home education vs school education

Our Services

College Admissions Counseling

UK University Admissions Counseling

EU University Admissions Counseling

College Athletic Recruitment

Crimson Rise: College Prep for Middle Schoolers

Indigo Research: Online Research Opportunities for High Schoolers

Delta Institute: Work Experience Programs For High Schoolers

Graduate School Admissions Counseling

Private Boarding & Day School Admissions

Online Tutoring

Essay Review

Financial Aid & Merit Scholarships

Our Leaders and Counselors

Our Student Success

Crimson Student Alumni

Our Reviews

Our Scholarships

Careers at Crimson

University Profiles

US College Admissions Calculator

GPA Calculator

Practice Standardized Tests

SAT Practice Test

ACT Practice Tests

Personal Essay Topic Generator

eBooks and Infographics

Crimson YouTube Channel

Summer Apply - Best Summer Programs

Top of the Class Podcast

ACCEPTED! Book by Jamie Beaton

Crimson Global Academy

+1 (646) 419-3178

Go back to all articles

Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling: pros and cons

As a vast majority of the world went remote in early 2020 at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, students had to quickly adapt to remote learning from home. Due to this, many parents began to consider homeschooling for their child rather than return children to their traditional schooling methods. But what are the pros and cons of homeschooling versus traditional schooling?

Homeschooling: the pros

• No commute: Very often, students can only attend certain public schools if they reside in the right district. Alternatively, if they attend a private school further from home, the commute can be long during peak school run hours. As such, homeschooling saves time which can be spent doing further coursework, exploring personal interests, or spending more time with friends and family. 
• Tailor-made Curriculum: Although certain states/countries may have specific requirements on what it takes to graduate from high school if homeschooled, the option does give students and their parents the luxury of exploring personal interests, going at their own pace, and taking advanced courses where the student is able to. 
• Custom Schedule: The typical 8am-3pm does not have to hold true with homeschooling! While some legal requirements for a minimum number of hours may be present, students are able to have flexibility to pursue other goals such as competitive gymnastics, travel the world with their families, etc. 
• Higher performance: According to ThinkImpact, public school students received an average score of 21 out of 36 on the ACT, whereas homeschooled students received an average of 22.8. As for the SATs, homeschoolers scored a nationwide average of 72 points more than their traditional schooled counterparts in the United States in 2020. 
• Safety: The risks of COVID-19, school shootings, and other unfortunate situations are minimized at home. The extent of safety will also vary upon the neighborhood the school and home are located in. 

Homeschooling: the cons

• Social life restrictions: Students who are homeschooled do not have classmates with them daily. As such, they can be lonely unless a solid effort is made to interact with peers their age through other activities such as attending a church or place of worship, sports teams, community events, etc. 
• Pressure on parent’s time: Working a job and raising a child is already a huge time commitment for most adults. As such, being the child’s teacher is an additional burden on parents which not all are able to undertake. Furthermore, a parent will have to ensure that healthy boundaries are set between the parent and child now that the “teacher and student” dynamic is also present. 
• Cost: The cost of a homeschool curriculum can be a few thousand dollars, whereas public school is free. However, it should be noted that homeschool can be cheaper than private school, so it is up to a family to decide how to best use their educational budget here. 

Traditional Schooling: the pros

• Social life and development: At school, teens get to spend dozens of hours each week with peers their age, thus giving them a platform to develop their social skills.
• Professional instruction: Teachers at schools are qualified, trained professionals who have mastered their craft and in the later grades specialize in their area of instruction. 
• Structure:  Many children thrive on having a set routine and structure in their daily schedules, and schools are the greatest source of structure in a youngster’s life. 
• Extracurriculars: Schools, especially those with a larger student population, tend to offer extracurriculars which a student is not able to acquire at home. Be it being a part of the chess club, trying out for the football team, or running for student government, certain activities cannot be done in a home setting.
• School spirit: Being a member of a school helps develop a youngster’s identity, and students are able to obtain a sense of belonging (provided the school is a good fit for them, of course!). 
• Fostering independence: From keeping track of their own timetable (deadlines, bus schedules, etc), purchasing/bringing their lunch, and finding their way from classes, traditional schooling helps build valuable life skills which shall help students once they graduate. 

Traditional Schooling: the cons

• More traditional curriculum: Instead of exploring their own interests, students are forced to study subjects at the same pace as their classmates and course selection is more limited.
• Peer pressure: Be it wearing the latest Nike shoes, fitting in with the cool crowd, or dealing with bullies, peer pressure plays a big part of a teenager’s life and is more present in traditional schooling environments.
• Overwhelmed teachers: Many teachers have dozens of students on their roster and getting each student’s individual needs met is not often accomplished. 
• Fitting in: Perhaps the school is simply not a good fit for who your child is – be it the type of curriculum offered, the crowd present, or the overall management of the school. 

While these are just a few of the pros and cons seen in traditional schooling vs homeschooling, I would like to remind you that there is no direct answer as to which option is better. A family needs to consider their own needs to make this decision, including their time, teaching capabilities, educational budget, location, future goals, and resources. Here at Crimson we are always happy to discuss these options and also work together to advise a hybrid model if necessary – where students may take some courses outside of school in addition to the courses in their regular schooling. The pandemic has made more families consider homeschooling after seeing how their child has been handling remote learning – but before you jump the gun, make sure to consider all the pros and cons thoroughly! 

Your friendly neighbourhood Rise blogger, 

Learn more about Crimson Rise’s strategic mentorship, academic support, and extracurricular coaching for young students, and request a free consultation on your child’s journey!

