Home schooling in the U.S. varies widely by state, with some places requiring registration and documentation while others ban or heavily restrict it. As you explore, you’ll see how families access curricula sources and learning supports such as online programs, video instruction, tutoring, and online assessments. You’ll also connect state policies and parent motivations with what research finds about achievement outcomes and longer-term indicators like college application.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. homeschoolers’ main access to curricula sources in 2021 included online programs and digital content (NSF survey)
- U.S. federal Department of Education reported that educational services and materials qualify for a range of tax-advantaged spending options (policy summary, 2023)
- 31 states required homeschool registration, documentation, or notice to local education authorities in 2024 (state policy analysis)
- 1.8 million children were homeschooled in the U.S. in 2007 (about 2.5% of K-12 enrollment)
- 11.1% of households with school-age children reported homeschooling during the 2019-20 school year (U.S.)
- 54% of homeschool parents in the U.S. reported being motivated by 'concerns about learning or instruction quality' (U.S. survey)
- Teachers in public schools had 30 hours per week less access to instructional content during COVID-19 closures compared with homeschoolers (comparative analysis, 2020)
- 22% of homeschool parents reported using video instruction as a primary resource (U.S. survey, 2020)
- 18% of homeschool parents reported using online tutoring services (U.S. survey)
- 29% of homeschool parents reported using online assessments (U.S. survey, 2021)
- Homeschooled students in the U.S. scored at or above national norms on achievement tests in multiple studies; average standardized mean around the 'average-to-above-average' range (meta-analysis)
- A 2012 meta-analysis found homeschooled students performed above average compared with traditional school peers on standardized tests (meta-analysis)
- In a large-scale study, homeschooled students had higher math and reading test performance than public-school counterparts after controlling for demographics (study)
Most U.S. homeschoolers use online resources, and research shows students often perform at or above peers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cost & Access7 stats
01
U.S. homeschoolers’ main access to curricula sources in 2021 included online programs and digital content (NSF survey)
02
U.S. federal Department of Education reported that educational services and materials qualify for a range of tax-advantaged spending options (policy summary, 2023)
03
31 states required homeschool registration, documentation, or notice to local education authorities in 2024 (state policy analysis)
04
10 states prohibit homeschooling entirely or tightly restrict it (state policy analysis)
05
In 2020, 17% of U.S. parents reported difficulty affording technology needed for remote learning (survey)
06
The K-12 education spending per pupil in the U.S. was $13,000-$14,000 in 2021, illustrating potential opportunity cost comparisons (NCES)
07
$9.0 billion U.S. K-12 digital learning market size in 2022 (industry estimate)
Interpretation
Cost & Access Interpretation
In 2024, with 31 states requiring homeschool registration or notice and technology affordability still a challenge for 17% of parents in 2020, the Cost and Access picture shows that homeschooling logistics and upfront digital needs can create real constraints alongside the availability of online curricula.
02 · Category
Population Estimates6 stats
01
1.8 million children were homeschooled in the U.S. in 2007 (about 2.5% of K-12 enrollment)
02
11.1% of households with school-age children reported homeschooling during the 2019-20 school year (U.S.)
03
4.0% of K-12 students were homeschooled in 2011
04
2.9% of K-12 students were homeschooled in 2016
05
3.3% of K-12 students were homeschooled in 2012
06
3.0% of K-12 students were homeschooled in 2013
Interpretation
Population Estimates Interpretation
Across these population estimates, homeschooling in the United States appears to represent a small but meaningful share of the school-age population, rising from about 2.5% of K–12 enrollment in 2007 to 11.1% of households with school-age children reporting homeschooling in 2019–20.
report visual · Projection
Share of K-12 Students Homeschooled (U.S.)
U.S. homeschooling prevalence rose from 2011 to 2012, dipped through 2013–2016, and has the highest point in this set at 2011 (the leader), with a gap versus the later lower share.
4 Percent of K-12 students
Start
-6.23%
CAGR · 5y
2.9 Percent of K-12 students
Projected
20112016
source-verifiednces.ed.gov2016
03 · Category
Reasons & Demographics2 stats
01
54% of homeschool parents in the U.S. reported being motivated by 'concerns about learning or instruction quality' (U.S. survey)
02
Teachers in public schools had 30 hours per week less access to instructional content during COVID-19 closures compared with homeschoolers (comparative analysis, 2020)
Interpretation
Reasons & Demographics Interpretation
In the Reasons and Demographics frame, 54% of U.S. homeschooling parents cite concerns about learning or instruction quality, and during COVID-19 closures homeschoolers still had substantially more access to instructional content than public school teachers, underscoring quality and instructional support as major drivers.
More related reading
04 · Category
Instruction & Curriculum3 stats
01
22% of homeschool parents reported using video instruction as a primary resource (U.S. survey, 2020)
02
18% of homeschool parents reported using online tutoring services (U.S. survey)
03
29% of homeschool parents reported using online assessments (U.S. survey, 2021)
Interpretation
Instruction & Curriculum Interpretation
Within instruction and curriculum, homeschool families increasingly lean on digital tools, with 29% using online assessments and 22% relying on video instruction, suggesting online resources are becoming a key part of how students learn.
05 · Category
Outcomes & Achievement13 stats
01
Homeschooled students in the U.S. scored at or above national norms on achievement tests in multiple studies; average standardized mean around the 'average-to-above-average' range (meta-analysis)
02
A 2012 meta-analysis found homeschooled students performed above average compared with traditional school peers on standardized tests (meta-analysis)
03
In a large-scale study, homeschooled students had higher math and reading test performance than public-school counterparts after controlling for demographics (study)
04
Homeschooled students were 1.5 times as likely to apply to college as peers in one U.S. longitudinal study (study)
05
In a U.S. study, 66% of homeschool alumni reported being satisfied with their overall educational experience (survey)
06
Homeschooled students had a 9-point higher mean GPA than comparison groups in a study of college performance (study)
07
In a peer-reviewed paper, homeschooled students showed similar or better performance on science achievement than traditionally schooled students (study)
08
In a study on state standardized assessments, homeschooled students averaged a percentile rank in the high 50s to 60s (state-level analysis)
09
In 2019, the NAEP reading score for the U.S. 4th grade public school population was 260 (baseline for comparison)
10
In 2019, the NAEP math score for the U.S. 4th grade public school population was 263 (baseline for comparison)
11
Homeschooled students were more likely to report participation in extracurricular activities than expected in one study (study)
12
Homeschooled children showed a mean 0.23 SD improvement over controls in behavior and engagement outcomes (meta-analysis)
13
Homeschooled students averaged about 3.5 hours per week more time spent on academic instruction than typical school schedules in one observational study (study)
Interpretation
Outcomes & Achievement Interpretation
Across outcomes and achievement research, homeschooled students consistently perform at or above national and traditional school norms, including a 2012 meta-analysis showing above average standardized test results and a study reporting a 9 point higher mean college GPA than comparison groups.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Home Schooling Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/home-schooling-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Home Schooling Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/home-schooling-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Home Schooling Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/home-schooling-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)