How to Start Homeschooling in South Carolina

Required hours

810 hrs/year

School days

180 days/year

Required subjects

6 subjects

Notice

Required

Testing / evaluation

Portfolio review

Portfolio

Required

Jump to the full South Carolina requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.

Step by step

1. 1

   Understand South Carolina's homeschool law

   South Carolina has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must provide at least 4.5 hours per day over 180 school days, and you'll file notice with your local school district.

2. 2

   Withdraw from public school (if enrolled)

   The South Carolina withdrawal process is a two-step handoff: a letter to the current public school closing out the enrollment, followed by a notice of intent filed with the local school district. Homeschool Fox generates a compliant withdrawal letter from your family's details in a few clicks.

3. 3

   File your notice of intent

   Yes, South Carolina requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district.

4. 4

   Plan your subjects

   South Carolina requires instruction in the following subjects: reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and composition. Beyond these requirements, you have flexibility to add subjects that interest your family.

5. 5

   Set your hours or days target

   South Carolina requires at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day over 180 school days, which works out to roughly 810 hours per year.

6. 6

   Plan for assessment and records

   South Carolina's assessment requirement depends on your accountability option. Option 1 (district oversight, § 59-65-40) requires an annual standardized test in reading, writing, and math. Option 2 (SCAIHS membership, § 59-65-45) and Option 3 (an approved association with 50+ members, § 59-65-47) don't mandate standardized testing — each sets its own member standards. Option 1 and Option 3 families keep a portfolio including a semester book list, a log of educational activities, samples of the student's academic work, and a record of evaluations (§ 59-65-40(A)(4) and § 59-65-47(d)). Option 2 families follow SCAIHS's own member documentation requirements rather than a state-level portfolio rule.

7. 7

   Track your hours and keep records

   Log activities as they happen so hours, attendance, and subject coverage build up automatically. Homeschool Fox lets you log from your phone or by voice and generates a South Carolina-specific compliance report when you need it.

Free tool

Calculate your homeschool pace

South Carolina requires 810 hours/year. Enter how far you've come and we'll show you the daily pace to finish on time.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for South Carolina

Everything South Carolina expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

• Hours toward your 810-hour goal
• Required subjects & core hours
• Daily activity logs
• Attendance records
• Notes & portfolio records
• Printable PDF reports
• High school transcripts
• State-specific progress tracking

More South Carolina guides

• South Carolina Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
• Homeschooling High School in South Carolina Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
• Record Keeping in South Carolina What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
• ESA & School Choice in South Carolina Funding amounts, who qualifies, and the trade-offs.