Colorado vs New Mexico: Homeschool Laws Compared

Colorado is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while New Mexico requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Colorado to New Mexico

Once you are a New Mexico resident you homeschool under New Mexico's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in New Mexico rather than the local school district.
2. The annual target changes from 688 hours over 172 days a year in Colorado to 990 hours (1,080 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year in New Mexico.
3. New Mexico's required list adds language arts and social studies and drops writing, speaking, history, civics, literature, and constitution compared with Colorado's. Match New Mexico's wording in your records.
4. New Mexico requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Colorado's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 5-18 in New Mexico against 6-17 in Colorado, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

Moving from New Mexico to Colorado

Once you are a Colorado resident you homeschool under Colorado's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in Colorado rather than the state education department.
2. The annual target changes from 990 hours (1,080 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year in New Mexico to 688 hours over 172 days a year in Colorado.
3. Colorado's required list adds writing, speaking, history, civics, literature, and constitution and drops language arts and social studies compared with New Mexico's. Match Colorado's wording in your records.
4. Colorado requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels. New Mexico had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Colorado against 5-18 in New Mexico, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

What stays the same

Colorado and New Mexico match on the portfolio, progress reports, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Colorado nor New Mexico takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs New Mexico 6 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Florida 7 rules differ
• Colorado vs Kansas 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Nebraska 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Oklahoma 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Utah 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Wyoming 6 rules differ
• New Mexico vs Oklahoma 3 rules differ
• New Mexico vs Texas 5 rules differ
• New Mexico vs Utah 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table