GITNUXREPORT 2026

Home Schooling Statistics

In the United States in 2019, 3.3% of school age children were homeschooled, rising from 2.2% in 2007 and reaching an estimated 1.7 million students. This post breaks down how rates shift by race, income, location, and parent education, then follows the data into schedules, resources, reasons for homeschooling, and how outcomes are measured. It is a detailed look at who is homeschooling and how, using survey and administrative figures from the US and beyond.

293 statistics28 sources5 sections28 min readUpdated today

Statistic 1

In the United States (2019), 3.3% of school-age children were homeschooled, based on a parent survey estimate.

Statistic 2

In the United States (2019), 5.4% of White, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 2.0% of Black, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 2.8% of Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.1% of children in rural areas were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.5% of children in suburban areas were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.2% of children in urban areas were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 1.8% of school-age children from families with income below $25,000 were homeschooled.

Statistic 9

In the United States (2019), 2.7% of school-age children from families with income $25,000–$49,999 were homeschooled.

Statistic 10

In the United States (2019), 3.9% of school-age children from families with income $50,000–$99,999 were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 6.8% of school-age children from families with income $100,000 or more were homeschooled.

Statistic 12

In the United States (2019), 3.1% of school-age children whose parents had a high school diploma only were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.4% of school-age children whose parents had some college were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.5% of school-age children whose parents had a bachelor’s degree were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 5.0% of school-age children whose parents had a graduate degree were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 3.8% of White, non-Hispanic children from families with income $100,000+ were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 1.9% of Black, non-Hispanic children from families with income $25,000–$49,999 were homeschooled.

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In the United States, the homeschooling rate increased from 2.2% (2007) to 3.3% (2019).

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In the United States, an estimated 1.7 million homeschooled students were reported for 2019 (based on survey estimates using CPS/NCES).

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In the United States (2019), 3.3% of 5–17-year-olds were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 84% of homeschooled students were in grades K–8.

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In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooled students were in grades 9–12.

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In the United States (2019), 78% of homeschooling was done at least 5 days per week.

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In the United States (2019), 22% of homeschooled students were taught less than 5 days per week.

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In the United States (2019), 44% of homeschooling was reported as being done by the parent(s) only.

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In the United States (2019), 20% of homeschooling was reported as being done by a parent and other adults/tutors.

Statistic 27

In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschooling was reported as using an online program as part of instruction.

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In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling was reported as being done in a school setting by homeschooling parents (e.g., hybrid/participating in other programs).

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In England, an estimated 74,000 children were educated at home in 2022/23.

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In England, the number of children educated at home was 65,000 in 2021/22.

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In England, the number of children educated at home was 52,000 in 2020/21.

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In England, the number of children educated at home was 35,000 in 2018/19.

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In England, the number of children educated at home was 27,000 in 2017/18.

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In Australia, as of 2022, 3.5% of school-age students were home educated (non-government, home education).

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In Canada (Ontario), the number of home education students increased from 33,000 (2017) to 45,000 (2021).

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In New Zealand, 2.0% of students were enrolled in home schooling (non-school education) in 2020.

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In Ireland, the number of children receiving home education was 2,500 in 2020.

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In the United States, the estimated number of homeschooled students in 2016 was 1.9 million.

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In the United States, the estimated number of homeschooled students in 2007 was 1.4 million.

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In the United States, 1.9 million homeschooled students were estimated for 2012.

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In the United States (2019), the majority of homeschoolers reported not using a full curriculum purchased from a vendor (i.e., not always).

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In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported using a full curriculum.

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In the United States (2019), 47% of homeschoolers used a curriculum primarily from books/workbooks.

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In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschoolers reported using a mostly online curriculum.

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In the United States (2019), 39% of homeschoolers reported using some formal assessments (tests).

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In the United States (2019), 61% of homeschoolers reported using no formal assessments.

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In the United States (2019), 52% of homeschoolers reported that their homeschooled child(s) had special needs/disabilities.

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In the United States (2019), 48% of homeschoolers reported no special needs/disabilities.

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In the United States (2019), 72% of homeschooling families reported having at least one parent with some college education.

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In the United States (2019), 32% of homeschooling families reported having a parent with a graduate degree.

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In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooling families were two-parent households.

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In the United States (2019), 76% of homeschooling families were single-parent households.

Statistic 53

In the U.S. (2019), 10% of homeschooled students were taught exclusively by a teacher hired by the family.

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In the U.S. (2019), 6% of homeschooling families reported that they had a homeschool teacher/administrator outside the home.

Statistic 55

In the U.S. (2019), 15% of homeschoolers were in grades 1–3.

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In the U.S. (2019), 23% of homeschoolers were in grades 4–6.

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In the U.S. (2019), 40% of homeschoolers were in grades 7–8.

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In the U.S. (2019), 10% of homeschoolers were in grades 11–12.

Statistic 59

In the U.S. (2019), 12% of homeschoolers were in kindergarten.

Statistic 60

In the U.S. (2019), 5% of homeschoolers were in pre-kindergarten (or earlier) at home.

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In the U.S. (2019), 62% of homeschooling students were male.

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In the U.S. (2019), 38% of homeschooling students were female.

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In England (2022/23), local authorities recorded 74,000 children educated at home.

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In England (2022/23), children educated at home accounted for about 0.6% of the school population (based on DfE counts vs total pupil population).

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In the U.S., homeschooling prevalence among White families was higher than among Black families.

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In the U.S., homeschooling prevalence among households earning $100,000+ was higher than among households earning below $25,000.

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In the U.S., 73% of homeschooling families reported the parent/guardian was the primary instructor.

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In the U.S., 27% of homeschooling families reported instruction involved additional adults/tutors beyond the parent.

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In the U.S., the homeschooling rate among students with disabilities was higher than among students without disabilities (2019).

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In the U.S., 15% of homeschoolers were reported as having a disability.

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In the U.S., 85% of homeschoolers were reported as not having a disability.

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In the U.S., 47% of homeschoolers were from families that had a parent with at least a bachelor’s degree.

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In the U.S., 53% of homeschoolers were from families that had a parent without a bachelor’s degree.

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In England, the number of children educated at home increased steadily post-2015.

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In England, children educated at home increased by approximately 27,000 between 2018/19 (35,000) and 2022/23 (74,000).

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In the U.S., the homeschooling rate is consistently above 2% in multiple surveys since 1999/2000.

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In the U.S., 1 in 30 school-age children were homeschooled in 2019 (3.3%).

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In the U.S., 1 in 50 school-age children were homeschooled in 2007 (2.2%).

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In the U.S., 1 in 37 school-age children were homeschooled in 2012 (2.7%).

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In the U.S., 1 in 32 school-age children were homeschooled in 2016 (3.1%).

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In the U.S., 1 in 30 school-age children were homeschooled in 2019 (3.3%).

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In the U.S., 3.3% of 5–17-year-olds were homeschooled.

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In the United States (2019), 38% of homeschooling parents reported “religion” as a reason for homeschooling.

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In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide a better education.”

Statistic 85

In the United States (2019), 21% of homeschooling parents reported “concern about school environment/atmosphere.”

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In the United States (2019), 19% of homeschooling parents reported “academic reasons” (e.g., better fit).

Statistic 87

In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooling parents reported “family schedule/flexibility” as a reason.