More Articles

Coalition app: everything you need to know.

How to Show Intellectual Curiosity on Your Top College Application

Best Senior Project Ideas for High School Students + 42 Real Student Examples

Homeschool vs. Public School:

The ultimate showdown, read ahead:, a spectrum of schooling options, homeschool vs. public school: the pros and cons, do you wonder if they might be better off in public school, what about public school at home.

• Wouldn’t My Children be Better Educated by a Professional?

Since Homeschools Are Private Schools in Texas, Aren’t They Regulated the Same Way?

Is homeschooling about to become the new normal.

• Public schooling : Your children are  under the care of trained professionals  who apply a district-wide or statewide curriculum over which you have almost no influence. Children are educated in  groups of approximately 25 and are   away from home about eight hours per day  (counting the commute) for approximately 180 days of the year.
• Private or charter school : Your children are  under the care of trained professionals  who apply a specific curriculum over which you have almost no influence. However, private and charter schools offer alternatives to public school curriculums. If you choose a private or charter option, it’s likely because their curriculum or method of instruction more closely aligns with your own educational philosophy.  Class sizes may be considerably smaller. As with public school, children are away from home about eight hours daily  for approximately 180 days a year.
• Public school at home : Also known as virtual school, your children are  under your care but are under the instruction of trained professionals.  They apply a district-wide or statewide curriculum over which you have almost no influence. Instruction may be in online groups, but  your child is at home  with limited in-person exposure to other students. Students may complete their work more quickly, spending  as few as four hours daily .  Depending on the program , students with special circumstances may have flexibility to complete their work outside regular school hours.
• University-Model : This hybrid model is part homeschooling and part private school.  Your children are at home for two to three days per week, attending a kind of private school on alternate days . As for curriculum, the choice is yours on home days and you may have some influence on group days. Some programs have trained educators, while some use parents to teach group classes. Most programs have a regular academic schedule, meaning that your child will be away from home about 20 hours weekly.
• Unschooling : In this alternative method of homeschooling,  your child engages in self-directed learning with varying degrees of oversight by parents or teachers . Since the child is in the pilot’s seat, we listed unschooling to the left of other homeschooling types. Typically,  the child is at home with parents, schooling as much as the family deems necessary . (Although acceptable in Texas, other states may have minimum attendance requirements.)
• Homeschooling : This encompasses  many variations , including traditional homeschooling, classical education, Charlotte Mason, unit studies and other types. However, most share the common characteristic of  parent-taught education using a curriculum of the parent’s choosing. The class size is the number of school-age children in the household. In Texas, parents determine the school schedule.  Other states may have statutes requiring a certain number of days or hours.

I Needed Her

I needed relationships, i needed a godly worldview, but i’m not a certified teacher wouldn’t my children be better educated by a professional.

• 5 Reasons This Homeschool Grad Plans to Homeschool Her Kids
• Facts About Homeschoolers
• Resisting Bureaucracy: A Case Study of Home Schooling
• Should You Homeschool Your Special Needs Child?
• Don’t Feel Smart Enough to Homeschool? Rely on 1 Simple Principle…

Homeschools

• Requires that parents teach in a bona fide manner and provide a letter of assurance, if requested by the school district.
• Requires written curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math and a course in good citizenship.

Traditional Private Schools

• Requires immunizations unless parents have an exemption for health risks or religious reasons.
• Must report names of students who are suspected of having infectious diseases.
• Must obtain records of anyone under the age of 11 for identification purposes.
• No alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of school.
• Requires all students to have a medical screening.
• No guns or other weapons allowed on school premises.
• Require adequate financial resources.
• Demonstrate professional management of their resources.
• Provide a clearly stated philosophy with objectives that are adequate to implement the philosophy.
• Need a physical location and facilities adequate to support the program.
• Staff must hold relevant college degrees and be qualified, by preparation or experience, for the positions and work to which they are assigned.
• Must have a minimum attendance requirement similar to public schools, either in hours per day or days per year.
• Must conduct a self-study and qualitatively assess its strengths and limitations, including achievement of objectives and compliance with state Board of Education rules.
• Private elementary schools must maintain student academic records and achievement levels required for promotion, comparable to those in public schools.

Teaching Truth in Your Homeschool Curriculum

How did we get here, seeing the truth for what it really is, it’s more than policy and laws, share this story, choose your platform, related posts.

How to Easily Teach Kids Essential Tech Skills

Why Should Homeschoolers Study Robotics?

Food for the Mind: The Classical Education

Develop Creativity and STEM Skills By Teaching Coding

Great read!!! Thanks for sharing such a great read, keep sharing such a great blog. Blog like these helps each and every homeschooler in homeschooling their children in the best possible way.

Thank you! We love helping homeschool families find the resources they need! Blessings, Ashley – Customer Relations

No Thank YOU

i need more info

Dear Kimberly,

I am not entirely sure what you need more information about, but if you are trying to find out how to homeschool, check out our website, under Getting Started: https://homeeducator.com/getting-started/

Blessings, Ashley – Customer Relations

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article! I am hoping and praying that my husband will come to an agreement for me to homeschool our children. Thank you for sharing this!

Dear Michelle,

I am so glad you enjoyed it! We have some other great articles below to help equip you if you decide to homeschool.

