Homeschooling Hits Record Numbers

[Ernie]

https://reason.com/2025/11/19/homeschoo ... d-numbers/

New research from Johns Hopkins University School of Education showed that homeschooling reached record levels across the United States, primarily driven by parents’ growing dissatisfaction with traditional public schools. Analysts say families continue to choose homeschooling because many feel frustrated by school closures during the pandemic, poor remote learning experiences, and what they describe as rigid or politicized classroom lessons. Surveys cited in the reports show that only 41 percent of parents now believe K–12 education is heading in the right direction, while 59 percent say it is on the wrong track. Parents also report lower satisfaction with public schools than with private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling, which now has a 70 percent favorability rating. Researchers note that many families became concerned when learning outcomes declined, and curriculum disputes intensified, leading some to seek greater control over what and how their children learn. As a result, homeschooling grew an average of 5.4 percent last year—nearly triple the pre-pandemic rate—making it an increasingly popular mainstream option for many families.

[JohnL]

Well now that does not surprise me. When I look at how school boards are ignoring parents’ concerns about biological males in the female restrooms and when I see the test scores plummet then I understand why homeschooling is fast replacing traditional schooling.

[QuietlyListening]

Homeschooling has grown and changed so much since I homeschooled my children. Many programs available and online opportunities - it makes it easier for a parent who doesn't feel confident to homeschool.
Lots of out of school so to speak opportunities too.

[barnhart]

I sit on a school board and it is my observation a certain amount of homeschooling is done because the family structure is chaotic and cannot support the regularity and discipline of school. After a year or two they look for private schools partly because they feel there will be less scrutiny or enforcement and they can just come as it suits.

[Ernie]

I sit on a school board and it is my observation a certain amount of homeschooling is done because the family structure is chaotic and cannot support the regularity and discipline of school. After a year or two they look for private schools partly because they feel there will be less scrutiny or enforcement and they can just come as it suits.

I've noticed that as well firsthand as a school board chairman.

A scenario at one school...
At one school, after trying to hold the thing together for a number of years, the chairman decided he didn't need to do everything in the community and turned the school over to others. The new leaders didn't have much gifting or experience with bringing order and structure to things and with navigating differences of opinion. The school soon disintegrated.
Had the chairman stayed involved, it may have fallen apart even if he had stayed involved, as every year the school needed to decide whether to have school again the next year and what the terms of agreement were. And sometimes they couldn't decide on whether they were having school the next year, until May.
It was about like the majority party in Congress making up new rules for their governance every time they start a new session or new majority party. The difference being that Congress can actually make rules that need to be followed and this school being referenced couldn't. Some wanted to make their own rules throughout the year or not abide by the ones they had agreed to at the beginning of the term.
At their last stand,
One family wanted a minimalist education. Definitely didn't want to homeschool their children, but wanted either all school, or no school. They didn't want a hybrid system that involved parents. They wanted very limited accountability and scrutiny.
Another family wanted different curriculums for each of their children, but definitely didn't want to give up their own personal hobbies in order to homeschool their children.
A third family couldn't make up their minds as to whether they wanted homeschool or private school.
A fourth family wanted a full-blown school with 12 years of good education.
A fifth family decided to pull out and start their own church and school, which not surprisingly, also limping along, holding on by a thread.

[ken_sylvania]

I sit on a school board and it is my observation a certain amount of homeschooling is done because the family structure is chaotic and cannot support the regularity and discipline of school. After a year or two they look for private schools partly because they feel there will be less scrutiny or enforcement and they can just come as it suits.

I've noticed that as well firsthand as a school board chairman.

A scenario at one school...
At one school, after trying to hold the thing together for a number of years, the chairman decided he didn't need to do everything in the community and turned the school over to others. The new leaders didn't have much gifting or experience with bringing order and structure to things and with navigating differences of opinion. The school soon disintegrated.
Had the chairman stayed involved, it may have fallen apart even if he had stayed involved, as every year the school needed to decide whether to have school again the next year and what the terms of agreement were. And sometimes they couldn't decide on whether they were having school the next year, until May.
It was about like the majority party in Congress making up new rules for their governance every time they start a new session or new majority party. The difference being that Congress can actually make rules that need to be followed and this school being referenced couldn't. Some wanted to make their own rules throughout the year or not abide by the ones they had agreed to at the beginning of the term.
At their last stand,
One family wanted a minimalist education. Definitely didn't want to homeschool their children, but wanted either all school, or no school. They didn't want a hybrid system that involved parents. They wanted very limited accountability and scrutiny.
Another family wanted different curriculums for each of their children, but definitely didn't want to give up their own personal hobbies in order to homeschool their children.
A third family couldn't make up their minds as to whether they wanted homeschool or private school.
A fourth family wanted a full-blown school with 12 years of good education.
A fifth family decided to pull out and start their own church and school, which not surprisingly, also limping along, holding on by a thread.

I can't blame the chairman for deciding to bow out.

[JohnH]

Homeschooling has grown and changed so much since I homeschooled my children. Many programs available and online opportunities - it makes it easier for a parent who doesn't feel confident to homeschool.
Lots of out of school so to speak opportunities too.

One wonders how “online” teaches children.

[JayP]

I would be careful in both praise and condemnation of homeschooling.
We started homeschooling our children in the 1980s, very much in the “early days”. Now, our homeschooled through 12 daughter, but college educated with ironically a Masters in education (and 6 years teaching experience) has homeschooled her children (oldest now 13).

The reason I say avoid both praise and condemnation is having seen a LOT of homeschooling, I do not think you can draw firm conclusions. I have seen it done well, no better or worse than formal education, and done worse. It is too big a cross section, too many variations in how it is done to say definitively it is good or bad. Just as there are some fine schools, some that are meh, and some truly awful.

[temporal1]

I would be careful in both praise and condemnation of homeschooling.
We started homeschooling our children in the 1980s, very much in the “early days”. Now, our homeschooled through 12 daughter, but college educated with ironically a Masters in education (and 6 years teaching experience) has homeschooled her children (oldest now 13).

The reason I say avoid both praise and condemnation is having seen a LOT of homeschooling, I do not think you can draw firm conclusions. I have seen it done well, no better or worse than formal education, and done worse. It is too big a cross section, too many variations in how it is done to say definitively it is good or bad. Just as there are some fine schools, some that are meh, and some truly awful.

This makes sense, statistics seem to be favorable.
We had a few conscientious, capable friends in the 1980’s who homeschooled; the Catholic schools my grdaughter attends is supportive and encouraging to their homeschooling families, i imagine that’s very helpful. Near me, i’ve read reports that public schools must accomodate homeschooled students for sports, after all, taxes are paid.

[JohnH]

I would be careful in both praise and condemnation of homeschooling.
We started homeschooling our children in the 1980s, very much in the “early days”. Now, our homeschooled through 12 daughter, but college educated with ironically a Masters in education (and 6 years teaching experience) has homeschooled her children (oldest now 13).

The reason I say avoid both praise and condemnation is having seen a LOT of homeschooling, I do not think you can draw firm conclusions. I have seen it done well, no better or worse than formal education, and done worse. It is too big a cross section, too many variations in how it is done to say definitively it is good or bad. Just as there are some fine schools, some that are meh, and some truly awful.

Someone can conduct research and definitively say exactly how it performs overall, though.