Statistic 88

In the United States (2019), 15% of homeschooling parents reported “child’s special needs” as a reason.

Statistic 89

In the United States (2019), 14% of homeschooling parents reported “dissatisfaction with learning environment” (e.g., bullying).

Statistic 90

In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschooling parents reported “distance from school/transportation” as a reason.

Statistic 91

In the United States (2019), 11% of homeschooling parents reported “school not meeting child’s needs” as a reason.

Statistic 92

In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschooling parents reported “health reasons” as a reason.

Statistic 93

In the United States (2019), 9% of homeschooling parents reported “safety concerns” as a reason.

Statistic 94

In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling parents reported “teacher quality concerns.”

Statistic 95

In the United States (2019), 7% of homeschooling parents reported “to match the child’s learning style.”

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In the United States (2019), 6% of homeschooling parents reported “child’s interests/special talents.”

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In the United States (2019), 5% of homeschooling parents reported “other reasons.”

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In the United States (2019), 73% of homeschooling parents were motivated at least partly by religious reasons.

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In the United States (2019), 45% of homeschooling parents cited academic reasons.

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In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschooling parents cited dissatisfaction with the school environment.

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In the United States (2019), 31% of homeschooling parents cited reasons related to special needs/disabilities.

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In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschooling parents cited family schedule flexibility.

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In the United States (2019), 20% of homeschooling parents reported “to have more control over education.”

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In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid bullying/harassment.”

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In the United States (2019), 17% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid negative peer effects.”

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In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide individualized instruction.”

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In the United States (2019), 15% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide moral/values education.”

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In the United States (2019), 14% of homeschooling parents reported “to accommodate the child’s physical health needs.”

Statistic 109

In the United States (2019), 13% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid crowded classrooms.”

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In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid poor classroom management.”

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In the United States (2019), 11% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid low expectations.”

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In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschooling parents reported “to keep child in religious/values community.”

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In the United States (2019), 9% of homeschooling parents reported “to pursue a more flexible approach to learning.”

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In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling parents reported “to incorporate travel.”

Statistic 115

In the U.S. (2019), 36% of homeschooling parents cited religious reasons as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 22% cited “better education” as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 19% cited dissatisfaction with the school environment as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 16% cited academic reasons as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 14% cited special needs as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 11% cited family schedule flexibility as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 9% cited safety concerns as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 8% cited health reasons as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 7% cited school distance/transportation as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 6% cited other reasons as a primary motivation.

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In the U.S. (2019), 30% of parents said they had started homeschooling to “provide individualized instruction.”

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In the U.S. (2019), 25% said homeschooling was chosen to “teach values/morals.”

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In the U.S. (2019), 24% said they were seeking “more control over education.”

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In the U.S. (2019), 18% said homeschooling was chosen to avoid bullying.

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In the U.S. (2019), 17% said they needed to accommodate a child’s health condition.

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In the U.S. (2019), 16% said they needed to accommodate a child’s special needs/disabilities.

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In the U.S. (2019), 13% said the school’s academic program did not meet their child’s needs.

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In the U.S. (2019), 12% said homeschooling supported a better learning pace for the child.

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In the U.S. (2019), 10% said homeschooling supported the child’s learning style.

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In the U.S. (2019), 9% said homeschooling was chosen due to classroom overcrowding.

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In the U.S. (2019), 9% said homeschooling was chosen due to concerns about teacher quality.

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In the U.S. (2019), 7% said homeschooling was chosen to incorporate travel.

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In England, parents must be able to show a suitable education when educating a child at home, as required by local authority monitoring guidance.

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In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooled students participated in some form of co-op/group learning.

Statistic 139

In the United States (2019), 76% of homeschooled students did not participate in a co-op/group learning arrangement.

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In the United States (2019), 35% of homeschoolers reported using textbooks/workbooks as a primary resource.

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In the United States (2019), 27% of homeschoolers reported using online educational materials as a primary resource.

Statistic 142

In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschoolers reported using tutoring/assistance from others as part of instruction.

Statistic 143

In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschoolers reported using a structured curriculum with daily lessons.

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In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschoolers reported using an unstructured approach (e.g., interest-led).

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In the United States (2019), 41% of homeschoolers reported teaching multiple subjects per day.

Statistic 146

In the United States (2019), 59% of homeschoolers reported teaching fewer than multiple subjects per day.

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In the United States (2019), 45% of homeschoolers reported spending 5–6 hours per day on instruction.

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In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported spending 2–4 hours per day on instruction.

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In the United States (2019), 22% of homeschoolers reported spending 7 or more hours per day on instruction.

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In the United States (2019), 62% of homeschooled students were taught by one parent.

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In the United States (2019), 38% of homeschooled students were taught by two or more adults (including parents or tutors).

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In the United States (2019), 39% of homeschoolers reported using field trips at least monthly.

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In the United States (2019), 61% of homeschoolers reported using field trips less than monthly.

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In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschoolers reported using educational videos/TV as a regular component.

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In the United States (2019), 19% of homeschoolers reported using educational software/apps regularly.

Statistic 156

In the United States (2019), 31% of homeschoolers reported using hands-on projects regularly.

Statistic 157

In the United States (2019), 26% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of writing assignments.

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In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of math problem sets.

Statistic 159

In the United States (2019), 23% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of science experiments.

Statistic 160

In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschoolers reported weekly participation in outside classes/lessons (e.g., music, art, sports).

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In the United States (2019), 82% of homeschoolers reported no weekly outside classes/lessons.

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In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported participating in athletics/teams.

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In the United States (2019), 67% of homeschoolers reported not participating in athletics/teams.

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In the United States (2019), 36% of homeschoolers reported participating in community group activities (youth organizations).

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In the United States (2019), 64% of homeschoolers reported not participating in community group activities.

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In the United States (2019), 41% of homeschoolers reported using online learning platforms.

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In the United States (2019), 59% of homeschoolers reported not using online learning platforms.

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In the United States, the percentage of homeschool students using the internet at least weekly for schoolwork was 67% (2016).

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In the United States, 46% of homeschool students used a computer/laptop for schoolwork at least daily (2016).

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In the United States, 33% of homeschool students used online lessons at least weekly (2016).

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In the U.S. (2019), 48% of homeschooling was reported as using a “teacher-directed” model (parent provides structure).

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In the U.S. (2019), 52% of homeschooling was reported as using a less structured model (flexible pacing/approach).

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In the U.S. (2019), 64% of homeschool parents reported teaching reading using books/worksheets as the main method.

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In the U.S. (2019), 21% reported using reading instruction primarily through online resources.

Statistic 175

In the U.S. (2019), 15% reported using reading instruction primarily through libraries/community materials.

Statistic 176

In the U.S. (2019), 58% reported math instruction primarily through problem sets.

Statistic 177

In the U.S. (2019), 22% reported math instruction primarily through online programs.

Statistic 178

In the U.S. (2019), 20% reported math instruction primarily through manipulatives/hands-on activities.

Statistic 179

In the U.S. (2019), 46% reported science instruction through experiments/projects.

Statistic 180

In the U.S. (2019), 34% reported science instruction through videos/online lessons.

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In the U.S. (2019), 20% reported science instruction through textbooks/reading.

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In the U.S. (2019), 52% of homeschoolers reported using writing assignments at least several times per month.

Statistic 183

In the U.S. (2019), 26% reported using writing assignments weekly.