Watch: I am a homeschooler (meet other homeschool families)

Record keeping: https://homeeducator.com/keeping-homeschool-records/

Preparing a high school transcript: https://thsc.org/homeschool-transcript/

Great article, I really enjoyed seeing homeschooling from an inside perspective. You mentioned a lot of facts on the homeschooling reasoning. However, I believe that no matter what a parent may choose to do with their child, God will be there guiding them along the way. I plan on becoming a public school teacher myself. And i do believe that God has a strategic plan to place me in a school where I will have an effect on those students like myself (christian and going through public school). I was expecting to read more about the difference between the two. But overall great read, and I appreciate the time and effort put into this article!

Thank you for your kind words! The differences between the two can be subtle or extreme, depending on the state you live in. For instance, in Texas, there are only 3 requirements families must meet, they do not have to report to anyone, and parents should oversee the homeschool, not a program, according to Texas Education Code. However, some states do have rigorous reporting requirements and families must report to the district, or other facilitators, depending on that state’s laws. Learn more about homeschool laws across the United States: https://homeeducator.com/getting-started/state-requirements/

Is Jennings the only author on this source? This page is a little hard to cite and I want to make sure I give credit where credit is due!

Dear Sarah,

Actually, I believe this article was an effort of multiple members of our publications team and our other teams to collect information. Thank you for that. Ms. Jennings one member of our team. The contributors are: Donna Schillinger, Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., Kenzie Knapp, Jeremy Newman

Thank you for sharing this article!

Blessings, Ashley – Customer Support

I’ve been homeschooled all my life and I’m going into 6th grade and I debating if I should stay home school or go to public school and this helped a lot. thank you so much!!!!!!

I love hearing that! Keep up the great work.

Well written and informative. It can be challenging for many parents to transition to homeschool but reading this article answers a lot of questions and concerns.

Thank you! We love helping homeschoolers find great ideas.

• Trying to Conceive
• Signs & Symptoms
• Pregnancy Tests
• Fertility Testing
• Fertility Treatment
• Weeks & Trimesters
• Staying Healthy
• Preparing for Baby
• Complications & Concerns
• Pregnancy Loss
• Breastfeeding
• School-Aged Kids
• Raising Kids
• Personal Stories
• Everyday Wellness
• Safety & First Aid
• Immunizations
• Food & Nutrition
• Active Play
• Pregnancy Products
• Nursery & Sleep Products
• Nursing & Feeding Products
• Clothing & Accessories
• Toys & Gifts
• Ovulation Calculator
• Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
• How to Talk About Postpartum Depression
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

 Fabio Principe / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Choosing to homeschool your kids is not a new concept. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase “school choice” took on a whole new meaning as more and more parents considered homeschooling a solution for their families.

To curb the spread of the virus, school districts around the country offered a variety of educational possibilities , from in-person school with masks to full online school to a delayed start to the academic year to a hybrid model that offered some days in a physical classroom and other days virtually.

Even as things opened back up and returned to normal, some schools continued to offer a virtual option. And since some younger kids are still unable to get the vaccine, some families feel uncertain about sending their kids back to brick-and-mortar schools.

UPDATE: November 2022

On October 20, 2022, the Center for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to add COVID-19 vaccination to the childhood immunization schedule. While the CDC makes vaccine recommendations, each state will determine which ones are required for school entry. The updated schedule is set to be released in early 2023.

If you’re thinking of teaching your child at home for the first time, or you've always considered this option for your family, you likely know there are many pros and cons.

We’ve rounded up a list of common advantages and pitfalls you may encounter—with input from real-world homeschooling parents. As you weigh your decision, give some thought to how each of these might impact your own circumstance and trust that whatever decision you make will be the right one for your family.

Flexibility

Individualized education

Strong relationships

A lot of work

Less time for yourself

Inability to work

Too much togetherness

Missing out on certain opportunities

Facing judgment and bias

Whether you call it self-determination, freedom, or control, one clear advantage of homeschooling is the ability to make your own choices. As a homeschooler, you’ll be able to freely travel or move, include religious teaching in day-to-day learning, and not worry about social pressures or bullying your child may encounter at school.

Plus, in home-based education, all subjects are fair game, from sailing to sewing to science. Practical skills, volunteering , artistic pursuits, and traditional trades can all fall under the broad umbrella of homeschooling. According to some homeschoolers, teachable moments are always happening, and "school" isn't limited to school hours.

Who doesn’t like to set their own schedule? By educating at home, you determine the structure of your day. If your child struggles to wake up by 7:00 a.m., for example, you can start school later. And, since homeschool timing is fluid, you can go ahead and make your child's dentist appointment on a Tuesday at noon.

You even have room to push back a lesson when you (or your kids) just aren’t feeling it. There are many ways to make it up later.

Individualized Education

Every child is different. Unfortunately, in the larger group setting of regular school, teachers can’t always tailor lessons to your child’s unique needs. At home, on the other hand, you can meet your child right where they are, customizing lessons to their particular interests.

Does your younger child need a little extra help with math ? Take an extra 15 minutes to help them understand fractions. Is your older kid into outer space? Start an astronomy unit!

Homeschooling also lets you vary your approach from child to child if you have more than one—in terms of learning styles and grade levels. Plus, you get to celebrate any success or achievement together in real time.

Strong Relationships

The more time you spend with your kids, the more opportunities arise for bonding. If you’ve always wished for more hours in the day as a family, perhaps homeschooling is the boon you’ve been craving.

Positive experiences like fun field trips , a-ha moments in learning, and “recess” at the park can all build closer parent-child and sibling-to-sibling relationships . 

In some cases, homeschooling’s flexible schedule can even allow for more time with both parents—if work schedules usually limit time together on weekends or holidays.

