Homeschooling numbers across the United States are rising, even after the pandemic lockdowns have ended, according to a recent report by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy’s Homeschool Research Lab. The analysis focused on data from 21 states for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The report highlights that 30 states track homeschooling figures, and of those, data from 21 states were analyzed. In 19 of these states, homeschooling rates increased. Growth ranged from modest gains, such as a 2% rise in Georgia, to more significant surges, like a 29% increase in Delaware.
Only Vermont and New Hampshire reported a decrease in homeschooling numbers. However, the report suggests that New Hampshire’s decline may be misleading due to the state's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. Homeschool students receiving public funding through the EFA are no longer included in the state's homeschool statistics, which may explain the reported decrease. The EFA program, launched in 2021, coincides with the decline in reported homeschoolers.
The reasons behind the continued rise in homeschooling post-pandemic are unclear. The report states that this increase is not driven by the pandemic or disruptions in traditional schooling. Angela Watson, director of the research lab and author of the report, told The Hill that experts expected homeschooling numbers to decrease once schools returned to normal operations. However, year after year, that expected drop has not occurred.
A complicating factor in tracking homeschooling numbers is how some states classify students. In some areas, students involved in "microschooling" — which may resemble private schooling more than traditional homeschooling — are legally counted as homeschoolers. This can inflate homeschooling statistics in certain states.
Many parents turned to homeschooling during the pandemic due to concerns about school closures or dissatisfaction with public school curricula. A 2022 study by the Urban Institute revealed that public school enrollment dropped by approximately 1.2 million students during the 2021-2022 academic year, with about 26% of that number shifting to homeschooling.
As homeschooling continues to grow, the educational landscape in the U.S. is evolving, reflecting changing parental priorities and educational options.