Poudre River School – New Families

When is enrollment open?

Enrollment is open July 1st through April 30th each year.

What is the cost to enroll in PRS?

PRS Tuition & Fees are listed below. Note that tuition is charged annually based on the PRS school year, which is July 1st through June 30th, and is not pro-rated regardless of when you enroll or withdraw your student(s). New families also pay a non-refundable, one-time registration fee.

PRS Tuition & Fees for the 2022-2023 School Year
New Family Registration Fee (one time) $25.00/family
Family Tuition $65.00/family/yr
Diploma Program $22.00/student/yr
Transfer High School Credits to PRS Transcript $12.00/student
Transfer PRS Records to School free
Official High School Transcripts free
PRS Diploma varies (more info)
Can homeschoolers outside of Colorado enroll in Poudre River School?

Yes, all homeschoolers are welcome to enroll in PRS regardless of where they live. .

Homeschoolers outside of Colorado enjoy record-keeping, official transcripts, and eligibility for a PRS diploma. Enrollment satisfies reporting requirements for Colorado residents only, so those outside of Colorado are responsible for following their local laws. Review your state’s homeschool laws on the HSLDA legal page.

Can I transfer my child from public school to PRS in the middle of the year?

Yes, you may transfer your student at any time that PRS enrollment is open (through April 30th).

Follow these steps to transfer from public school to PRS:

1. Enroll in Poudre River School.
The student registration form asks if you need to withdraw from a public school. Select “yes” and then enter the public school’s information. 

2. Withdraw from the public school.
Tell the current school that you are transferring your student to a private school and need to withdraw. They will usually have a withdrawal form for you to fill out and you’ll list Poudre River School as the new school.

3. Verify that the withdrawal has been completed.
The public school is required to verify that the student has enrolled in another school (or has an NOI on file) before completing the withdrawal. PRS will use the information you enter on the student registration form to send confirmation of enrollment to the school. Please contact the public school to verify that your child’s withdrawal has been completed.

I read that PRS doesn’t require testing or evaluation. Is this true? Doesn’t Colorado law require homeschoolers to test?

Yes, that is true. PRS does not require any testing or evaluation.

Children enrolled in an umbrella school are not considered homeschooled students under the law. Instead, they are private school students and are subject to private school law. Although some umbrella schools do require testing, private schools are not required to test or evaluate students. If you choose to test your child, you are welcome to upload the results in your child’s files.

Does PRS offer enrichment programs or classes?

No, PRS is a basic records-only program

PRS does not offer any enrichment programs or classes. However, children enrolled with PRS may also enroll in private or publicly funded homeschool enrichment programs.

What reporting does PRS require?

Total monthly attendance & semester reporting, consisting of grades or a semester summary, are required to protect the school and all enrolled students legally. See Required Reporting for more information.

Note: Fall semester reporting is optional for students enrolled with a start date after November 31st.

Why does PRS require attendance? What about unschoolers?

Attendance reporting is required to protect the school and all enrolled students legally.

Colorado law requires that private school students receive 172 days of instruction each year. This number is pro-rated for those who enroll in PRS mid-year. To comply with the law, PRS requires that planned attendance is in the system for all students to complete enrollment. If you are an unschooler, it is up to you to determine which days you wish to report as “attendance” days.

The online attendance form is set up to make reporting quick and easy. Simply enter the number of days you plan to complete each month. Once you’ve entered planned attendance for the year during enrollment, you are all set for the year. You will not need to return to the attendance page unless you wish to make changes.

Do I need to track how many hours we spend homeschooling?

No, you do not.

The law requires that your child receives a minimum of 172 days of instruction per year while enrolled in an umbrella school. You are responsible for providing the required instruction for the number of days reported as planned attendance during enrollment. You do not need to track or report hours.

Homeschooling law requires 172 days of instruction with an average of 4 hours per day. This applies to homeschooling under an NOI and does not apply to umbrella schools.

If I enroll in the middle of the school year, can I report past attendance for this year?

No, only report attendance from your child’s PRS start date forward.

If your child has accumulated any attendance days for the current year prior to enrolling with PRS, those days will be subtracted from the minimum required attendance days that you must report. Simply enter the number of completed days in the box at the top of the attendance form.

Does an IEP or a 504 Transfer to PRS?

An IEP only applies to services provided by public schools. A 504 is backed by federal law and only applies to federally funded programs, including public schools.

Neither of these has any relevance if you are homeschooling or enrolled in a private school, such as an umbrella school. The GREAT news is that you also don’t need them when you teach your children at home because you can give them whatever adjustments in curriculum and accommodations they need without the red tape!

PRS recommends that you keep a copy of all 504 or IEP records for reference if your child ever returns to public school.

Does PRS provide curriculum?

No, PRS does not provide any curriculum.

Enrolled families are free to choose whatever curriculum or other resources that work for their individual children. Cathy Duffy Reviews is a great resource to find curricula based on age, subject, format, and worldview.