A Lot of Work

In addition to the domestic responsibilities of your role as a parent, you’re now a teacher, tutor, curriculum researcher, and principal.

It’s quite possibly the humdinger of all reasons not to homeschool: Teaching your kids at home is simply a lot of work.

Creating, teaching, and grading a day’s or week’s worth of learning on multiple subjects takes serious time and effort. (However, many prepared curriculum packages do exist.) Plus, as delightful as it can be to tailor education to each child’s learning style, this can add to your workload, too.

And if you have younger children at home who aren’t school age, you may also struggle to keep them occupied while you sit down to teach older kids.

Less Time for Yourself

Not surprisingly, the workload of homeschooling—and kids home all day—is likely to leave you with less time for yourself. Some homeschooling parents say they don’t have time to shower, let alone exercise or take care of their own needs.

For parents who are used to a quiet, kid-free environment during the day, this aspect of homeschooling can be a major adjustment. 

Inability to Work 

All the work of homeschooling is guaranteed to take up hours of your day. Therefore, as a homeschooling parent, you may not be able to work outside the home, or you may have to cut your hours significantly. For some households, this may be a financial deal-breaker.

Too Much Togetherness

While many families find that homeschooling boosts good vibes between siblings and parents, there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

You may find that spending all day, every day, with your kiddos (and they with each other) leads to feelings of frustration or confinement . You may also go through an adjustment period as your kids learn how to view (and respect) you as their teacher.

It’s important to work in breaks, both for yourself and your kids. Or, depending on the resources in your area, you might try a homeschooling co-op or enrichment program one day a week to provide your kids socialization with others outside the family.

Missing Out on Certain Opportunities

Despite the enormous flexibility of homeschooling, in some ways, it can limit opportunities for your child. For high schoolers, for example, a homeschool curriculum may not be able to provide the same variety of electives as a large public school. (After all, most of us don’t have a metal shop in the backyard.)

If your child wants to pursue subjects you can’t easily teach at home, you’ll have to be diligent about seeking alternatives.

The same holds for social opportunities. As a homeschooler, it’s up to you to provide social interaction your child won’t get from school dances, assemblies, and everyday classroom partner work.

Facing Judgments and Biases 

Let's be honest: Homeschooling doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being cool and modern. Unfortunately, plenty of biases and stereotypes exist around homeschooling and the folks who choose it.

If you decide to educate at home, you might get some flak from family members (or even strangers) who think you’re going full Little House on the Prairie mode or that your kids won’t actually learn anything. You may need to develop a thick skin toward other people’s judgments of your decision to educate at home.

A Word From Verywell

When more and more parents are exploring the wide world of homeschooling, it’s wise to look at the many advantages and disadvantages of this type of education.

Do some soul searching and have a serious discussion with your partner about whether this could be the right choice for your child's and family's needs. And don’t forget to find out how your kids feel about the subject! With everyone’s thoughts and feelings on the table, you can determine if homeschooling is best for you and your family.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP Immunization Schedule Vote .

By Sarah Garone  Sarah Garone, NDTR, is a freelance health and wellness writer who runs a food blog.

Environment

The research on homeschooling, the academic, social, and long-term outcomes for children in home schools..

Posted September 1, 2021 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

About 4 to 5 million children in the United States (or approximately 8 to 9% of school-age children) were homeschooled in March 2021. This statistic increased dramatically during the pandemic: Only 2.5 million (or 3 to 4% of school-age children) were homeschooled in spring 2019.

The most common reason cited for homeschooling (before the pandemic) was concern about the local school environment, including safety and negative peer pressure . Many parents also choose to homeschool due to dissatisfaction with the educational quality of local schools, or for religious reasons.

However, many parents and caregivers considering homeschooling may be especially concerned about how homeschooling might impact their child’s academic progress and social development. Does the research find any differences between children who were homeschooled versus children in conventional school?

Academic Performance

Homeschooled students tend to score higher on tests of academic skills when compared to children in public schools across most studies. However, it is difficult to draw any conclusions from these studies since most do not control for important family demographic factors and compare self-selected homeschooling families’ test scores (from tests proctored by parents) to national averages. Interestingly, children in a “structured” homeschool program — that is, a homeschool program with organized lesson plans — tend to score higher on academic tests than children from conventional schools, while children in “unstructured” homeschool environments without organized lesson plans tend to score lower than children in conventional schools.

Social Skills

The findings on social skills seem to be more mixed. Some studies have found no difference in social skills between children in homeschool environments versus conventional schools, some studies have found that homeschooled children score higher on measures of social ability, and some have found that homeschooled children score lower on overall social skills. Not surprisingly, homeschooled students who have had more opportunities for peer interactions tend to show improved social skills.

Long-Term Success

Most studies find that homeschooled children tend to have higher college GPAs than children from conventional schools. In addition, most studies have found no difference between homeschooled and conventional students in college graduation rates. However, most homeschooled students do not attend competitive four-year colleges and one study found that homeschooled students may have lower math GPAs in college than children from conventional schools. Children who are homeschooled may also be more likely to work in a lower-paying job.

Limitations of this Research

It is important to note that this research is difficult to interpret because families that choose to homeschool are different from families who do not in many other ways — for example, they may have parents with higher income or educational levels — and these factors likely contribute to the results as well. For instance, we cannot conclude that homeschooling will improve your child’s test scores since homeschooled children may have more educated mothers and it may be the mother’s educational level that drives the higher test scores, not homeschooling itself.

Almasoud, S., & Fowler, S. R. (2016). The difference in the academic achievements of homeschooled and non-homeschooled students. Home School Researcher, 32(1), 1-4.

