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 Virginia 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 Virginia’s requirements.
Homeschooling Options
There are four homeschooling options in Virginia. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 4: Homeschooling under the private school option. The guidelines below are based on option 4.
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.
Virginia’s Requirements at a Glance
Homeschooling Options = Option 4: Homeschooling under the private school option
State Educational Funds = No
Parent Notifies State = Only if the student was previously enrolled in a public school
Academic Calendar = Yes
Age Requirement = 5-18
Instructor Qualifications = No
Required Subjects = No
Standardized Assessment = Not Required by the State
Immunization Requirement = Yes, with exemptions
Keep a Portfolio = Yes
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Virginia Families = Yes
Notifying the State
If your child is previously enrolled in a public school, you must send a letter to the principal notifying them of your withdrawal. Otherwise, you do not need to notify the state that you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy.
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.
Academic Calendar
The Virginia Department of Education requires private school students to receive instruction for:
- The same period of the year as public schools
- The same number of days as public schools
- The same number of hours per day as public schools
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. Enlightium’s calendar should cover the three requirements.
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:
They must attend school during that academic year beginning in the fall; this includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 18 or graduate.
Immunization Requirement
Immunizations are required in the state of Virginia, and as a recognized private school in Virginia, Enlightium will request immunization records or exemptions for record-keeping and reporting purposes. You may find the Virginia state exemption form here.
Please note that immunization records provided to Enlightium are kept strictly confidential and used only for compliance purposes. This information is stored securely in each student’s file and is not shared without parental authorization. For reporting to state health departments, only aggregated data—such as the number of vaccinated or exempt students—is provided. Individual records are not disclosed.
Instructor Qualifications
Under option 4, the Virginia Department of Education does not require teachers to hold 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
Under option 4, the Virginia Department of Education does not require any specific courses.
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.
Standardized Assessment
Under option 4, the Virginia Department of Education does not require a standardized test for students enrolled at Enlightium. 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
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:
- 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 homeschool 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:
