Research Hub

Homeschooling Through the Years:
A Statistical Journey

The homeschooling movement has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1980s. Here's a timeline that highlights some of the key statistics and research milestones that have shaped the growth and acceptance of this alternative educational approach:

1980s: The Early Years

• In 1983, the U.S. Department of Education estimated that there were approximately 10,000 to 15,000 homeschooled children nationwide (HSLDA, n.d.).
• By the late 1980s, this number had grown to around 300,000 homeschooled students, reflecting the movement's steady rise (Ray, 2016).

1990s: Gaining Momentum

• In 1994, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that there were approximately 345,000 homeschooled children in the United States (Ray, 2016).
• By 1999, this number had nearly tripled, with an estimated 850,000 homeschooled students, according to the NCES (Ray, 2016).

2000s: Continued Growth and Research

• In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) estimated that there were around 1.1 million homeschooled children in the United States (Ray, 2016).
• By 2007, the NCES reported that the homeschool population had grown to approximately 1.5 million students (Ray, 2016).
• In 2009, NHERI's research revealed that homeschooled students scored higher than their public school peers on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2009).

2010s: Unprecedented Expansion

• In 2012, NHERI estimated that there were approximately 1.8 million homeschooled students in the United States (Ray, 2016).
• By 2016, this number had risen to an estimated 2.3 million homeschooled children, according to NHERI (Ray, 2016).
• A 2019 study by NHERI found that homeschooled students typically scored 15 to 30 percentile points above public school students on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2019).

2020s: The COVID-19 Impact

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling experienced a significant surge, with NHERI estimating that the homeschool population grew by between 5% and 10% in 2020 alone (Ray, 2022).
• As of 2022, NHERI estimated that there were approximately 3.7 million homeschooled students in the United States, representing a remarkable growth trajectory (Ray, 2022).

As these statistics demonstrate, the homeschooling movement has evolved from a niche phenomenon to a widely accepted and rapidly growing educational alternative. With its emphasis on personalized learning, academic achievement, and family values, homeschooling continues to attract families seeking a tailored approach to education.

Sources:

HSLDA. (n.d.). A Brief History of Homeschooling. Home School Legal Defense Association. Retrieved from https://hslda.org/post/a-brief-history-of-homeschooling 

Ray, B. D. (2016). Research Facts on Homeschooling. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ 

Ray, B. D. (2009). Academic Achievement and Demographic Traits of Homeschool Students: A Nationwide Study. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-reports/academic-achievement-and-demographic-traits-of-homeschool-students-a-nationwide-study/ 

Ray, B. D. (2019). Homeschool Student Academic Achievement: Evidence from 2019 and Previous Years. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-reports/homeschool-student-academic-achievement-evidence-from-2019-and-previous-years/ 

Ray, B. D. (2022). COVID-19 and Homeschooling: An Early Look at the Data. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/covid-19-and-homeschooling-an-early-look-at-the-data/