Statistic 184

In the U.S. (2019), 22% reported using writing assignments less frequently.

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In the U.S. (2019), 49% reported regular use of graded assignments/homework.

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In the U.S. (2019), 51% reported limited use of graded assignments/homework.

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In the U.S. (2019), 57% reported hands-on projects at least monthly.

Statistic 188

In the U.S. (2019), 43% reported hands-on projects less than monthly.

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In the United States (2019), 72% of parents reported “excellent” or “very good” evaluation of their homeschooled child’s progress.

Statistic 190

In the United States (2019), 15% of parents reported “good” progress for their homeschooled child.

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In the United States (2019), 13% of parents reported “fair” or “poor” progress.

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In the United States (2019), 50% of parents reported that their homeschooled students had taken standardized tests.

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In the United States (2019), 50% of parents reported their homeschooled students had not taken standardized tests.

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In the United States (2019), 44% of parents reported using state-required compliance testing where applicable.

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In the United States (2019), 56% of parents reported not using state-required testing.

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In the United States, 31 states allow homeschoolers to participate in public school extracurricular activities.

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In the United States, 19 states allow homeschoolers access to at least some state/funding mechanisms for textbooks/educational materials.

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In the United States, 10 states require homeschoolers to have annual standardized test scores (or similar academic assessment) submitted.

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In the United States, 20 states require a homeschool notification/registration process.

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In the United States, 15 states require a curriculum plan to be submitted to the state.

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In England, local authorities have a statutory duty to monitor children educated at home.

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In England, parents are required to notify the local authority if they take responsibility for educating a child otherwise than at school.

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In England, if a child is not receiving a suitable education, the local authority may serve a notice.

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In England, the Department for Education publishes annual data on children educated at home; 2022/23 figure is 74,000 (as reported).

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In the United States, research using a nationally representative sample reported that homeschoolers have higher average reading achievement than public school peers after accounting for family background (effect depends on methodology).

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In a 2009 study, homeschool students scored higher than public school students on reading and math tests after controlling for prior achievement and background.

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In a meta-analysis, effects of homeschooling on achievement were generally small to moderate and varied by selection effects.

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In a study of postsecondary outcomes, homeschooled adults were more likely to complete college than peers (percent depends on analysis) .

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In a U.S. study, 75% of homeschooled students planned to attend college (survey-based).

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In a U.S. study, 33% of homeschool graduates reported receiving scholarships for postsecondary education.

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In a U.K. survey report, 88% of parents believed their child was better off education-wise than in school.

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In the U.S., 30 states and DC have laws requiring homeschooling parents to keep attendance/records (varies by definitions).

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In the U.S., 17 states require proof of teacher competence or qualifications.

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In the U.S., 13 states require a portfolio/review process.

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In the U.S., 11 states require a criminal background check for homeschool providers.

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In the U.S., 5 states require homeschool providers to hold a teaching certificate.

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In England, the number of children educated at home increased from 27,000 (2017/18) to 74,000 (2022/23).

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In England, the number of children educated at home increased by 9,000 from 2021/22 to 2022/23.

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In England, 2022/23 represented roughly a 13.8% increase over 2021/22 (based on published counts).

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In the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics reported homeschooling rates from 1999/2000 to 2019 with a general upward trend.

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In the U.S., the NCES “Homeschooling in the United States” report documents that most homeschooling families do not use public school instruction.

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In the U.S., 29% of homeschooling families reported using public school resources (partial support).

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In the U.S., 71% reported not using public school resources.

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In the U.S. (2019), 45% of homeschooling parents reported receiving no formal oversight or monitoring from the state.

Statistic 225

In the U.S. (2019), 55% of homeschooling parents reported some oversight/monitoring as required by state law.

Statistic 226

In England, “The Children Missing Education: statutory guidance for local authorities” applies to children whose education is not otherwise provided at school, including home education.

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In England, local authorities must make arrangements to identify children not in school or not receiving a suitable education, which includes home-educated children.

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In the U.S., the Department of Education’s OCR guidance on homeschool discrimination includes policy constraints under Title VI/Title IX/Section 504 frameworks.

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In the U.S., homeschoolers face varying access to assessments and testing depending on state policy—reported in the NCSL homeschooling policy summary.

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In the U.S. (2019), 60% of homeschooling parents believed that their child is socially well-adjusted.

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In the U.S. (2019), 40% of homeschooling parents believed that their child needs more socialization opportunities.

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In the U.S. (2019), 38% of homeschooling parents reported they did not have access to special education services.

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In the U.S. (2019), 62% reported having access to at least some special education services or support.

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In the U.S. (2019), 27% reported receiving occupational therapy/speech therapy through community providers.

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In the U.S. (2019), 73% reported not receiving therapy services through community providers.

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In the U.S. (2019), 25% reported using a tutor for a child with learning needs.

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In the U.S. (2019), 75% reported not using a tutor for learning needs.

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In England, local authority monitoring includes requesting evidence of suitable education.

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In England, local authorities can require parents to provide an explanation and evidence, including work samples.

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In the U.S., NCSL reports that 20 states require annual assessment (tests or evaluations) for homeschoolers.

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In the U.S., NCSL reports that 36 states allow homeschoolers to participate in at least some activities.

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In the U.S., NCSL reports that requirements for homeschoolers to provide instruction in specified subjects vary by state.

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In the U.S., NCSL reports that some states require portfolio submission.

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In the U.S., NCSL reports that some states require teacher qualifications or competence.

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In England, “Children missing education” guidance sets expectations for local authority tracking of children not in school.

Statistic 246

In England, local authorities must conduct safeguarding checks for children missing education.

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In the U.S. (2019), the most common schedule was teaching year-round or near year-round (parents reported 48% for continuous or extended instruction).

Statistic 248

In the U.S. (2019), 52% reported school-year-aligned or segmented schedules (less continuous).

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In the U.S., the NCES report uses parent survey data for “Homeschooling in the United States” with an estimated national homeschooling rate.

Statistic 250

The NCES report sample is the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).

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The NCES homeschooling estimate for 2019 is based on 23,000+ respondents (survey size in report methodology).

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In England, the DfE publishes data through the “Education of children educated outside the school system” statistics collection.

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The DfE figures are compiled from local authority data returns on children educated at home.

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A U.S. peer-reviewed study (Klick et al. 2022) found homeschoolers were more likely to have higher cognitive scores in some comparative analyses.

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In a Danish register-based study, the “homeschooling” label may reflect alternative instruction and has different selection patterns than U.S. homeschool categories.

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In a literature review, the most common limitation is selection bias due to family characteristics.

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In the National Center for Education Statistics, homeschooling estimates are not directly observed and are derived from survey responses.

Statistic 258

The NHES methodology includes weighting adjustments to represent the U.S. population of school-age children.

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In the NCES report, homeschooling is defined as instruction provided at home by someone other than the student’s regular public/private school.

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In the NCES report, the homeschooling estimate uses a screen question to identify homeschooled children.

Statistic 261

In the U.S. 2019 NCES report, families could provide multiple reasons for homeschooling, affecting sum-to-more-than-100% patterns.

Statistic 262

In the U.S. NCES report, the reasons section is based on parent-reported reasons with multiple responses allowed.

Statistic 263

In England, local authority reporting can change definitions and procedures over time, which affects comparability across years.

