Homeschool benefits: Cabarrus County Schools
HOMEREACH, run by Cabarrus Virtual Academy, lets homeschooled students in grades 6-12 who live in the Cabarrus County Schools district take three or more free, self-paced online courses taught to North Carolina standards while staying registered as homeschoolers. Course enrollment for 2026-27 closed August 1, 2026, so contact the academy about the next start.
Who qualifies
Lives in the district
Your family must live in the Cabarrus County Schools district.
Is in grades 6-12
HOMEREACH serves homeschool students in middle and high school.
Stays a homeschooler
Many families stay officially registered as homeschoolers with the state while their child takes classes part time through the academy.
Takes three or more courses
You choose the courses, with a minimum of three and no maximum.
What your student gets
The terms come from Cabarrus Virtual Academy's HOMEREACH overview.
- Course cost
- Free
- Minimum course load
- 3 classes
- Maximum course load
- No limit
- Teacher support
- Weekly check-ins and daily virtual office hours
- In-person tutoring with licensed teachers
- Optional, weekly
- Virtual campus access
- 24 hours a day
Part-time homeschool students in HOMEREACH cannot play Cabarrus County Schools sports.
How to enroll
- Before the next start
Apply
Fill out the online HOMEREACH application. The academy reviews it and the registrar contacts you about registration and course options.
- After review
Enroll your student
Complete the New Student Enrollment Application and upload all the documents it asks for.
- Before classes
Choose courses
Meet with an advisor about goals, review the HOMEREACH Course Options list, and email course selections to Maghen Rubbino.
- August
Start learning
Courses begin in August.
What it includes
Included
- Core courses in math, English, science, and social studies
- Electives
- A parent dashboard to track progress
Not included
- Cabarrus County Schools athletics
- Students who live outside the district
Who to contact about HOMEREACH
Melinda Helmintoller answers general HOMEREACH questions, and Maghen Rubbino (Maghen.Rubbino@cabarrus.k12.nc.us) handles course selection.
Melinda.Helmintoller@Cabarrus.k12.nc.us 704-260-6820 Application and enrollment
Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina
You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.
North Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
- Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.
North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.
Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Does my child stop being a homeschooler in HOMEREACH?
- No. The academy says many families stay officially registered as homeschoolers while taking HOMEREACH classes part time.
- Are HOMEREACH classes live?
- No. Courses are self-paced with no set log-in times, but your student must keep pace and meet deadlines.
- Can my student take college classes?
- Yes. HOMEREACH offers AP courses and Career and College Promise (CCP) classes through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
- Can my student earn a diploma?
- Possibly. Your student may be eligible for a Cabarrus County Schools diploma by meeting North Carolina graduation requirements.
- We missed the August 1 deadline. What now?
- Call the academy at 704-260-6820 to ask when the next enrollment opens.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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