Homeschooling in 2025: The Numbers Behind America's Educational Revolution

Rosa Matthews
Jun 17
5 min read

Remember when homeschooling felt like that quirky option only a few families chose? That image is quickly becoming a thing of the past. What used to be a niche alternative is now a powerful force reshaping how Americans think about education.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Homeschooling’s Massive Growth

Let’s get straight to it—homeschooling has grown in a big way. As of 2024, somewhere between 3.7 and 4.2 million kids are learning at home. That’s about 6.73% to 10% of all K-12 students in the U.S. For a bit of context, back in 1999, less than 2% of kids—around 850,000—were homeschooled.

The real game-changer? The COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t just nudge families toward homeschooling—it catapulted them there. The homeschooling rate jumped from 3.4% in 2019 to a whopping 9% in 2020. By 2021, about 11% of U.S. households were homeschooling, marking a dramatic 39% increase in just one school year.

Interestingly, even after schools reopened, many families didn’t return. While there was a slight dip in homeschooling between 2021 and 2023, numbers bounced back. In the 2023–24 school year, 18 out of 20 states saw homeschooling rates grow again, with a 4% overall rise.

Who’s Making the Switch? The Demographics Might Surprise You

The old stereotype—that homeschooling is mostly for white, religious, well-off families—is fading fast. The data tells a much more diverse story.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity Is Growing

White students still make up the majority, at about 59% to 70%, but the landscape is changing. Hispanic children now account for 15% to 26% of homeschooled students. Black students make up 6% to 8%, and Asian students round out around 3% to 4%.

The most dramatic shift? Black families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, homeschooling among Black households jumped from 3.3% in spring 2020 to 16.1% by that fall. That’s a fivefold increase in just six months.

Income Levels Tell an Interesting Story

Think homeschooling is only for the wealthy? Think again. About 34% of homeschooling households earn more than $100,000 a year, and 15% make between $75,001 and $100,000. But families across the income spectrum are participating.

In fact, kids living below the poverty line are actually more likely to be homeschooled (3.9%) than those who aren’t (3.1%). And get this—15% of homeschooled kids have parents who didn’t finish high school. So much for the idea that you need a teaching degree to educate your child at home.

Family Structure and Geography Matter

Homeschooling tends to be more common in bigger families—48% of homeschooling households have three or more kids. Most of these students (83%) live in two-parent homes.

Geography also plays a role. Rural areas lead the way with 4.7% of students being homeschooled, compared to 2.5% in cities and 2.4% in suburbs. Regionally, the South (3.9%) and West (3.7%) have higher homeschooling rates than the Northeast (1.8%).

Why Are Families Making This Choice?

The reasons families choose homeschooling today are layered and evolving.

Safety and School Environment Concerns Top the List

For 80% to 90% of parents, the school environment is a big concern. We’re talking about issues like bullying, drugs, peer pressure, and overall safety. These aren’t minor worries—they’re deal-breakers for many families.

The Quest for Personalized Learning

More parents are looking for education that actually fits their child—how they learn, what they’re curious about, and at what pace. The pandemic gave many families a glimpse of that flexibility, and they’re not ready to give it up.

Technology Has Been a Game-Changer

Thanks to the rise of online platforms, homeschooling isn’t nearly as complicated as it once was. These tools aren’t just add-ons anymore—they’re essential. Platforms like those listed by Johns Hopkins’ Homeschool Hub have become foundational for many families.

Economic Considerations Are Real

Here’s a number that might surprise you: the average cost to homeschool a child ranges from $700 to $1,800 per year. That’s a far cry from the $11,732 per student that public schools spend, on average. And compared to private school tuition? Homeschooling can be an absolute bargain.

The Results Speak for Themselves

There’s plenty of debate about homeschooling, but the data speaks volumes—and it's mostly positive.

Academic Achievement

Homeschooled kids often outperform their peers. On average, they score 15 to 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests. Their scores typically fall between the 65th and 75th percentiles, while public school students average closer to the 50th.

SAT scores tell a similar story: homeschooled students average 1190, compared to 1060 for public schoolers, according to the National Home Education Research Institute.

College Success

Homeschooled students have an 87% college acceptance rate, compared to 68% for traditional public school students. Once accepted, 74% go on to attend college, versus just 44% of their peers.

Social Development

The myth that homeschooled kids miss out socially doesn’t hold up. In fact, 98% of them are involved in an average of five extracurriculars per week. Whether it’s sports, clubs, or volunteering, they’re staying connected.

Long-term Life Outcomes

Adults who were homeschooled for at least eight years report lower levels of anxiety and depression, and higher overall life satisfaction. They’re also more likely to volunteer (45%) and donate to charity (58%), as reported by HSLDA.

What Does 2025 Hold?

The growth doesn’t appear to be slowing. Between 2016 and 2021, homeschooling grew at a compound annual rate of 10.1%. Experts expect that momentum to continue through 2025 and beyond.

Several key trends are driving this:

More states are rolling out Education Savings Account (ESA) programs
Online learning platforms continue to expand
Colleges are becoming more homeschool-friendly
Concerns about traditional schooling remain high

The Challenges Ahead

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are still some real challenges facing the homeschooling movement.

Data Collection Is a Mess

The U.S. Department of Education shut down its federal homeschool survey. That’s made it a lot harder for researchers to gather reliable data and inform policy decisions.

Regulatory Inconsistency

Homeschooling laws vary wildly by state. Some states require detailed testing and reporting, while others take a more relaxed approach. Roughly 10% of states have strict regulations, creating a patchwork experience for families.

Persistent Stereotypes

Despite all the progress, old misconceptions persist. People still question whether homeschooled kids are socially well-adjusted or academically prepared. These stereotypes can make it harder to change policy and win public support.

Looking Forward

We’re not just seeing a spike—we’re witnessing a genuine shift in how Americans think about school. The pandemic may have started the wave, but families have clearly found something lasting in homeschooling.

In the months and years ahead, expect even more diversity among homeschooling families, new forms of state support, and smarter online tools. Education in America is becoming more flexible and pluralistic—and homeschooling is right at the heart of that evolution.

Whether you’re a parent weighing your options, a teacher adapting to new dynamics, or a policymaker trying to keep up, one thing’s clear: homeschooling is no longer on the fringes. It’s right in the mainstream—and it’s not going anywhere.