Cogan, M. F. (2010). Exploring academic outcomes of homeschooled students. Journal of College Admission, 208, 18-25.

Coleman, R. E. (2014). The homeschool math gap: The data. Coalition for Responsible Home Education.

Drenovsky, C. K., & Cohen, I. (2012). The impact of homeschooling on the adjustment of college students. International Social Science Review, 87(1/2), 19-34.

Kunzman, R., & Gaither, M. (2020). Homeschooling: An updated comprehensive survey of the research. Other Education, 9(1), 253-336.

Martin-Chang, S., Gould, O. N., & Meuse, R. E. (2011). The impact of schooling on academic achievement: Evidence from homeschooled and traditionally schooled students. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne Des Sciences du Comportement, 43(3), 195.

McKinley, M. J., Asaro, J. N., Bergin, J., D'Auria, N., & Gagnon, K. E. (2007). Social Skills and Satisfaction with Social Relationships in Home-Schooled, Private-Schooled, and Public-Schooled Children. Online Submission, 17(3), 1-6.

Medlin, R. G. (2006). Homeschooled Children's Social Skills. Online Submission, 17(1), 1-8.

Montes, G. (2006). Do Parental Reasons to Homeschool Vary by Grade? Evidence from the National Household Education Survey, 2001. Online Submission, 16(4), 11-17.

Montes, G. (2015). The social and emotional health of homeschooled students in the United States: A population-based comparison with publicly schooled students based on the national survey of children’s health, 2007. Home School Researcher, 31(1), 1-9.

Pearlman-Avnion, S., & Grayevsky, M. (2019). Homeschooling, civics, and socialization: The case of Israel. Education and Urban Society, 51(7), 970-988.

Ray, B. D. (2017). A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice. Journal of School Choice, 11(4), 604-621.

Redford, J., Battle, D., & Bielick, S. (2017, April). Homeschooling in the United States: 2012. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved August 1, 2017, from. (NCES 2016-096.REV) https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2016096rev

Sikkink, D., & Skiles, S. (2015). Homeschooling and young adult outcomes: Evidence from the 2011 and 2014 Cardus Education Survey. The Cardus Religious Schools Initiative.

Cara Goodwin, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in translating scientific research into information that is useful, accurate, and relevant for parents.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

FREE shipping on orders over $89

• Microscopes
• Experiment Kits

This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.

Add description and links to your promotion

Your headline

Image caption appears here

Your product's name

Add your deal, information or promotional text

Homeschool vs Public Education: A Complete Guide for Parents

Tips for Smart Parenting 09/14/2021 12 minute read

"Homeschool vs Public Education, I wonder which is better?"

Has this thought ever lingered in your mind too when deciding between the two educational systems?  

Depending on which resources you've read in the past, you might've encountered articles that favor one over the other. But a biased comparison is the last thing you need especially if your child's optimum learning lies in the balance.

It's imperative to fully grasp the ideals and motivations of the two setups before anything else. And we're here to present all the essential facts and statistics you need in making an educated decision. However, let us tell you right off the bat that school education vs home education both have their pros (and cons!). 

Ultimately, you'll be the one to decide. And rest assured that whatever that may be, remember that learning will happen where learning is possible. As Elizabeth Foss once said: 

"When the atmosphere encourages learning, the learning is inevitable."

What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is the process of educating your children at home. As opposed to public education where a dedicated building is allotted for teaching a diverse collection of kids.

Contrary to popular belief, homeschooling's been the norm for centuries. it was the convention way back to the colonial era.

During that time, the combined efforts of parents, older siblings, and on some occasions, a hired tutor, were the ones that conveyed instruction to students. 

And if history serves us right, homeschooling was a system that worked!

But after several centuries, institutions began providing the same service in a one-teacher-classroom setup. This sparked the establishment of formal education — a system that also proved to be effective.

It's not surprising why advocates from both ideals clash in discussions. Both educational methods are effective in their own right, but it all boils down to a case of different strokes for different folks . 

Countless statistics and data proclaim why public school is better than homeschooling, and vice versa. But which of the two meets your child's needs better? 

We'll dig into that in a bit. But since you're well aware of formal education, here are homeschooling statistics to show what this system has to offer.

Homeschooling Statistics You Need to Know

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are approximately 3.7 million homeschooled children to date. The majority of homeschoolers hail from the USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

Homeschooling has shown steady growth for the past years hovering around 2-8% annually. Although in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of homeschoolers drastically increased from 1.9 million in 2019 to roughly 3.1 million in fall 2020. We may attribute this to the closing of some schools in the US which limited the perpetuation of public education.

Brian D. Ray's research statistics on homeschooling reveal that homeschoolers score 15-30% higher on Standardized Academic Achievement Tests than public school students.

Homeschoolers engage more actively in extracurricular activities than public school students. Research showed an average of 5.2 activity engagements, including community involvement and leadership skills.

Racial disparities in homeschool vs public education, are eliminated. Statistics show that homeschooled kids, regardless of race, score an average of 85% in reading tests. Indicating the advantage of homeschooled children vs public schooled, especially in minority groups. 

Statistics provide tangible insights into why there is a debate on homeschool vs public education. Based on the metrics, there are some aspects that homeschool triumphs. We can't undermine that there are also areas where public education performs better. 

But are these parameters enough to select homeschooling over the conventional method? No. The learning setup you select depends on what would reap the most benefits for your child's learning. That said, below lists the respective benefits and drawbacks in homeschool vs public education!

