Where can I find homeschool programs near me in the South Bay?
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Every listing below is alphabetical with filters, never ranked or featured; no program pays for placement. Each entry is dated and sourced; see how we research for our verification standard.
- Charters (7 listed)
Public school program · Free to families · Run by a charter school
A charter school is a public school, so charter independent study costs nothing to join, no tuition, because California law bans charter schools from charging it. In exchange, the curriculum has to be secular (no faith-based materials, even ones you'd pay for yourself), and your child works under a signed independent-study agreement with a credentialed supervising teacher who checks in regularly. Most charters also give your family a curriculum-funds allotment to spend on approved materials, on top of not charging tuition. Enrollment happens through each charter's own window, usually with a lottery if more families apply than there's room for.
- Satellite programs (3 listed)
Private school · Tuition paid to the program · Faith-based or secular, depends on the program
A satellite program (sometimes called an umbrella school) is a private school, not a public one, so there's no state funding involved: the program sets its own tuition and fees, and your family pays them directly. In return, the program files the legal paperwork (a private school affidavit) that covers everyone enrolled, so you don't have to file your own, plus it handles record-keeping, transcripts, and sometimes group classes or teacher check-ins. Because it's private, a satellite program can be faith-based or secular, and can set its own curriculum rules, that's decided by each program, not by the state.
- District independent study (14 listed)
Public school program · Free to families · Run by your local school district (not a charter)
District independent study works a lot like charter independent study, same underlying state law, same requirement for secular curriculum and a credentialed supervising teacher, but it's offered directly by the school district where you live instead of a charter school. It's also free, since it's a public school program, but districts more often hand you their own curriculum to teach from rather than a set amount of money to spend on your own materials. Enrollment is normally limited to families living inside that specific district, unless a transfer is arranged, and not every district offers a long-term option, so it's worth checking with yours directly.
- Enrichment (15 listed)
Not a legal schooling pathway · Paid separately by families · Adds on top of any of the above
Enrichment isn't one of the legal ways to homeschool, it's what families add around whichever pathway they've already chosen: classes, co-ops, sports, art, and other activities outside the core curriculum. Some enrichment providers accept the curriculum funds that come with a charter, others are paid for out of pocket, and pricing varies program by program. See below for why this ends up being its own category on this site.
Why is enrichment its own category?
Charters and district independent study only ask for a limited slice of your week, often just a handful of hours of scheduled time with a teacher, not a full school day. That leaves most of the week open, and most South Bay families fill it with outside classes, co-ops, sports, and other activities. Those enrichment options aren't part of any legal pathway, they're something families choose and pay for on their own, from all kinds of different providers around the South Bay. This directory lists what's actually out there so you don't have to piece it together from spreadsheets and Facebook groups.
Spot an error? Tell us. This is information, not legal advice, see the disclaimer.