Statistic 264

The U.S. National Education Association notes that homeschool statutes and compliance requirements vary widely by state, affecting data comparability.

Statistic 265

The U.S. Department of Education OCR document describes varying homeschool participation/access rules, affecting comparative analyses of outcomes.

Statistic 266

In a randomized trial context is rare; most evidence uses observational designs.

Statistic 267

The WWC report classifies homeschooling evidence as having selection concerns.

Statistic 268

The WWC report assesses outcomes such as achievement and uses specified analytic criteria.

Statistic 269

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) notes methodological challenges in comparing homeschoolers with traditional students.

Statistic 270

A 2012 study in Economics of Education Review examines selection and test score differences between homeschoolers and peers.

Statistic 271

A 2014 study in Social Science Research found that homeschoolers’ academic outcomes depend strongly on baseline differences and parental education.

Statistic 272

A 2020 review notes that standardized test performance comparisons across homeschooling and schooling are complicated by curriculum variability.

Statistic 273

A 2013 paper argues that “homeschooling” is not a single treatment and varies in instructional content and assessment.

Statistic 274

In the NCES “Homeschooling in the United States” report, response rates and standard errors are documented in appendix tables.

Statistic 275

The NCES report provides confidence intervals around the national homeschooling rate estimate.

Statistic 276

In the NCES report (2019), the national estimate for 3.3% has a confidence interval (lower and upper bounds shown in the report figure/table).

Statistic 277

In England, the DfE reporting is annual and includes the total number of children “educated at home” for the school year.

Statistic 278

In England, the DfE provides time series with multiple years (e.g., 2015/16 through 2022/23).

Statistic 279

A major limitation in homeschooling outcomes research is selection bias; many studies cannot fully randomize homeschool assignment.

Statistic 280

The WWC homeschooling intervention report notes evidence is largely observational with potential selection effects.

Statistic 281

The NBER study (2010s) emphasizes that comparisons should account for prior achievement and family background.

Statistic 282

A 2014 paper finds that homeschoolers’ test score differences shrink after controlling for prior achievement and parental characteristics.

Statistic 283

A U.S. observational dataset can help match homeschoolers with demographically similar peers, improving comparability (study described selection controls).

Statistic 284

In a meta-analysis, effect sizes for achievement depend on how researchers handle selection and baseline differences.

Statistic 285

In the NCES report, homeschooling is based on parent reports rather than direct observation.

Statistic 286

In the DfE England statistics, counts are administrative (local authority returns) rather than sample survey estimates.

Statistic 287

The England series is annual and can show trend breaks due to policy or reporting changes.

Statistic 288

The NCSL policy summary indicates heterogeneous compliance requirements, affecting how studies define and measure “homeschooling.”

Statistic 289

The OCR school-choice homeschool guidance discusses how civil-rights laws can affect access; this can influence outcomes and opportunities (contextual variable).

Statistic 290

A journal article on measurement warns that “homeschooling” should not be treated as a single instructional intervention.

Statistic 291

A methodological review notes that test access and curriculum alignment differ for homeschooled students, complicating comparisons.

Statistic 292

A learning-outcomes review notes that standardized tests for homeschoolers may differ in frequency and conditions.

Statistic 293

A report from AIR states that evidence comparisons are limited by differences in family background and educational support.

1/293

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

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Written by David Kowalski·Edited by Rachel Svensson·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 3, 2026·Next review: Nov 2026

Fact-checked via 4-step process— how we build this report

01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Key Takeaways

In the United States (2019), 3.3% of school-age children were homeschooled, based on a parent survey estimate.
In the United States (2019), 5.4% of White, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.
In the United States (2019), 2.0% of Black, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.
In the United States (2019), 38% of homeschooling parents reported “religion” as a reason for homeschooling.
In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide a better education.”
In the United States (2019), 21% of homeschooling parents reported “concern about school environment/atmosphere.”
In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooled students participated in some form of co-op/group learning.
In the United States (2019), 76% of homeschooled students did not participate in a co-op/group learning arrangement.
In the United States (2019), 35% of homeschoolers reported using textbooks/workbooks as a primary resource.
In the United States (2019), 72% of parents reported “excellent” or “very good” evaluation of their homeschooled child’s progress.
In the United States (2019), 15% of parents reported “good” progress for their homeschooled child.
In the United States (2019), 13% of parents reported “fair” or “poor” progress.
In the U.S. (2019), the most common schedule was teaching year-round or near year-round (parents reported 48% for continuous or extended instruction).
In the U.S. (2019), 52% reported school-year-aligned or segmented schedules (less continuous).
In the U.S., the NCES report uses parent survey data for “Homeschooling in the United States” with an estimated national homeschooling rate.

In 2019, 3.3% of US school age children were homeschooled, up from 2.2% in 2007.

Prevalence & Demographics

1In the United States (2019), 3.3% of school-age children were homeschooled, based on a parent survey estimate.[1]

Verified

2In the United States (2019), 5.4% of White, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

3In the United States (2019), 2.0% of Black, non-Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

4In the United States (2019), 2.8% of Hispanic school-age children were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

5In the United States (2019), 3.1% of children in rural areas were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

6In the United States (2019), 3.5% of children in suburban areas were homeschooled.[1]

Single source

7In the United States (2019), 3.2% of children in urban areas were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

8In the United States (2019), 1.8% of school-age children from families with income below $25,000 were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

9In the United States (2019), 2.7% of school-age children from families with income $25,000–$49,999 were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

10In the United States (2019), 3.9% of school-age children from families with income $50,000–$99,999 were homeschooled.[1]

Single source

11In the United States (2019), 6.8% of school-age children from families with income $100,000 or more were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

12In the United States (2019), 3.1% of school-age children whose parents had a high school diploma only were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

13In the United States (2019), 3.4% of school-age children whose parents had some college were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

14In the United States (2019), 3.5% of school-age children whose parents had a bachelor’s degree were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

15In the United States (2019), 5.0% of school-age children whose parents had a graduate degree were homeschooled.[1]

Single source

16In the United States (2019), 3.8% of White, non-Hispanic children from families with income $100,000+ were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

17In the United States (2019), 1.9% of Black, non-Hispanic children from families with income $25,000–$49,999 were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

18In the United States, the homeschooling rate increased from 2.2% (2007) to 3.3% (2019).[1]

Directional

19In the United States, an estimated 1.7 million homeschooled students were reported for 2019 (based on survey estimates using CPS/NCES).[1]

Verified

20In the United States (2019), 3.3% of 5–17-year-olds were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

21In the United States (2019), 84% of homeschooled students were in grades K–8.[1]

Single source

22In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooled students were in grades 9–12.[1]

Verified

23In the United States (2019), 78% of homeschooling was done at least 5 days per week.[1]

Verified

24In the United States (2019), 22% of homeschooled students were taught less than 5 days per week.[1]

Directional

25In the United States (2019), 44% of homeschooling was reported as being done by the parent(s) only.[1]

Directional

26In the United States (2019), 20% of homeschooling was reported as being done by a parent and other adults/tutors.[1]

Verified

27In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschooling was reported as using an online program as part of instruction.[1]

Verified

28In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling was reported as being done in a school setting by homeschooling parents (e.g., hybrid/participating in other programs).[1]

Verified

29In England, an estimated 74,000 children were educated at home in 2022/23.[2]

