Compulsory Attendance

Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. Students may start kindergarten if they turn five on or before September 1st. A child does not have to enroll in school at age five, but must be enrolled in 1st grade if he or she is six on or before December 31.  see more >

Required Documentation

California school districts set the requirements for what documentation is required prior to enrolling a student in their district. To get that information, contact the district directly.  

Some legal documents are required for California students to attend school:

• Certified Birth Certificate/proof of identity
• Official copy of records/transcripts from the previous school the child most recently attended
• A shot immunization record (or proof that immunization is not required for the child)
  • Click here to view the immunization requirements 
• Proof of home address (for example, a rental agreement or tax statement)

What are Charter Schools?

Charter Schools are tuition-free public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders sign a “charter” or contract with a school district or state agency to create a charter school and give students more educational options than their assigned school. Charter schools have flexibility over classroom hours, curriculum, and employment policies, but are subject to periodic reviews based on student performance. In California, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education monitor the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, can revoke  or refuse to renew a school’s charter.

California Charter Schools

A list of the active charter schools can be found at California Department of Education’s Charter School Locator!

In California, children attend school online in virtual classrooms with state certified teachers.  Some virtual programs are open to in-district students only, while others have enrollment open to students across the state.

California Virtual Academies

phone: (866) 339-6787
grades: K–12

California Connections Academy

phone: (800) 382-6010
grades: K–12

What makes a school “private”?

Private schools charge tuition, and many have a religious mission. Some private schools offer families assistance to make tuition payments. Click below for the complete list of over 2,700 private schools across the state.

Private School Review offers free, detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding areas.

*Information on non-public school admission requirements should be obtained from the school directly.

George Washington University Online High School is an online college preparatory academy for motivated students who are willing to be challenged to become the best students and persons they can be. Combining award-winning curriculum with small class sizes and intensive college counseling, students receive a flexible, individualized education attuned to their own needs and goals.

International Academy is a K12, Inc accredited, online private school for grades K–12. Students earn a U.S. high school diploma while using award-winning K¹² curriculum

They offer extensive, individualized academic and counseling support keep students on track. The flexibility allows students to explore their passions. Full-time and part-time options are available.

Your options

In California, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as homeschooling or home education. Parents in California may choose to homeschool their own children in grades K – 12. Parents desiring to homeschool their own children may do so by choosing one of the following three options – Home-based private school, Private school satellite program (PSP), and Private tutor. All three options are discussed below.  learn more >

With a home-based private school:

To homeschool under this option you must do the following:

1. File an annual private school affidavit between October 1 and 15 to the California Superintendent of Public Instruction. Affidavits can be found here.
2. Maintain an attendance register.
3. Instruction must be in English.
4. Instructors must be capable of teaching.
5. Provide instruction in the courses commonly taught in the public schools (e.g.,  language arts, math, science, social studies, health, and driver training)
6. Maintain immunization records or personal belief exemptions.
7. Maintain a list of courses of study.
8. Maintain a list of instructors with their addresses and qualifications. 

With a private school satellite program (PSP):

A private school satellite program is one in which the majority of the instruction is provided at home. The PSP must meet all the requirements for operating a private school, which are listed under “Homeschooling as a home-based private school” above.

College Credit

Dual enrollment courses are college credit courses. High school students enroll in college courses and earn postsecondary credit upon successful completion of the course. High school credit can also be awarded based on local school policy. Dual enrollment courses can be taught on the college campus, at the student’s high school, or online. The location of the course does not affect its status as a dual enrollment course. Home school students are also eligible for dual enrollment.

Under the state’s original program (no title in statute) authorizing part-time college or university attendance for high school students, the governing board of a community college district may admit to any community college under its jurisdiction a student eligible to attend community college as a special part-time or full-time student under Section 48800 or 48800.5. An 11th or 12th grader may also be enrolled part time in classes of the California State University or University of California for academic credit.

2015 A.B. 288 authorizes creation of a College and Career Access Pathways partnership between a community college governing board and a school district, for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for students who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education. The statutes governing the College and Career Access Pathways partnerships are repealed effective January 1, 2022.