Homeschool vs Public School: A Toe-to-toe Comparison

Why is homeschool better than public school.

1. Tailor the learning to the students

The most obvious benefit of homeschool vs public education is custom-tailoring. Parents or tutors have the liberty to suit the lessons to the kid's learning pace. This increases the mastery and grasp of lessons than in a competitive public school environment.

2. Flexibility and availability

Homeschooling allows busy parents to be flexible in their schedules. This is one advantage of homeschool vs public education. It accommodates the availability of both students and parents which can help optimize the learning.

3. Safe and controlled environment

The incidence of bullying is at an all-time high at 20.2% or 1 out of 5 students are bullied. That said, keeping children safe is one benefit of homeschooling. Plus, the mere fact that the home serves as the school saves time and travel expenses.

4. Parents have more curriculum command

The difference between homeschool vs public education is that parents can emphasize certain topics or perspectives in the curriculum. This is especially important for religious or cultural affairs that schools don't discuss.

5. An opportunity to strengthen family connections

It would be a lie to leave out bonding as an advantage of homeschool vs public education. Aside from the learning, strengthening the familial relationship is rewarding in homeschooling.

6. The safer option

In light of the pandemic where cases are still on the rise in some areas, homeschooling might be the best option. It does its job to keep students safe from viral infections.

7. Learning for knowledge

Parents control the pace and progress of learning. This helps develop the adeptness of children on subject matters. The focus shifts from towards how much is learned , not how high the grade is . 

8. Opportunity to diversify learning angles

Learning is not just about manuals. With homeschooling, you can extend the learning to other non-conventional outlets like STEM toys. These toys are not only fun to play with but can cultivate children's affinity and learning in science. Our handy and durable portable microscope may help in this regard if needed.

Disadvantages of Homeschool vs Public Education

1. Limited socialization opportunities

Peer interaction in homeschooled children vs public schooled is lower. Inability to socialize with other kids may pose socialization problems if not addressed. Homeschoolers need extracurricular activities to meet that demand.

2. Immense parental responsibility is required

If parents are not invested and committed to homeschooling, the venture might fail. Parents need to assure that kids are following the schedule, and have a good grasp of the lessons. Discipline is key, and it's your job to enforce it.

3. Potential lack of learning facilities

One reason why public school is better than homeschool is that they have access to equipment. This includes a library, computer laboratory, art studio which are all essential for learning. 

4. Not many opportunities for self-esteem building

Recognizing a student's capacity, especially in a competitive environment encourages better learning. For example, the recognition of top-performing students motivates others to perform just as well in class. Without such, a decline in interest and motivation might occur. Another difference between homeschool vs public education.

5. Might be more costly than public education

Some believe that homeschooling saves costs from tuition fees and other expenses. But the truth is, sometimes focusing on the child can put the family's goals and ambitions on hold. Which has a more long-term effect on finances.

Why Public School is Better Than Homeschool?

1. Socialization and exposure to diversity

This is arguably one of the biggest reasons why public school is better than homeschool. Exposure to people from different backgrounds and cultures aid in developing social skills. These interaction skills will serve kids well especially in a professional environment.

2. Teachers are experts

Educators with degrees in teaching handle the teaching tasks better. They have gone through screening and training procedures to be capable enough.

3. Routine is child-friendly

Children are routinary creatures and they thrive best in systems with a clear pattern. The school is structured for that purpose, unlike homeschool that needs recalibration every now and then.

4. Variety of elective options

Options like sports or music where kids can join are available in public schools. Although kids can perform the same in homeschool, it is not as rewarding. Performing for school representation than for personal reasons is a liberating exposure for children. 

5. Independence

To some degree, home schooled children vs public schooled ones are more sheltered. Public schools train students to become independent by being responsible for their class schedules, behaviors in class, and grades.

6. Generally less expensive

Public schools do not ask for tuition fees aside perhaps from the miscellaneous ones. School supplies are typically cheap. Public school parents may also focus on their careers since they don't have to dedicate their time to teach kids. This increases their purchasing power while diminishing the education-related expenses. 

Cons of Public Education vs Homeschool

1. Bullying or negative peer influence

The majority of reasons why parents choose homeschooling is to protect kids from a negative environment. Bullying affects not only a person's education but even their social, mental, and physical health.

2. Limited learning potential

Public schools serve the general public and not specific individuals. This can pose a limitation especially if your child shows promise. The school will still pace the lessons to the average of the whole class which limits a gifted child's potential.

3. Lack of student consideration

While gifted kids might feel dragged by the class in public schools, kids that are a bit challenged can fall behind their lessons completely. Not everyone is academically gifted. This means they need extra support for their studies. An aspect that home schooled children vs public schooled ones, benefit from.

4. Influence of educators on viewpoints or beliefs

Some families have their strict standards, principles, religion, and cultures. Most of which public school educators might lack in emphasizing. This results in a shallow-rooted valuation of the family's viewpoints.

School Education vs Home Education Structure

Aside from the abstract differences, benefits, and drawbacks of each learning setup, there are also tangible variations that must be considered like the learning curriculum and physical environment .

How and what your children learn is a significant determinant in the homeschool vs public education comparison. You can observe a clear distinction between the two philosophies, but one approach may suit your child better than the other.

At the very least, both homeschool and public school cater to the rudimentary concepts kids must learn. Learning how to read, write, solve equations are fundamental. The difference arises once it goes beyond the common foundational understanding.

Generally, parents who homeschool their children decide what curriculum to follow. This may be influenced by the parents or by the kids' natural curiosities/interests. Sometimes, religion is the principal reason for the matter. 