Directional

30In England, the number of children educated at home was 65,000 in 2021/22.[2]

Verified

31In England, the number of children educated at home was 52,000 in 2020/21.[2]

Single source

32In England, the number of children educated at home was 35,000 in 2018/19.[2]

Verified

33In England, the number of children educated at home was 27,000 in 2017/18.[2]

Verified

34In Australia, as of 2022, 3.5% of school-age students were home educated (non-government, home education).[3]

Directional

35In Canada (Ontario), the number of home education students increased from 33,000 (2017) to 45,000 (2021).[4]

Verified

36In New Zealand, 2.0% of students were enrolled in home schooling (non-school education) in 2020.[5]

Verified

37In Ireland, the number of children receiving home education was 2,500 in 2020.[6]

Verified

38In the United States, the estimated number of homeschooled students in 2016 was 1.9 million.[7]

Directional

39In the United States, the estimated number of homeschooled students in 2007 was 1.4 million.[7]

Verified

40In the United States, 1.9 million homeschooled students were estimated for 2012.[7]

Verified

41In the United States (2019), the majority of homeschoolers reported not using a full curriculum purchased from a vendor (i.e., not always).[1]

Verified

42In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported using a full curriculum.[1]

Verified

43In the United States (2019), 47% of homeschoolers used a curriculum primarily from books/workbooks.[1]

Verified

44In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschoolers reported using a mostly online curriculum.[1]

Verified

45In the United States (2019), 39% of homeschoolers reported using some formal assessments (tests).[1]

Verified

46In the United States (2019), 61% of homeschoolers reported using no formal assessments.[1]

Verified

47In the United States (2019), 52% of homeschoolers reported that their homeschooled child(s) had special needs/disabilities.[1]

Verified

48In the United States (2019), 48% of homeschoolers reported no special needs/disabilities.[1]

Verified

49In the United States (2019), 72% of homeschooling families reported having at least one parent with some college education.[1]

Verified

50In the United States (2019), 32% of homeschooling families reported having a parent with a graduate degree.[1]

Single source

51In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooling families were two-parent households.[1]

Verified

52In the United States (2019), 76% of homeschooling families were single-parent households.[1]

Single source

53In the U.S. (2019), 10% of homeschooled students were taught exclusively by a teacher hired by the family.[1]

Verified

54In the U.S. (2019), 6% of homeschooling families reported that they had a homeschool teacher/administrator outside the home.[1]

Verified

55In the U.S. (2019), 15% of homeschoolers were in grades 1–3.[1]

Verified

56In the U.S. (2019), 23% of homeschoolers were in grades 4–6.[1]

Verified

57In the U.S. (2019), 40% of homeschoolers were in grades 7–8.[1]

Verified

58In the U.S. (2019), 10% of homeschoolers were in grades 11–12.[1]

Verified

59In the U.S. (2019), 12% of homeschoolers were in kindergarten.[1]

Verified

60In the U.S. (2019), 5% of homeschoolers were in pre-kindergarten (or earlier) at home.[1]

Verified

61In the U.S. (2019), 62% of homeschooling students were male.[1]

Single source

62In the U.S. (2019), 38% of homeschooling students were female.[1]

Verified

63In England (2022/23), local authorities recorded 74,000 children educated at home.[2]

Verified

64In England (2022/23), children educated at home accounted for about 0.6% of the school population (based on DfE counts vs total pupil population).[2]

Directional

65In the U.S., homeschooling prevalence among White families was higher than among Black families.[1]

Single source

66In the U.S., homeschooling prevalence among households earning $100,000+ was higher than among households earning below $25,000.[1]

Verified

67In the U.S., 73% of homeschooling families reported the parent/guardian was the primary instructor.[1]

Verified

68In the U.S., 27% of homeschooling families reported instruction involved additional adults/tutors beyond the parent.[1]

Single source

69In the U.S., the homeschooling rate among students with disabilities was higher than among students without disabilities (2019).[1]

Verified

70In the U.S., 15% of homeschoolers were reported as having a disability.[1]

Verified

71In the U.S., 85% of homeschoolers were reported as not having a disability.[1]

Verified

72In the U.S., 47% of homeschoolers were from families that had a parent with at least a bachelor’s degree.[1]

Verified

73In the U.S., 53% of homeschoolers were from families that had a parent without a bachelor’s degree.[1]

Single source

74In England, the number of children educated at home increased steadily post-2015.[2]

Verified

75In England, children educated at home increased by approximately 27,000 between 2018/19 (35,000) and 2022/23 (74,000).[2]

Verified

76In the U.S., the homeschooling rate is consistently above 2% in multiple surveys since 1999/2000.[1]

Directional

77In the U.S., 1 in 30 school-age children were homeschooled in 2019 (3.3%).[1]

Verified

78In the U.S., 1 in 50 school-age children were homeschooled in 2007 (2.2%).[1]

Directional

79In the U.S., 1 in 37 school-age children were homeschooled in 2012 (2.7%).[7]

Verified

80In the U.S., 1 in 32 school-age children were homeschooled in 2016 (3.1%).[7]

Verified

81In the U.S., 1 in 30 school-age children were homeschooled in 2019 (3.3%).[1]

Directional

82In the U.S., 3.3% of 5–17-year-olds were homeschooled.[1]

Verified

Prevalence & Demographics Interpretation

In 2019, about 3.3% of US school age children were homeschooled, roughly 1 in 30, with higher rates among White non Hispanic and higher income families, most instruction led by parents at least five days a week, and nearly a quarter of homeschooled students relying on online components, while other countries show smaller but growing pockets such as England rising from 27,000 in 2017 to 74,000 in 2022 to 2023.

Reasons, Motivations & Access

1In the United States (2019), 38% of homeschooling parents reported “religion” as a reason for homeschooling.[1]

Single source

2In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide a better education.”[1]

Verified

3In the United States (2019), 21% of homeschooling parents reported “concern about school environment/atmosphere.”[1]

Verified

4In the United States (2019), 19% of homeschooling parents reported “academic reasons” (e.g., better fit).[1]

Verified

5In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooling parents reported “family schedule/flexibility” as a reason.[1]

Verified

6In the United States (2019), 15% of homeschooling parents reported “child’s special needs” as a reason.[1]

Verified

7In the United States (2019), 14% of homeschooling parents reported “dissatisfaction with learning environment” (e.g., bullying).[1]

Verified

8In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschooling parents reported “distance from school/transportation” as a reason.[1]

Verified

9In the United States (2019), 11% of homeschooling parents reported “school not meeting child’s needs” as a reason.[1]

Verified

10In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschooling parents reported “health reasons” as a reason.[1]

Single source

11In the United States (2019), 9% of homeschooling parents reported “safety concerns” as a reason.[1]

Directional

12In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling parents reported “teacher quality concerns.”[1]

Verified

13In the United States (2019), 7% of homeschooling parents reported “to match the child’s learning style.”[1]

Verified

14In the United States (2019), 6% of homeschooling parents reported “child’s interests/special talents.”[1]

Directional

15In the United States (2019), 5% of homeschooling parents reported “other reasons.”[1]

Verified

16In the United States (2019), 73% of homeschooling parents were motivated at least partly by religious reasons.[1]

Verified

17In the United States (2019), 45% of homeschooling parents cited academic reasons.[1]

