NOTE:  Before reading the following, it is recommended that you read the
State of North Carolina Home School Information Packet.

Any suggestions for choosing one?  Yes.  Select a school name with an academic sound to it -- one that would be appropriate for possible ultimate placement on your student's high school diploma (and one which he/she would also regard as appropriate 20 or more years from now).  Avoid including your (or your student's) name in it.  Do not use the following words in the name:  "Charter, college, elementary, family, grade, grammar, high, home, incorporated (or inc.), junior, kindergarten, lower, middle, primary, public, residence, schooling, secondary, seminary, senior, the, university or upper."  If you anticipate moving to a new street or road in the future, it might be wise not to incorporate either of them into your school name.  Any school submitting its Notice of Intent without providing a school name will automatically be assigned a school name beginning with the last name of the chief administrator followed by the word "school."  Because of DNPE database size limitations, please be certain that your school name length does not exceed 30 strokes (including spaces and punctuation).   Also, see the last question below "May I Change It."

How are duplicate school names handled?  All school names are separated according to North Carolina counties.  If a new (or re-opening) home school selects the same name as another "already listed" home school in any given county, DNPE will add a hyphen after the school name submitted; and, then add to it the last name of the chief administrator.  The database is then able to distinguish between the otherwise duplicate school names.  If there is already a school in that county with that school name and a chief administrator with the same last name as well, DNPE will then also add the initial of the first name of the chief administrator to the last name immediately after the hyphen.  In contacting (or submitting forms to) DNPE, always reference the school name exactly as it appears on the mailing label on DNPE's mailing to you each August.  This will expedite DNPE's handling of your request or submitted form.

May I change it?  From a legal standpoint -- yes.  However, the school name you give to DNPE on your school's initial Notice of Intent will be the only name retained and used officially by the division for state record keeping, all future filing, correspondence, identification, mailing, etc. purposes.  If you change your school name after initial registration with DNPE, when corresponding or completing DNPE forms thereafter, always use your new school name first followed by, in parentheses, the word "formerly" and then the school name submitted on your initial Notice of Intent to DNPE.
 

FAQ Page

4/07