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Mississippi Homeschool Curriculum Requirements by Subject
Key Takeaways
- No required subjects in Mississippi—the law repealed subject mandates in 1984
- No mandated curricula, textbooks, or teaching methods
- Certificate of Enrollment is your only document requirement (due Sept 15)
- Most families teach core subjects anyway (math, language arts, science, history)
- Homeschool co-ops and colleges often have their own subject requirements
The Bottom Line: Mississippi Has No Curriculum Requirements
Mississippi law provides remarkable flexibility. Since 1984, the state has NOT mandated:
- Specific subjects you must teach
- Specific curricula or textbooks
- Specific teaching methods (Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unschooling)
- Specific hours or days of instruction
- Teacher qualifications
- Record-keeping standards
- Annual testing or assessments
This means: You have complete freedom to design your curriculum.
What Most Mississippi Families Teach (and Why)
While the state doesn’t require subjects, most families teach core subjects for practical reasons:
1. Mathematics
Why: Essential life skill, college entrance requirement, job readiness
Common approach: Structured curriculum (Saxon, Abeka, BJU, Teaching Textbooks, Khan Academy)
Grade progression:
- K–2: Number sense, basic operations, shapes, measurement
- 3–5: Multi-digit operations, fractions, early geometry
- 6–8: Pre-algebra, integers, ratios, equations
- 9–12: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, Calculus (optional)
Note: Dual enrollment students (see ) can take college math for free/subsidized.
2. Language Arts / English
Why: Foundation for reading, writing, communication; college/career essential
Common approach: Literature-based or grammar-structured (Abeka, BJU, Sonlight, Writing With Writers)
K–5 components:
- Phonics/decoding, fluency, comprehension
- Grammar and mechanics
- Writing (sentences, paragraphs, stories)
- Read-alouds and independent reading
6–8 components:
- Literature analysis and essays
- Grammar and mechanics refinement
- Research skills and longer writing projects
- Vocabulary and reading for comprehension
9–12 components:
- Literature (American, British, world, classics)
- Composition and rhetoric
- Research papers and critical analysis
- Speech/communication (often integrated or separate)
3. Science
Why: Foundational knowledge, critical thinking, preparation for college/career STEM
Common approach: Hands-on, textbook-based, or unit study method
K–5 coverage:
- Life science (plants, animals, human body, ecosystems)
- Earth science (weather, rocks, water cycle, space)
- Physical science (forces, simple machines, states of matter)
6–8 coverage:
- Life science (cells, genetics, evolution, ecology)
- Earth science (geology, weather, astronomy, oceans)
- Physical science (energy, motion, forces, waves)
9–12 coverage (often takes 3–4 years science):
- Biology (cells, genetics, evolution, ecology)
- Chemistry (atoms, bonds, reactions, equations)
- Physics (motion, forces, energy, waves)
- Electives: Environmental science, anatomy, marine biology, botany
Mississippi advantage: State museums (Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Aquarium) provide free/discounted field trip resources for hands-on learning.
4. Social Studies / History
Why: Civic understanding, critical thinking, context for current events
Common approach: Chronological history or unit studies, often literature-based
K–5 coverage:
- Families and communities
- Local, state, and U.S. geography
- U.S. history foundations (explorers, founding, early growth)
6–8 coverage:
- World history (ancient through modern)
- U.S. history (early republic through Civil War)
- Geography, map skills, cultural studies
9–12 coverage (often takes 3–4 years):
- U.S. History I (founding through Reconstruction)
- U.S. History II (Reconstruction through present)
- World History
- Government/Civics
- Electives: Economics, psychology, current events, cultural studies
Mississippi-specific content many families include:
- Civil Rights history (Medgar Evers, Freedom Riders, Emmett Till, Freedom Summer)
- Mississippi River history and ecology
- Delta blues and music history (B.B. King, Robert Johnson)
- Natchez Trace and Chickasaw/Choctaw history
- Faulkner and Mississippi literature
- Vicksburg Civil War history
- Native American history
See for curricula with built-in Mississippi connections.