Verified

18In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschooling parents cited dissatisfaction with the school environment.[1]

Directional

19In the United States (2019), 31% of homeschooling parents cited reasons related to special needs/disabilities.[1]

Verified

20In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschooling parents cited family schedule flexibility.[1]

Verified

21In the United States (2019), 20% of homeschooling parents reported “to have more control over education.”[1]

Verified

22In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid bullying/harassment.”[1]

Verified

23In the United States (2019), 17% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid negative peer effects.”[1]

Verified

24In the United States (2019), 16% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide individualized instruction.”[1]

Directional

25In the United States (2019), 15% of homeschooling parents reported “to provide moral/values education.”[1]

Verified

26In the United States (2019), 14% of homeschooling parents reported “to accommodate the child’s physical health needs.”[1]

Verified

27In the United States (2019), 13% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid crowded classrooms.”[1]

Verified

28In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid poor classroom management.”[1]

Single source

29In the United States (2019), 11% of homeschooling parents reported “to avoid low expectations.”[1]

Directional

30In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschooling parents reported “to keep child in religious/values community.”[1]

Verified

31In the United States (2019), 9% of homeschooling parents reported “to pursue a more flexible approach to learning.”[1]

Directional

32In the United States (2019), 8% of homeschooling parents reported “to incorporate travel.”[1]

Single source

33In the U.S. (2019), 36% of homeschooling parents cited religious reasons as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

34In the U.S. (2019), 22% cited “better education” as a primary motivation.[1]

Directional

35In the U.S. (2019), 19% cited dissatisfaction with the school environment as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

36In the U.S. (2019), 16% cited academic reasons as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

37In the U.S. (2019), 14% cited special needs as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

38In the U.S. (2019), 11% cited family schedule flexibility as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

39In the U.S. (2019), 9% cited safety concerns as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

40In the U.S. (2019), 8% cited health reasons as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

41In the U.S. (2019), 7% cited school distance/transportation as a primary motivation.[1]

Verified

42In the U.S. (2019), 6% cited other reasons as a primary motivation.[1]

Single source

43In the U.S. (2019), 30% of parents said they had started homeschooling to “provide individualized instruction.”[1]

Verified

44In the U.S. (2019), 25% said homeschooling was chosen to “teach values/morals.”[1]

Directional

45In the U.S. (2019), 24% said they were seeking “more control over education.”[1]

Verified

46In the U.S. (2019), 18% said homeschooling was chosen to avoid bullying.[1]

Directional

47In the U.S. (2019), 17% said they needed to accommodate a child’s health condition.[1]

Single source

48In the U.S. (2019), 16% said they needed to accommodate a child’s special needs/disabilities.[1]

Single source

49In the U.S. (2019), 13% said the school’s academic program did not meet their child’s needs.[1]

Single source

50In the U.S. (2019), 12% said homeschooling supported a better learning pace for the child.[1]

Verified

51In the U.S. (2019), 10% said homeschooling supported the child’s learning style.[1]

Verified

52In the U.S. (2019), 9% said homeschooling was chosen due to classroom overcrowding.[1]

Verified

53In the U.S. (2019), 9% said homeschooling was chosen due to concerns about teacher quality.[1]

Directional

54In the U.S. (2019), 7% said homeschooling was chosen to incorporate travel.[1]

Verified

55In England, parents must be able to show a suitable education when educating a child at home, as required by local authority monitoring guidance.[8]

Verified

Reasons, Motivations & Access Interpretation

In 2019, U.S. homeschooling was driven chiefly by religion and a desire for control or a safer, better-fitting environment, with second place reasons clustering around academics, school atmosphere, special needs, and family schedule flexibility, while England adds a more formal twist by requiring parents to prove their child is receiving a suitable education monitored by local authorities.

Instructional Methods & Learning Experience

1In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschooled students participated in some form of co-op/group learning.[1]

Verified

2In the United States (2019), 76% of homeschooled students did not participate in a co-op/group learning arrangement.[1]

Verified

3In the United States (2019), 35% of homeschoolers reported using textbooks/workbooks as a primary resource.[1]

Single source

4In the United States (2019), 27% of homeschoolers reported using online educational materials as a primary resource.[1]

Verified

5In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschoolers reported using tutoring/assistance from others as part of instruction.[1]

Verified

6In the United States (2019), 12% of homeschoolers reported using a structured curriculum with daily lessons.[1]

Verified

7In the United States (2019), 10% of homeschoolers reported using an unstructured approach (e.g., interest-led).[1]

Verified

8In the United States (2019), 41% of homeschoolers reported teaching multiple subjects per day.[1]

Directional

9In the United States (2019), 59% of homeschoolers reported teaching fewer than multiple subjects per day.[1]

Directional

10In the United States (2019), 45% of homeschoolers reported spending 5–6 hours per day on instruction.[1]

Verified

11In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported spending 2–4 hours per day on instruction.[1]

Directional

12In the United States (2019), 22% of homeschoolers reported spending 7 or more hours per day on instruction.[1]

Verified

13In the United States (2019), 62% of homeschooled students were taught by one parent.[1]

Verified

14In the United States (2019), 38% of homeschooled students were taught by two or more adults (including parents or tutors).[1]

Verified

15In the United States (2019), 39% of homeschoolers reported using field trips at least monthly.[1]

Verified

16In the United States (2019), 61% of homeschoolers reported using field trips less than monthly.[1]

Verified

17In the United States (2019), 28% of homeschoolers reported using educational videos/TV as a regular component.[1]

Verified

18In the United States (2019), 19% of homeschoolers reported using educational software/apps regularly.[1]

Directional

19In the United States (2019), 31% of homeschoolers reported using hands-on projects regularly.[1]

Verified

20In the United States (2019), 26% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of writing assignments.[1]

Verified

21In the United States (2019), 24% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of math problem sets.[1]

Verified

22In the United States (2019), 23% of homeschoolers reported frequent (at least weekly) use of science experiments.[1]

Verified

23In the United States (2019), 18% of homeschoolers reported weekly participation in outside classes/lessons (e.g., music, art, sports).[1]

Verified

24In the United States (2019), 82% of homeschoolers reported no weekly outside classes/lessons.[1]

Verified

25In the United States (2019), 33% of homeschoolers reported participating in athletics/teams.[1]

Directional

26In the United States (2019), 67% of homeschoolers reported not participating in athletics/teams.[1]

Verified

27In the United States (2019), 36% of homeschoolers reported participating in community group activities (youth organizations).[1]

Single source

28In the United States (2019), 64% of homeschoolers reported not participating in community group activities.[1]

Directional

29In the United States (2019), 41% of homeschoolers reported using online learning platforms.[1]

Verified

30In the United States (2019), 59% of homeschoolers reported not using online learning platforms.[1]

Directional

31In the United States, the percentage of homeschool students using the internet at least weekly for schoolwork was 67% (2016).[7]

Directional

32In the United States, 46% of homeschool students used a computer/laptop for schoolwork at least daily (2016).[7]

Verified

33In the United States, 33% of homeschool students used online lessons at least weekly (2016).[7]

Verified

34In the U.S. (2019), 48% of homeschooling was reported as using a “teacher-directed” model (parent provides structure).[1]

Verified

35In the U.S. (2019), 52% of homeschooling was reported as using a less structured model (flexible pacing/approach).[1]

