Homeschool benefits: Natrona County School District 1
Natrona County School District 1 (NCSD) lets homeschooled students take the spring Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) or the ACT if you return the application in the district's Home-Based Education policy to Student Support Services by January 1. The spring WY-TOPP tests cover grades 3-10, and the ACT is given once a year in grade 11. Other options include public school classes and services.
Natrona County homeschool WY-TOPP and ACT testing
Who qualifies
Is a homeschool student
NCSD offers spring testing to parents and guardians of homeschool students through its Board of Trustees policy on Home-Based Education.
Application in by January 1
Complete the application in the policy and return it to NCSD Student Support Services no later than January 1 of each year.
Is in a tested grade
WY-TOPP summative tests are given in grades 3-10, science in grades 4, 8, and 10, and writing in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. The ACT is for grade 11.
Tests and grades
NCSD's assessment page lists the grades for each test the district gives.
- WY-TOPP summative tests, late spring
- 3-10
- WY-TOPP science
- 4, 8, and 10
- WY-TOPP writing
- 3, 5, 7, and 9
- ACT Plus Writing, once a year
- 11
The page gives no fee, test dates, or testing location for homeschool students, so ask Student Support Services about all three when you return the application.
How to request testing
- In the fall
Get the application
Open the Home-Based Education policy linked from NCSD's assessment page; the application is attached to it.
- By January 1
Return the application
Send the completed form to NCSD Student Support Services.
- Before the ACT
Review the pre-test survey
Students fill out an optional pre-test survey before the ACT, and parents may review the questions before the testing window.
- Late spring
Your child tests
The WY-TOPP summative tests and the ACT are given in the spring.
- Each year
Apply again
The January 1 deadline applies every year, so return a new application for each spring you want your child tested.
What it includes
Included
- Spring WY-TOPP summative tests
- WY-TOPP science and writing in their grades
- The ACT Plus Writing in grade 11
Who to contact about testing
Tyler Hartl, Director of Research and Assessment, is the contact NCSD lists for questions about state and district tests.
tyler_hartl@natronaschools.org 307-253-5221 Assessment page
Natrona Virtual Learning Academy
Who qualifies
Eligible to enroll in NCSD
The program is for students eligible to enroll as Natrona County School District students. Your teen becomes a district student, and district expectations for attendance, instructional time, curriculum, rigor, and behavior apply.
In grades 9-12
The Wyoming Department of Education lists Natrona Virtual Learning as a district program for grades 9-12.
Takes all courses virtually
NCSD's program sheet says an enrolled student takes every course through the virtual program and cannot mix in classes at an in-person school.
Stays at least a semester
Virtual enrollment is a commitment of at least one semester.
What the program includes
The terms come from NCSD's Natrona County Virtual Learning Program sheet and the Wyoming Department of Education's virtual program list.
- Grades served
- 9-12
- High school courses per student
- 7 to 8
- Core subjects required
- English, math, social studies, science
- Electives
- 3 to 4, limited choices
- Advanced Placement or IB courses
- Not offered
- Computer
- Issued by NCSD
The state list calls the program full time and part time, but NCSD's sheet says students take all courses virtually, so ask about part-time enrollment when you call.
How to enroll
- Before you enroll
Read the program sheet
The program combines scheduled live instruction with a virtual education teacher and recorded coursework through Edgenuity, and all state and district assessments are required.
- To enroll
Call NCSD Enrollment
Phone 307-253-5450 to start enrollment, or call the program at 307-253-3157 with questions first.
- Each semester
Carry a full schedule
Take English language arts, math, social studies, science, and three to four electives, all online.
- After one semester
Decide whether to stay
To return to in-person classes, you go through the district enrollment process, and NCSD does not guarantee your teen's previous school, class, or teacher.
What it includes
Included
- Standards-aligned online courses through Edgenuity
- Live sessions with a virtual education teacher
- A district-issued computer and tech help line
- Sports and activities at a designated base school
Not included
- Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses
- Remedial courses
- District programs such as Dual Language Immersion
- Mixing virtual and in-person classes
Who to contact about Natrona Virtual Learning
Tanya Sisneros is the program contact listed by the Wyoming Department of Education, and NCSD Enrollment handles sign-ups.
tanya_sisneros@natronaschools.org 307-253-3157 Program page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Wyoming
To withdraw a child under 18, a parent, guardian, or other responsible person must meet in person with a school counselor or administrator and give written consent. This does not apply if the district was already told the child will enroll in another district, a private school, or a home-based program. Since July 1, 2025, families no longer submit curriculum to the district.
Wyoming sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide a sequentially progressive curriculum in reading, writing, mathematics, civics, history, literature, and science.
- Testing: Wyoming does not require a statewide standardized test for homeschoolers.
- Records: No routine state portfolio filing is required; keep the withdrawal record and evidence of subject coverage.
- Teachers: No state homeschool-parent credential is required.
Wyoming also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Wyoming Education Savings Account pays $7,000 a year to residents ages 4 through grade 12 who are not enrolled in public school. The 2026-27 cycle is closed, and students must cover the core subjects and take an assessment.
Read the Wyoming homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Wyoming
Questions parents ask
- Where do I find the NCSD testing application?
- It is part of the Board of Trustees policy on Home-Based Education, linked under "Parents/Guardians of Homeschool Students" on NCSD's assessment page.
- Why would my teen take the ACT through NCSD?
- To qualify for Wyoming's Hathaway Scholarship Program, which uses ACT results. The district gives the ACT Plus Writing, which covers English, math, reading, writing, and science.
- Can a homeschooled teen join Natrona Virtual Learning?
- Yes, if your teen is eligible to enroll in NCSD. Joining makes your teen a public school student taking district courses online, which is a separate path from registering your own home-based program.
- Can my teen take one or two Natrona Virtual Learning classes and homeschool the rest?
- No, according to NCSD's program sheet: students take all of their courses through the program, with a minimum of seven at the high school level. The state list mentions part time, so confirm with the program before you plan around it.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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