Non-Required (But Often Included) Subjects
Visual Arts
- Drawing, painting, sculpture, design
- Art history and famous artists
- Crafts and creative projects
Why include?: Creativity, fine motor skills, aesthetic appreciation
Easy to integrate: Library resources, YouTube tutorials, museum visits
Music
- Instruments, music theory, singing
- Music history and composers
- Listening and appreciation
Why include?: Cognitive benefits, cultural literacy, joy
Mississippi resource: GRAMMY Museum Mississippi offers music education programs
Physical Education / Sports
- Regular physical activity
- Team sports or individual fitness
- Outdoor recreation and nature
Why include?: Health, fitness, social skills (if group sports/co-op)
Easy to integrate: Home activities, co-op PE classes, community recreation
Foreign Language
- Spanish, French, Latin, ASL, or other languages
- Often starts in middle or high school
Why include?: College prep, career advantage, cognitive development
Easy resources: Duolingo (free), YouTube tutorials, community college courses
Subject Requirements by Grade Level: Summary Table
| Grade | Math | Lang Arts | Science | Social Studies | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K–2 | Number basics | Phonics, reading | Living things, Earth, objects | Communities, families, US basics | Art, music, PE |
| 3–5 | Operations, fractions | Literature, writing | Life science, physical science, Earth | U.S. history, geography | Art, music, PE |
| 6–8 | Pre-algebra, algebra prep | Literature, essays | Life, Earth, physical science | World & U.S. history | Art, music, PE, electives |
| 9–12 | Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II | Literature, composition | Biology, chemistry, physics | U.S. history, world history, civics | Electives (languages, arts, skills) |
Co-op & College Requirements (May Differ)
While Mississippi has no state requirements, co-ops and colleges do:
Classical Conversations Requirements
If you join Classical Conversations, the program requires:
- Foundations (K–5): Grammar, science, history, memory work
- Essentials (6–8): Expanded coverage with writing, rhetoric development
- Practicum (9–12): Essay-based learning, thesis development
See for Classical Conversations details.
Dual Enrollment / College Course Requirements
If taking community college courses (for free/subsidized dual credit), the college will have course prerequisites and standards:
- High school algebra required before college math
- High school composition sometimes prerequisite for college writing
See for Mississippi’s dual enrollment scholarship details.
Homeschool Co-op Subject Expectations
Most Mississippi co-ops (CASH, CCHEA, North Star, Salt + Light) recommend but don’t mandate:
- Core academic subjects (math, language arts, science, history)
- Some arts or enrichment (varies by co-op)
Building Your Custom Curriculum
Your approach:
- Choose your priority subjects (almost always math and language arts)
- Select a teaching philosophy (Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, eclectic, unschooling)
- Pick curricula by subject (don’t need one single program)
- Include enrichment based on your family’s values and kids’ interests
- Adjust as needed (Mississippi’s flexibility allows mid-year changes)
Example curriculum (full freedom approach):
- Math: Khan Academy (free)
- Language arts: Sonlight
- Science: Hands-on projects + museum field trips
- History: Unit studies tied to field trips
- Art: Free YouTube tutorials
- Music: Community lessons
- PE: Family activities + co-op PE class
Total cost: $400–$1,200/year (depends on choices)
What You Actually Need to File
While curriculum subjects are free choices, Mississippi requires:
- Certificate of Enrollment (submitted by September 15)
- Basic identifying information: Child’s name, DOB, parent name, address
- No curriculum details to submit to the state
See for enrollment filing details.
Bottom Line: Subject Freedom = Design Freedom
Mississippi’s lack of curriculum requirements doesn’t mean you teach randomly. It means you design a thoughtful curriculum that fits your family’s learning style, values, budget, and goals—without state mandates constraining your choices.
Most families teach standard academic subjects because they matter for college/career readiness and life skills. But how you teach them, what additional subjects you include, and at what pace is entirely yours.