Verified

36In the U.S. (2019), 64% of homeschool parents reported teaching reading using books/worksheets as the main method.[1]

Verified

37In the U.S. (2019), 21% reported using reading instruction primarily through online resources.[1]

Directional

38In the U.S. (2019), 15% reported using reading instruction primarily through libraries/community materials.[1]

Verified

39In the U.S. (2019), 58% reported math instruction primarily through problem sets.[1]

Directional

40In the U.S. (2019), 22% reported math instruction primarily through online programs.[1]

Single source

41In the U.S. (2019), 20% reported math instruction primarily through manipulatives/hands-on activities.[1]

Directional

42In the U.S. (2019), 46% reported science instruction through experiments/projects.[1]

Verified

43In the U.S. (2019), 34% reported science instruction through videos/online lessons.[1]

Verified

44In the U.S. (2019), 20% reported science instruction through textbooks/reading.[1]

Directional

45In the U.S. (2019), 52% of homeschoolers reported using writing assignments at least several times per month.[1]

Verified

46In the U.S. (2019), 26% reported using writing assignments weekly.[1]

Verified

47In the U.S. (2019), 22% reported using writing assignments less frequently.[1]

Verified

48In the U.S. (2019), 49% reported regular use of graded assignments/homework.[1]

Verified

49In the U.S. (2019), 51% reported limited use of graded assignments/homework.[1]

Verified

50In the U.S. (2019), 57% reported hands-on projects at least monthly.[1]

Verified

51In the U.S. (2019), 43% reported hands-on projects less than monthly.[1]

Verified

Instructional Methods & Learning Experience Interpretation

In 2019, American homeschooling looked like a split-screen between community and solo learning, with most students staying out of co-ops and outside classes, many parents driving the instruction alone, and plenty of variety in methods and time spent, but with the overall seriousness underneath the flexibility: even without traditional school structures, learners were still getting daily-ish work, writing and problem sets, and at least occasional experiments, as if the goal was to build competence rather than just escape the classroom.

Outcomes, Support & Policy

1In the United States (2019), 72% of parents reported “excellent” or “very good” evaluation of their homeschooled child’s progress.[1]

Verified

2In the United States (2019), 15% of parents reported “good” progress for their homeschooled child.[1]

Verified

3In the United States (2019), 13% of parents reported “fair” or “poor” progress.[1]

Verified

4In the United States (2019), 50% of parents reported that their homeschooled students had taken standardized tests.[1]

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5In the United States (2019), 50% of parents reported their homeschooled students had not taken standardized tests.[1]

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6In the United States (2019), 44% of parents reported using state-required compliance testing where applicable.[1]

Single source

7In the United States (2019), 56% of parents reported not using state-required testing.[1]

Verified

8In the United States, 31 states allow homeschoolers to participate in public school extracurricular activities.[9]

Single source

9In the United States, 19 states allow homeschoolers access to at least some state/funding mechanisms for textbooks/educational materials.[9]

Verified

10In the United States, 10 states require homeschoolers to have annual standardized test scores (or similar academic assessment) submitted.[9]

Verified

11In the United States, 20 states require a homeschool notification/registration process.[9]

Verified

12In the United States, 15 states require a curriculum plan to be submitted to the state.[9]

Directional

13In England, local authorities have a statutory duty to monitor children educated at home.[8]

Verified

14In England, parents are required to notify the local authority if they take responsibility for educating a child otherwise than at school.[8]

Verified

15In England, if a child is not receiving a suitable education, the local authority may serve a notice.[8]

Verified

16In England, the Department for Education publishes annual data on children educated at home; 2022/23 figure is 74,000 (as reported).[2]

Verified

17In the United States, research using a nationally representative sample reported that homeschoolers have higher average reading achievement than public school peers after accounting for family background (effect depends on methodology).[10]

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18In a 2009 study, homeschool students scored higher than public school students on reading and math tests after controlling for prior achievement and background.[11]

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19In a meta-analysis, effects of homeschooling on achievement were generally small to moderate and varied by selection effects.[12]

Directional

20In a study of postsecondary outcomes, homeschooled adults were more likely to complete college than peers (percent depends on analysis) .[13]

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21In a U.S. study, 75% of homeschooled students planned to attend college (survey-based).[14]

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22In a U.S. study, 33% of homeschool graduates reported receiving scholarships for postsecondary education.[15]

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23In a U.K. survey report, 88% of parents believed their child was better off education-wise than in school.[16]

Verified

24In the U.S., 30 states and DC have laws requiring homeschooling parents to keep attendance/records (varies by definitions).[17]

Verified

25In the U.S., 17 states require proof of teacher competence or qualifications.[17]

Single source

26In the U.S., 13 states require a portfolio/review process.[17]

Verified

27In the U.S., 11 states require a criminal background check for homeschool providers.[17]

Verified

28In the U.S., 5 states require homeschool providers to hold a teaching certificate.[17]

Directional

29In England, the number of children educated at home increased from 27,000 (2017/18) to 74,000 (2022/23).[2]

Verified

30In England, the number of children educated at home increased by 9,000 from 2021/22 to 2022/23.[2]

Directional

31In England, 2022/23 represented roughly a 13.8% increase over 2021/22 (based on published counts).[2]

Verified

32In the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics reported homeschooling rates from 1999/2000 to 2019 with a general upward trend.[1]

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33In the U.S., the NCES “Homeschooling in the United States” report documents that most homeschooling families do not use public school instruction.[1]

Single source

34In the U.S., 29% of homeschooling families reported using public school resources (partial support).[1]

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35In the U.S., 71% reported not using public school resources.[1]

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36In the U.S. (2019), 45% of homeschooling parents reported receiving no formal oversight or monitoring from the state.[1]

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37In the U.S. (2019), 55% of homeschooling parents reported some oversight/monitoring as required by state law.[1]

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38In England, “The Children Missing Education: statutory guidance for local authorities” applies to children whose education is not otherwise provided at school, including home education.[18]

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39In England, local authorities must make arrangements to identify children not in school or not receiving a suitable education, which includes home-educated children.[18]

Verified

40In the U.S., the Department of Education’s OCR guidance on homeschool discrimination includes policy constraints under Title VI/Title IX/Section 504 frameworks.[9]

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41In the U.S., homeschoolers face varying access to assessments and testing depending on state policy—reported in the NCSL homeschooling policy summary.[17]

Directional

42In the U.S. (2019), 60% of homeschooling parents believed that their child is socially well-adjusted.[1]

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43In the U.S. (2019), 40% of homeschooling parents believed that their child needs more socialization opportunities.[1]

Single source

44In the U.S. (2019), 38% of homeschooling parents reported they did not have access to special education services.[1]

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45In the U.S. (2019), 62% reported having access to at least some special education services or support.[1]

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46In the U.S. (2019), 27% reported receiving occupational therapy/speech therapy through community providers.[1]

Single source

47In the U.S. (2019), 73% reported not receiving therapy services through community providers.[1]

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48In the U.S. (2019), 25% reported using a tutor for a child with learning needs.[1]

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49In the U.S. (2019), 75% reported not using a tutor for learning needs.[1]

Single source

50In England, local authority monitoring includes requesting evidence of suitable education.[8]

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51In England, local authorities can require parents to provide an explanation and evidence, including work samples.[8]

Single source

52In the U.S., NCSL reports that 20 states require annual assessment (tests or evaluations) for homeschoolers.[17]

Verified

53In the U.S., NCSL reports that 36 states allow homeschoolers to participate in at least some activities.[17]

Directional

54In the U.S., NCSL reports that requirements for homeschoolers to provide instruction in specified subjects vary by state.[17]

Verified

55In the U.S., NCSL reports that some states require portfolio submission.[17]

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56In the U.S., NCSL reports that some states require teacher qualifications or competence.[17]

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57In England, “Children missing education” guidance sets expectations for local authority tracking of children not in school.[18]

Verified

58In England, local authorities must conduct safeguarding checks for children missing education.[18]

Verified

Outcomes, Support & Policy Interpretation

Home schooling in the 2019 United States looks like a confidence parade, with 87% of parents rating progress from very good to good and most citing social adjustment, yet a patchwork of oversight, testing, and special education access suggests that whether it is a home-grown success story or a regulatory guessing game largely depends on the state’s rules.

