Homeschooling Statistics

Over 3.4 million K-12 students are now homeschooled in the US — roughly 6.3% of all school-age children.

That is more than double the pre-pandemic rate of 3.4%.

Homeschooling grew at 5.4% in 2024-25, nearly three times the pre-pandemic growth rate, with more than a third of states reporting their highest homeschooling numbers ever.

The students are also doing well. Homeschooled students have an 87% college acceptance rate, compared to 68% for public school graduates.

General Homeschooling Statistics around the World

Many countries around the world allow for homeschooling, including the United States. Others include Indonesia, China, Japan, Botswana, South Africa, Australia, Greece, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada.

Homeschooling is the practice of educating a child at home without enrolling him/her into a formal school.

Students are said to be homeschooled if they are being educated at home rather than at school for some part of their learning or when their part-time school attendance is less than 25 hours per week.

• 67% of the homeschooled students successfully graduate from college.
• The COVID-19 Pandemic saw over 300 million students all over the world become homeschooled.
• 25% of the homeschooled students have enrolled a grade above their recommended grade as per age level.
• Homeschooled students score between 80% and 90% regardless of their parent’s level of education.
• Boys score 44% more in reading tests when educated at home compared to when educated in public schools.
• 98% of the home-educated students engage in an average of 5 activities outside their homes.
• As of 2024-25, there are an estimated 3.4 million homeschooled K-12 students in the US, making up about 6.3% of all school-age children — more than double the pre-pandemic rate.
• California has the most homeschooled students of any state, with over 547,000 as of 2024, followed by Texas and New York.
• Homeschooling is growing at 5.4% annually as of 2024-25, nearly three times the pre-pandemic growth rate of around 2%.
• 74% of homeschooled students go on to pursue college, compared to 44% of public school students.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Home Schooling in the US

The COVID-19 Pandemic severely disrupted educational activities all around the world, including the US.

• 41% of parents showed a willingness to allow their children to take part in homeschooling as of May 2020.
• An IPSOS survey conducted in May 2020 showed that 59% of the parents were ready to consider homeschooling, with 30% strongly considering it.
• Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, 28% fewer parents preferred homeschooling.
• 43% more parents became inclined towards homeschooling following the onset of the pandemic.
• 53% of the black parents believe that the pandemic positively changed their minds towards homeschooling in 2020.
• As of February 2020, 26% of the parents who had not tried homeschooling before had considered having full-time homeschooling. During the same time, 33% were considering doing it partially.
• Only 68% of the parents who had homeschooled before February 2020 found it satisfactory.
• 83% of the parents who had not homeschooled before February 2020 found it satisfactory.
• 69% of the homeschooled students before the pandemic showed a willingness to continue with the same for the following academic year.
• Among the parents who did not homeschool their children in February 2020, 15% were very likely to fully home school in their children’s next academic year.
• 54% of the parents who were homeschooling before February 2020 were likely to continue on a full-time basis in their children’s next academic year.

Costs incurred in homeschooling in the US

• On average, homeschooling one child costs the parent(s) between $700 and $1,800.
• Each year the parent(s) spends an average of $350-$750.
• For materials, the yearly expense ranges between $150 and $300.
• Field trips cost between $100 and $250 annually.
• For extracurricular activities, the parent(s) yearly spend ranges between $100 and $500.
• Homeschooling now saves taxpayers over $64 billion per year, based on 2024-25 enrollment data — significantly more than earlier estimates.
• 49% of homeschooling families earn over $75,000 per year, showing that cost and access remain real barriers for lower-income households.

Homeschooling expenses are not eligible for federal tax breaks. However, some states offer tax breaks for homeschooling families.

• In Illinois, the parents or guardians of a homeschooled student aged 21 or below are eligible for an education expense credit for amounts exceeding $250.
• Louisiana allows parents to be eligible for up to 50% tax off for homeschooling expenses not more than $5,000.
• In Indiana, a homeschooled child could get up to $1,000 off in the taxes to be paid.

Also check out these incredible scholarship statistics.

The number of hours homeschooled students learn each week in the US

Homeschooling gives the parent(s) the power to determine the number of hours their child will learn each week.

• 72% of the homeschooled student learned for 5 hours each week.
• The percentage of students who learned for a weekly 4 hours was 12%.
• 4% of the students learned for 6 hours and 3% for 7 hours in a week.
• Another 4% of the students learned for just 3 hours a week, while 2% were taught for only 2 hours per week.
• The number of students who learned