44 Latest Homeschooling Statistics (2024)

It’s no secret that the homeschooling movement is on the rise. According to recent statistics, more and more parents are choosing to educate their children at home. So why is it becoming more popular?

Why are so many people ditching traditional schooling for homeschooling? There are a lot of reasons, but here are just a few of the most common ones:

dissatisfaction with the public school system
concerns about safety and bullying in schools
an interest in teaching children at their own pace
a desire to instill religious values
a need for more flexibility due to work or family obligations
a belief that homeschooling is better for cognitive and social development

No matter your reason for considering leaving conventional school, this post will provide you with additional information on homeschooling. In this article, we will discuss the latest homeschooling statistics based on the most recent educational studies.

Stats on Pros of Homeschooling

Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice for students and their families. According to recent studies, homeschooled students often outperform their public and private school counterparts academically.

homeschooling infographic with statistic

This begs the question: what are the benefits of homeschooling? Here, we’ll take a look at some of the pros of homeschooling from a statistical perspective. A recent survey from edchoice.org found the following stats from families who homeschool:

Of the homeschooled students polled, 68% said that they feel an increased sense of happiness.
As many as 60% of families reported improved behavior with homeschooling.
When asked to how each school sector responded to the pandemic, 70% of those polled said they had a positive opinion of homeschooling. This is compared to a 48% positive opinion of private schools, a 45% positive opinion of traditional schools, and 43% positive opinion of charter schools.
The Edchoice survey also found that 58% of families chose homeschooling because it gave them more control over what they learn.
In addition, the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) states that taxpayers spend over $15.000 per pupil. Since homeschooling students are not included in this funding, taxpayers save $68 billion.

Statistics on Cons of Homeschooling

There are a lot of pros to homeschooling your child, but there are also some cons to consider before making your decision to ditch conventional schooling. Let’s take a look at the latest negative stats on homeschooling.

In the above-mentioned survey from Edchoice, homeschooling families mentioned the following cons:

Of the families polled, 16% stated they had a lack of time for homeschooling.
14% of those surveyed said they had a lack of knowledge on homeschooling.
16% said they had concerns about the future prospects for homeschooled students.
26 percent of homeschooling parents report difficulty managing homeschooling and other responsibilities.
36% of families said that they do not homeschool due to it causing a financial burden.
26% of current homeschooling parents stated this financial burden is very problematic or extremely problematic.

Stats on Homeschooling vs Public Schools

A recent study has shown that there are more and more families choosing to homeschool their children instead of sending them to public school. While there are many benefits to homeschooling, it can also be a difficult choice to make. You may be wondering:

Do homeschooled students perform better?
Are they more successful in life?
Is homeschooling easier than public school?

This section will explore some of the statistics on homeschooling vs public schools in order to help you decide what is best for your family.

Homeschool students score 15-30 percentile points higher on standardized tests than public school students. (NHERI)
In peer reviewed research studies, 87% showed positive outcomes on social development for homeschooled rather than traditional school. (NHERI)
In a peer reviewed study, 69% showed positive success rates among adults compared to conventional schools. (NHERI)
68% of parents said their children were learning more at home (Edchoice)
65% said their children were enjoying learning more and were more interested in school (Edchoice)

General Homeschooling Statistics

We have included some general homeschooling statistics for the United States below. If you are wondering which states hold the highest and lowest population of homeschoolers, these stats provide information on U.S. homeschooling families.

As of 2020, the U.S. had 2.6 million homeschooling students. (NHERI)
Alaska and Oklahoma currently have the most homeschooling students at 27.5% and 20.1% respectively. (United States Census Bureau)
Illinois and Iowa have the fewest students homeschooling at 5.4% and 6% respectively. (United States Census Bureau)
The homeschooling population in the U.S. grows at a rate of 2%-8% each year. (NHERI)
One out of 12 students in the U.S. is homeschooled. (United States Census Bureau)
During 2021, Massachusetts jumped from 1.5% to 12.1% homeschooling families. (United States Census Bureau)
Roughly 6%-7% of school-aged children homeschool according to the NHERI.
According to Forbes, 58% of parents said that the Covid pandemic was extremely important in their decision to homeschool.
23% of parents said religion was extremely important in their decision to homeschool. (Forbes)
Homeschooling families spend an average of $600 annually on homeschool. (NHERI)
27% of people said they were much more interested in homeschooling as a result of the pandemic. (Edchoice)
The 2022-2023 school year saw over a 100% increase in homeschooling in New York and Washington D.C. (Washington Post)

Homeschool Stats by Demographic

These homeschooling facts include statistics by race and demographic in the United States.

In 2021, the percentage of Black students homeschooling jumped from 1% to 8% compared to two years prior. (Washington Post)
4.4% of homeschoolers are from rural families, 3.0% live in cities, and 2.9% are from suburban areas. (National Center for Education Statistics)
Between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of Hispanic students homeschooling jumped from 2% to 9%. (Washington Post)
41% of homeschool students are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or other (non-white). (U.S. Department of Education)
According to Edchoice, lower income parents at 18% were more likely to prefer homeschooling, 11% of middle-income parents, and 7% of higher income parents.

Statistics for Homeschooling Students with Special Needs

Parents of children with special needs are one of the highest groups making the move to homeschooling in the United States. The following statistics for homeschooling students with special needs provide additional insight.

52% of families said their child’s special needs played an important role in deciding to homeschool. (Edchoice)
34% of parents said their child no longer required medical or behavioral treatment after starting homeschooling. (Forbes)
68% of parents polled said that flexibility and individual attention were very important or extremely important for choosing homeschooling. (Edchoice)
45% of parents polled stated that the Covid pandemic should help us rethink how we approach education in the U.S. (Edchoice)
52% of parents said that lack of accommodations for students with special needs was very important or extremely important in making their decision to homeschool. (Forbes)

Homeschooling Stats from around the World

If you are curious about homeschooling stats in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or other countries around the world, take a look at the international statistics below.

Close to 3 million students are homeschooled worldwide (HSLDA)
The five countries with the most homeschooled children are: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. (HSLDA)
Australia has around 30,000 homeschooling families. (HSLDA)
The number of homeschool students in the UK rose 75% in 2021. (BBC)
In New Zealand, the average age of a student entering homeschool is 8. (Education Counts)
More than ⅓ of homeschooled students in Canada are in the province of Alberta. (CBC)

Final Thoughts on Homeschooling Statistics

Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular option for parents of school-aged children, especially in recent years. If you are currently debating whether to homeschool your own children, I recommend weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling.

I was initially hesitant to commit to homeschool, but my kids and I have really enjoyed the flexibility and control we now have over academics. How do you think homeschooling compares to public school? Comment below to share with us!