Virginia vs West Virginia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Virginia and West Virginia sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: required subjects, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

4

Same in both

5

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 Virginia to West Virginia

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

1. West Virginia names 5 required subjects (reading, language, math, science, social studies). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
2. Reports go from once a year in Virginia to in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 in West Virginia.
3. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in West Virginia against 5-18 in Virginia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. West Virginia runs Hope Scholarship. Check whether your family qualifies; Virginia had no comparable program.

Moving from West Virginia to Virginia

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

1. Virginia names no required subjects. West Virginia's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
2. Reports go from in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 in West Virginia to once a year in Virginia.
3. Compulsory school ages are 5-18 in Virginia against 6-17 in West Virginia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. Virginia has no ESA program. West Virginia's Hope Scholarship is for West Virginia residents, so budget without it.

What stays the same

Virginia and West Virginia match on notice of intent, hours or days per year, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Virginia nor West Virginia 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

• District of Columbia vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Kentucky vs West Virginia 5 rules differ
• Maryland vs Virginia 3 rules differ
• Maryland vs West Virginia 5 rules differ
• North Carolina vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Ohio vs West Virginia 4 rules differ
• Pennsylvania vs West Virginia 8 rules differ
• Tennessee vs Virginia 5 rules differ
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 31 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Progress Reports All 10 states in one table