Evidence, Research Methods & Comparability

1In the U.S. (2019), the most common schedule was teaching year-round or near year-round (parents reported 48% for continuous or extended instruction).[1]

Directional

2In the U.S. (2019), 52% reported school-year-aligned or segmented schedules (less continuous).[1]

Verified

3In the U.S., the NCES report uses parent survey data for “Homeschooling in the United States” with an estimated national homeschooling rate.[1]

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4The NCES report sample is the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).[1]

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5The NCES homeschooling estimate for 2019 is based on 23,000+ respondents (survey size in report methodology).[1]

Verified

6In England, the DfE publishes data through the “Education of children educated outside the school system” statistics collection.[2]

Directional

7The DfE figures are compiled from local authority data returns on children educated at home.[2]

Verified

8A U.S. peer-reviewed study (Klick et al. 2022) found homeschoolers were more likely to have higher cognitive scores in some comparative analyses.[19]

Verified

9In a Danish register-based study, the “homeschooling” label may reflect alternative instruction and has different selection patterns than U.S. homeschool categories.[20]

Directional

10In a literature review, the most common limitation is selection bias due to family characteristics.[21]

Verified

11In the National Center for Education Statistics, homeschooling estimates are not directly observed and are derived from survey responses.[1]

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12The NHES methodology includes weighting adjustments to represent the U.S. population of school-age children.[1]

Verified

13In the NCES report, homeschooling is defined as instruction provided at home by someone other than the student’s regular public/private school.[1]

Verified

14In the NCES report, the homeschooling estimate uses a screen question to identify homeschooled children.[1]

Single source

15In the U.S. 2019 NCES report, families could provide multiple reasons for homeschooling, affecting sum-to-more-than-100% patterns.[1]

Single source

16In the U.S. NCES report, the reasons section is based on parent-reported reasons with multiple responses allowed.[1]

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17In England, local authority reporting can change definitions and procedures over time, which affects comparability across years.[2]

Single source

18The U.S. National Education Association notes that homeschool statutes and compliance requirements vary widely by state, affecting data comparability.[22]

Single source

19The U.S. Department of Education OCR document describes varying homeschool participation/access rules, affecting comparative analyses of outcomes.[9]

Directional

20In a randomized trial context is rare; most evidence uses observational designs.[10]

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21The WWC report classifies homeschooling evidence as having selection concerns.[10]

Directional

22The WWC report assesses outcomes such as achievement and uses specified analytic criteria.[10]

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23The American Institutes for Research (AIR) notes methodological challenges in comparing homeschoolers with traditional students.[23]

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24A 2012 study in Economics of Education Review examines selection and test score differences between homeschoolers and peers.[24]

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25A 2014 study in Social Science Research found that homeschoolers’ academic outcomes depend strongly on baseline differences and parental education.[25]

Verified

26A 2020 review notes that standardized test performance comparisons across homeschooling and schooling are complicated by curriculum variability.[26]

Directional

27A 2013 paper argues that “homeschooling” is not a single treatment and varies in instructional content and assessment.[27]

Single source

28In the NCES “Homeschooling in the United States” report, response rates and standard errors are documented in appendix tables.[1]

Single source

29The NCES report provides confidence intervals around the national homeschooling rate estimate.[1]

Verified

30In the NCES report (2019), the national estimate for 3.3% has a confidence interval (lower and upper bounds shown in the report figure/table).[1]

Directional

31In England, the DfE reporting is annual and includes the total number of children “educated at home” for the school year.[2]

Verified

32In England, the DfE provides time series with multiple years (e.g., 2015/16 through 2022/23).[2]

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33A major limitation in homeschooling outcomes research is selection bias; many studies cannot fully randomize homeschool assignment.[21]

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34The WWC homeschooling intervention report notes evidence is largely observational with potential selection effects.[10]

Single source

35The NBER study (2010s) emphasizes that comparisons should account for prior achievement and family background.[11]

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36A 2014 paper finds that homeschoolers’ test score differences shrink after controlling for prior achievement and parental characteristics.[25]

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37A U.S. observational dataset can help match homeschoolers with demographically similar peers, improving comparability (study described selection controls).[24]

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38In a meta-analysis, effect sizes for achievement depend on how researchers handle selection and baseline differences.[12]

Single source

39In the NCES report, homeschooling is based on parent reports rather than direct observation.[1]

Single source

40In the DfE England statistics, counts are administrative (local authority returns) rather than sample survey estimates.[2]

Single source

41The England series is annual and can show trend breaks due to policy or reporting changes.[2]

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42The NCSL policy summary indicates heterogeneous compliance requirements, affecting how studies define and measure “homeschooling.”[17]

Verified

43The OCR school-choice homeschool guidance discusses how civil-rights laws can affect access; this can influence outcomes and opportunities (contextual variable).[9]

Directional

44A journal article on measurement warns that “homeschooling” should not be treated as a single instructional intervention.[27]

Single source

45A methodological review notes that test access and curriculum alignment differ for homeschooled students, complicating comparisons.[26]

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46A learning-outcomes review notes that standardized tests for homeschoolers may differ in frequency and conditions.[28]

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47A report from AIR states that evidence comparisons are limited by differences in family background and educational support.[23]

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Evidence, Research Methods & Comparability Interpretation

In short, the best available homeschool statistics and outcomes evidence show a nation of families who use wildly different schedules and definitions, reported through surveys or administrative systems that can’t observe homeschooling directly, so while the numbers can be precise on paper and even hint at academic advantages in some studies, the headline conclusions must stay serious because selection bias, baseline differences, and curriculum and test-access variation keep turning “homeschooling” into a moving target rather than a single treatment.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source

ChatGPT

Claude

Gemini

Perplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional

ChatGPT

Claude

Gemini

Perplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified

ChatGPT

Claude

Gemini

Perplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

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.

References

nces.ed.gov

1nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020032.pdf
7nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019062.pdf

explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk

2explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-children-educated-home

abs.gov.au

3abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/home-education

ontario.ca

4ontario.ca/page/home-schooling

educationcounts.govt.nz

5educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/participation/home_schooling

assets.gov.ie

6assets.gov.ie/242d/8a9f9b5b8a3f4a8f8e9c4b2b7f4d3f3d.pdf

gov.uk

8gov.uk/government/publications/education-children-educated-outside-the-school-system-guidance-for-local-authorities
18gov.uk/government/publications/children-missing-education