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 August 1. A child does not have to enroll in school at age five or six, but must be enrolled in school by age 7. see more >

Required Documentation

Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana, 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.

Indiana Charter Schools

A list of the active charter schools can be found at Indiana Department of Education’s List of Charter Schools​

You can find more information on Charter Schools at Indiana Charter School Board

In Indiana, 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.

Indiana’s fully online schools are complemented by several blended programs offered at the district level. Indiana currently boasts four blended charter schools and several supplemental programs as well.

The Indiana Department of Education has launched the Office of eLearning, which promotes online content and provides support to both teachers and students.

Achieve Virtual Education Academy

Phone: (317) 565-6045

Grades: 9-12

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Phone: (800) 323-4238

Ages: 14+ years of age

Hoosier Academies

Phone: (317) 547-1400

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 590 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 Indiana, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as homeschooling or home education. Parents in Indiana may choose to homeschool their own children in grades K – 12. Indiana homeschools are considered to be non accredited private schools, and thus homeschools must comply with Indiana’s private school statute.

Under the private school statute:

1. Provide equivalent instruction in the English language. Private schools must teach in the English language and provide instruction equivalent to that given in public schools. There are no mandatory subjects for a homeschool program.
2. Teach for the required number of days. You must operate for 180 days.
3. Keep attendance records. You must keep attendance records to verify the enrollment and attendance of your students.
4. Provide information to the state, if required. Indiana public school officials frequently request that homeschoolers complete an online enrollment form on the Indiana Department of Education website. Not required, but could be beneficial.

College Credit

A Dual Credit course is one taught by a high school faculty member, a college faculty or adjunct faculty member that a high school student may take to earn both high school and college credits. Dual credit courses may include an on-campus course taught to regular postsecondary students, or a college course taught in a high school classroom by a faculty member of an institution.

A Concurrent Enrollment course is a dual credit taught at a high school by a regular high school faculty member approved by an institution, for high school credit, and college credit if an agreement is made between the school corporation and an institution.

The Postsecondary Enrollment Program allows school corporations (districts) and eligible institutions to offer college courses taught by faculty members of eligible institutions, and concurrent enrollment courses.