On the other hand, the curriculum in public schools follows state standards. Schools expose children to pre-determined lesson plans. The primary goal is to surpass those state criteria. Public schools focus more on teaching children a plethora of ideas to cultivate a broader interest reach.

In a nutshell:

Homeschooling teaches kids fewer concepts but in a much deeper, more substantial level of understanding. 

Public school exposes children to a broad spectrum of ideas for students to see the interconnection of each subject in one massive network.

Environment

Homeschool environments are branded as calm and safe. After all, there is no place more secure for children than with their parents.

In homeschooling, kids do not have to deal with the peer pressure of "fitting in". This means that children can focus more on pressing matters, like their lessons. 

Having no competition but themselves is an opportunity to work at their own pace. Additionally, non-conventional teaching methods like educational TV shows or inspirational kid-friendly science movies can be integrated.

Some parents even report that math manipulatives or STEM toys are effective thought-inducing tools for homeschoolers. 

Public schools, on the other hand, are heavy on peer interactions. Some can even be negative. Being around a diverse collection of kids can pressure them to abide by the popular clique. Worse, forced to fit in with the “right” clothes from the “right” store.

Although the classroom chaos is arguably an integral aspect that develops a child. Public school also promotes social relationships and collaborations to thrive. These are team-playing skills valued in the professional environment. Just watch out for cases of bullying which destroy the rapport of public schools.

So based on environment, which should you select?

Homeschool is perfect for children who need to escape from the negative public school environment. Those who just want to “be” without being forced to become something they’re not. With proper handling, homeschool can offer higher quality education. While for kids that struggle in classes that need more time to cope, homeschool is a good option.

Public schools are best if you want diversified and competitive exposure for your child. If they thrive in social interactions and carry themselves well then public school is a viable choice. The competition develops their competitive nature. It allows them to power through their peers and perform the best they could. Learning how to collaborate early on, as observed in public schools, helps in the "real world".

The Verdict: Homeschool vs Public Education

Homeschool vs public education has been a lifelong debate on which works more effectively. But the truth is the decision of whether what method will be better for your child is in your hands.

We recommend observing your children for the indicators we have listed in the article. Talking with your child about their preferences and experiences is helpful too. Homeschool vs public education has its respective strengths and weaknesses.

Whichever is better is entirely your prerogative based on your observations and goals for your child.

An Alternative Learning Tool for Students

At the end of the day, whichever route you choose, STEM toys are great alternative tools to support your kids in learn through open-ended play !

Our STEMscope kids microscope  is a good place to start. 

« Back to Blog

30 Day Science Kid Guarantee

Easy returns

24/7 support

Free shipping over $89

• 0 Shopping Cart $ 0.00 -->

Research Facts on Homeschooling

Research facts on homeschooling, homeschooling: the research.

Research Facts on Homeschooling, Homeschool Fast Facts

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. May 8, 2024    Copyright © 2024 National Home Education Research Institute

This article gives key research facts on homeschooling

General facts, statistics, and trends.

• There were about 3.1 million homeschool students in 2021-2022 in grades K-12 in the United States  (roughly 6% of school-age children). There were about 2.5 million homeschool students in spring 2019 (or 3% to 4% of school-age children) [note 1]. The homeschool population had been growing at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past several years, but it grew drastically from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021.

• Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago appeared to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on “mainstream” in the United States. It may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Home-based education has also been growing around the world in many other nations (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom).
• A demographically wide variety of people homeschool – these are atheists, Christians, and Mormons; conservatives, libertarians, and liberals; low-, middle-, and high-income families; black, Hispanic, and white; parents with Ph.D.s, GEDs, and no high-school diplomas. One nationwide study shows that 41% of homeschool students are Black, Asian, Hispanic, and others (i.e., not White/non-Hispanic) (U.S. Department of Education, 2019).
• Taxpayers spend an average of $16,446 per pupil annually in public schools, plus capital expenditures (National Education Association, 2023). The roughly 3.1 million homeschool students of 2021-22 represented a savings of over $51 billion for taxpayers. This is $51 billion that American taxpayers did not have to spend.
• Taxpayers spend nothing on the vast majority of homeschool students, while homeschool families spend an average of $600 per student annually for their education. Families engaged in home-based education are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources for their children’s education.
• Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 41% of homeschool families are non-white/non-Hispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo).
• It is estimated that over 9 million Americans had experienced being homeschooled as of February of 2020.

Reasons and Motivations for Home Educating

Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason. The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:

• customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,
• accomplish more academically than in schools,
• use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools,
• enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,
• provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults,
• provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools, and
• as an alternative education approach when public or private institutional schools are closed due to acute health situations such as related to disease (e.g., Covid-19, Coronavirus)
• protect minority children from racism in public schools or lower expectations of children of color (e.g., black) (e.g., Fields-Smith, 2020; Mazama & Lundy, 2012).
• teach and impart a particular set of values, beliefs, and worldview to children and youth.

Academic Performance

• The home-educated typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2010, 2015, 2017; Ray & Hoelzle, 2024). (The public school average is roughly the 50 th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
• 78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
• Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
• Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not notably related to their children’s academic achievement.
• Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
• Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
• Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.

Social, Emotional, and Psychological Development (Socialization)

• Research facts on homeschooling show that the home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.
• 87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
• Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members. They are commonly involved in activities such as field trips, scouting, 4-H, political drives, church ministry, sports teams, and community volunteer work.
• The balance of research to date suggests that homeschool students may suffer less harm (e.g., abuse, neglect, fatalities) than conventional school students.
• Adults who were home educated are more politically tolerant than the public schooled in the limited research done so far.

