Homeschool testing in West Virginia
Verified against primary sources on July 19, 2026
West Virginia requires an annual academic assessment, with results submitted to the county in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. It is also the only state with a hard freshness rule: the test must have been published or normed within ten years of the day you give it.
At a glance
- Testing required
- Yes
- When
- annual assessment; results submitted grades 3, 5, 8, 11 (by June 30)
- What qualifies
- Nationally normed test required
- Who administers
- Per test publisher’s guidelines (parent OK if publisher allows).
- Results
- Filed with the state
- Score floor
- Mean within/above 4th stanine, or improvement over prior year; 2 consecutive failures → evidence to superintendent.
- Test recency
- Test must be published or normed within 10 years of administration — the only hard norm-age rule in homeschool law.
What the law says
“A nationally normed standardized achievement test published or normed not more than 10 years from the date of administration… administered under the conditions as set forth by the published instructions… by a person qualified in accordance with the test’s published guidelines.”
— W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(C)
Your options
Nationally normed test — mind the 10-year rule
W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(C) requires a nationally normed standardized achievement test published or normed within 10 years of administration, given under the publisher's conditions by a person qualified under the test's published guidelines — a parent qualifies if the publisher allows. The mean score must reach the fourth stanine, or improve on the prior year; two consecutive misses send the evidence to the superintendent.
Alternatives to a commercial test
The state public-school testing program; a portfolio review by a certified teacher; or an alternative assessment agreed with the county superintendent.
Key dates
- Every year
- Complete an academic assessment by one of the accepted routes.
- June 30 — grades 3, 5, 8, 11
- Submit the assessment results to the county.
Worth knowing
The 10-year recency rule is unique to West Virginia: tests published or normed more than 10 years before administration do not qualify, which excludes several older instruments still sold elsewhere.
Where the Fledgemark Check fits
The Fledgemark Check is a diagnostic with no norming study behind it, so it cannot be West Virginia's assessment. Note that the 10-year rule also disqualifies some legacy tests still sold to homeschoolers — check your test's norming date, not just its name. Use the Check mid-year so the June 30 submission holds no surprises.