual progress report should be submitted to the Department of Education services with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.

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Enlightium Parents App with Group for Cayman Islands Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and a desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in the Cayman Islands to inform and support each other in fulfilling your country’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

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Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

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Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and book-based program K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

We review country requirements and regulations annually; however, each country may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your country’s board of education.

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Sources reviewed in November 2025:

• hslda.org/legal/international
• https://schools.edu.ky 
• https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2016/2016-0048/2016-0048_2024%20Revision.pdf