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. 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 New Mexico Department of 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 New Mexico’s requirements.
Homeschooling Options
New Mexico families who enroll with Enlightium are legally considered homeschool students. Enlightium Academy serves as a curriculum provider, while parents remain responsible for meeting all state 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.
New Mexico’s Requirements at a Glance
Parent Notifies State = Yes
State Educational Funds = No
Academic Calendar Requirement = Yes
Reporting Age Requirement = 5-18
Instructor Qualifications = Yes
Subjects Required = Yes
Standardized Assessment = Not Required by the State
Immunization Requirement = Yes, with exemptions
Keep a Portfolio = Recommended
Enlightium Parents App with Group for New Mexico Families = Yes
Notifying the State
New Mexico requires homeschooling families to inform the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) of their intent to homeschool using the online form found at this site. Note the following submission dates:
First year of homeschooling:
Notify the New Mexico Public Education Department within 30 days of establishing a homeschool through Enlightium Academy.
Each subsequent year:
Each year thereafter, families must submit a notice of intent annually by August 1.
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.
Age Requirement
Ages four 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.
Ages five to 18:
Students must attend school during that academic year. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 18 years old or graduate. Families may fulfill this requirement through homeschooling, including the use of a curriculum provider such as Enlightium Academy.
Instructor Qualifications
In New Mexico, the parent or guardian providing instruction must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. While the parent or guardian is considered the primary instructor under state law, families may use curriculum providers such as Enlightium Academy to support instruction.
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.
*For students living in the U.S., this does not necessarily mean that their teachers are certified in the student’s state of residence, but instead in the teacher’s state of residence. For most states, this distinction is not important to the student’s academics.
Required Subjects
New Mexico requires the following subjects:
The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor.
Academic Calendar
The New Mexico Department of Education requires instruction for the same number of days as your local public school, which is typically 180 days each school year.
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.
Standardized Assessment
The New Mexico Department of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled 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 required in the state of New Mexico; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization, but may request a copy for our records, as we serve students and must abide by state regulations. You may find the New Mexico state exemption instructions here.
Keep a portfolio
New Mexico law does not require families to maintain or submit records such as attendance or portfolios. However, many families choose to keep records for personal tracking or future school transitions. Enlightium recommends you 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico to inform and support each other in fulfilling their 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 Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, 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 May 2026:
