Homeschool benefits and savings in Palmyra

Northwestern Community Unit School District 2 in Palmyra accepts homeschooled students who live in the district for part-time classes when space is available, with fees prorated to a share of full-time fees and rides on regular bus routes. Send your request to the building principal before May 1 for the next school year.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Homeschooled and lives in the district

   Policy 7:40 accepts nonpublic school students, including home-schooled students, who live within the district, for part-time attendance in its regular education program.

2. Asks before May 1

   Submit the request to the building principal of the school in your attendance area before May 1 for the following school year.

3. A seat is available

   Part-time places are offered on a space-available basis, and your child must follow the school's discipline and attendance requirements.

What part-time enrollment gives you

The terms come from Northwestern CUSD 2 Board Policy 7:40, revised August 20, 2025.

Regular-education classes

When space allows

Fees

Prorated share

Co-curricular activities

Tied to enrolled classes

Interscholastic sports

Under association rules

Busing on regular routes

Same as full time

Transportation off regular routes

Parents arrange

The district website does not list the full-time fees your share is based on, so ask the school office for the amount before you enroll.

How to enroll part time

1. Before May 1

   Ask the principal

   Send your request to the principal of the elementary or junior-senior high school that serves your home.

2. After acceptance

   Register

   Complete the district's new student registration, including its proof of residency form.

3. Each term

   Pay prorated fees

   Pay fees based on the percentage of a full-time schedule your child attends.

4. During the year

   Use the bus

   Your child can ride a regular route to or from the stop nearest your home. Rides off established routes are up to you.

What it includes

Included

• Regular-education classes
• Co-curricular activities tied to those classes
• Busing on established routes
• Special education services when needed

Not included

• Transportation off established routes
• Requests made after May 1
• Students living outside the district

Good to know

• Clubs and sports are open, with limits

  A part-time student can join co-curricular activities tied to a class they take, non-athletic clubs require attending at least half the school day, and sports follow the district's athletic association rules.

• The bus picks up on regular routes

  Your child is picked up on regular bus routes, from the point on the route nearest your home, on the same basis as full-time students. Transportation off those routes is the parents' responsibility.

Who to contact about part-time enrollment

The district office in Palmyra, led by Superintendent Patrick Bowman, connects you with the principal who decides part-time requests.

217-436-2442 Staff directory

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Illinois

You do not have to file a homeschool notice.

Illinois sets these rules:

• Subjects: Teach language arts, math, biological, physical, and social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health, in English, at least at public-school level.
• Testing: Illinois does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: Illinois does not require homeschool records.
• Teachers: The instructor must be competent; no state teaching certificate is required.

Read the Illinois homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Illinois

Find benefits for your ZIP code