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THE DATA ON HOMESCHOOLING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA



Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional public or private schooling in the United States.


According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of homeschooled students in the United States has steadily increased over the past two decades.

Here are some key statistics on homeschooling in the United States:

  1. In the 2020-2021 school year, an estimated 4.5 million students were homeschooled, which represents 8.9% of the school-age population (ages 5-17).

  2. The number of homeschooled students has increased steadily over the past two decades. In 1999, there were an estimated 850,000 homeschooled students in the United States, which represented 1.7% of the school-age population.

  3. The most common reasons parents give for homeschooling their children are concerns about the school environment, dissatisfaction with academic instruction, and religious or moral reasons.

  4. Homeschooled students are more likely to come from two-parent households, have parents with higher levels of education, and have higher household incomes compared to the general population.

  5. Homeschooled students perform as well or better on standardized tests compared to their traditionally schooled peers. According to NCES data, homeschooled students scored an average of 15-30 percentage points higher than the national average on standardized tests.

  6. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, although the regulations and requirements vary by state. Some states require parents to submit a notice of intent to homeschool or maintain records of their child's progress, while others have no requirements at all.

In conclusion, homeschooling has become a popular alternative to traditional schooling in the United States, with an estimated 4.5 million homeschooled students in the 2020-2021 school year. Homeschooled students come from a variety of backgrounds and tend to perform well academically compared to their traditionally schooled peers. While regulations and requirements for homeschooling vary by state, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.



 

This article is intended for informational use only. I am not an expert. To read my personal thoughts and experiences on this topic and many others, become a lifetime member.


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