Enlightium Academy is an approved 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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Missouri’s requirements.
As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.
Missouri’s Requirements at a Glance
Parent Notifies State = No
State Educational Funds = No
Academic Calendar Requirement = No
Reporting Age Requirement = 8-17
Instructor Qualifications = No
Subjects Required = Yes
Standardized Assessment = No
Immunization Requirement = No
Keep a Portfolio = Yes
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Missouri Families = Yes
Academic Calendar
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not have academic calendar requirements for private school students.
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.
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.
Age Requirement
Ages seven or younger:
Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten. An exception is if the student was already in attendance at a public school between the ages of five and seven, in which case they would need to remain in attendance when enrolled at Enlightium.
Starting at age eight:
Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they either turn 17 years of age or have successfully completed a certain number of credits toward high school graduation.
Instructor Qualifications
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not require private school students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Book-Based Program use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. 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.
Required Subjects
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires “instruction in the constitutions of the United States and of Missouri and in American history and institutions.” This instruction must begin no later than seventh grade and continue in high school. This is covered in students’ history courses at Enlightium Academy.
Additionally, students in high school must pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics. The examination must consist of 100 questions used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that are administered to applicants for U.S. citizenship.
Standardized Assessment
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not require a standardized test for private school students. However, 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
Immunization Requirement
Immunization is not required in the state of Missouri for students. Parents should keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons on file.
Keep a Portfolio
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:
- 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.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Missouri 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 Missouri to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
- Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
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 state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in March 2025:
- https://dese.mo.gov/communications/frequently-asked-questions-and-educational-topics
- https://dese.mo.gov/governmental-affairs/freqaskques/Attendance
- https://www.ed.gov/birth-to-grade-12-education/alternatives-traditional-public-education/private-school-state-regulations/mo#:~:text=Missouri%20state%20law%20does%20not,or%20days%20for%20private%20schools.
- https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=167.031