Gender Differences in Children and Youth Respected?

• One researcher finds that homeschooling gives young people an unusual chance to ask questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What do I really want?,” and through the process of such asking and gradually answering the questions home-educated girls develop the strengths and the resistance abilities that give them an unusually strong sense of self.
• Some think that boys’ energetic natures and tendency to physical expression can more easily be accommodated in home-based education. Many are concerned that a highly disproportionate number of public school special-education students are boys and that boys are 2.5 times as likely as girls in public schools to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Success in the “Real World” of Adulthood

The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far it indicates that:

• 69% of peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood (including college) show adults who were home educated succeed and perform statistically significantly better than those who attended institutional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
• they participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population (e.g., Seiver & Pope, 2022 ),
• these adults vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population
• they go to and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population
• by adulthood, they internalize the values and beliefs of their parents at a high rate

General Interpretation of Research on Homeschool Success or Failure

It is possible that homeschooling causes the positive traits reported above. However, the research designs to date do not conclusively “prove” or substantiate that homeschooling causes these things. One hypothesis is that the positive findings might be due to the demographics of the homeschool students and families in the studies. The “sources” (articles) below explain limitations and caveats regarding the studies. More methodologically stronger research needs to be done to find whether homeschooling is what leads to or causes better outcomes.  At the same time, there is no empirical evidence that homeschooling overall causes negative things compared to institutional schooling. Future research may better answer the question of causation.

1. For more detail, see How Many Homeschool Students Are There in the United States? The March of 2021 estimate is based on data from state governments (e.g., Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Virginia), the U.S. Census Bureau (2021), and the U.S. Department of Education (2019). See McDonald (2020). The spring 2019 estimate was based on an estimate of about 2.5% per annum growth from estimates of 2 million home-educated children during the spring of 2010 and 2.3 million spring of 2016 in the United States (Ray, 2011). The estimate of 2.3 million in 2016 was calculated by Brian D. Ray, the author of this fact sheet, on April 7, 2016. He based it on publicly available research findings.

The above findings are extensively documented in one or more of the following sources, and most are available from www.nheri.org:

• Cheng, Albert. (2014). Does homeschooling or private schooling promote political intolerance? Evidence from a Christian university. Journal of School Choice: International Research and Reform , 8(1), 49-68 [a peer-reviewed journal].
• Fields-Smith, Cheryl. (2020). Exploring single black mothers’ resistance through homeschooling . Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan Cham.
• Mazama, Ama; & Lundy, Garvey. (2012, August 26). African American homeschooling as racial protectionism. Journal of Black Studies, 43 (7) 723–748.
• McDonald, Kerry. (2020). Homeschooling more than doubles during the pandemic: State-level data show just how dramatic the surge in homeschooling has been. Retrieved December 29, 2020 from https://fee.org/articles/homeschooling-more-than-doubles-during-the-pandemic/
• Mead, Sara. (2006). The truth about boys and girls.
• Medlin, Richard G. (2013). Homeschooling and the question of socialization revisited. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 284-297 [a peer-reviewed journal].
• Murphy, Joseph. (2012). Homeschooling in America: Capturing and assessing the movement . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, a Sage Company.
• National Education Association. (2023). Rankings of the States 2022 and Estimates of School Statistics 2023,  https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/2023-rankings-and-estimates-report.pdf
• Ray, Brian D. (2004). Home educated and now adults: Their community and civic involvement, views about homeschooling, and other traits. Salem, Oregon: NHERI.
• Ray, Brian D. (2004). Homeschoolers on to college: What research shows us. Ray, Journal of College Admission , No. 185, 5-11 [a peer-reviewed journal].
• Ray, Brian D. (2010). Academic achievement and demographic traits of homeschool students: A nationwide study. Academic Leadership Journal, 8, www.academicleadership.org [a peer-reviewed journal]. For a free copy, contact us .
• Ray, Brian D. (2013). Homeschooling associated with beneficial learner and societal outcomes but educators do not promote it. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 324-341 [a peer-reviewed journal].
• Ray, Brian D. (2015). African American homeschool parents’ motivations for homeschooling and their Black children’s academic achievement. Journal of School Choice, 9 :71–96 [a peer-reviewed journal]. For a free copy, contact us .
• Ray, Brian D. (2017). A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice. Journal of School Choice , 11 (4), 604-621 [a peer-reviewed journal]
• Ray, Brian D.; & Hoelzle, Braden R. (2024). Reasons for homeschooling and the correlates of home-educated students’ academic achievement: A new U.S. nationwide study. Presented at International School Choice and Reform Conference, Madrid, Spain, January 6, 2024.
• Ray, Brian D.; & Shakeel, M. Danish. (2022). Demographics are predictive of child abuse and neglect but homeschool versus conventional school is a nonissue: Evidence from a nationally representative survey. Journal of School Choice, https://doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2022.2108879  [a peer-reviewed journal]
• Seiver, Jillene Grove; & Pope, Elisa A. (2022). The kids are alright II: social engagement in young adulthood as a function of k-12 schooling type, personality traits, and parental education level. Home School Researcher , 37 (2), 1-9.
• Sheffer, Susannah. (1995). A sense of self: Listening to homeschooled adolescent girls .
• United States Department of Education. (2019) Homeschooling in the United States: Results from the 2012 and 2016 Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFINHES: 2012 and 2016). Retrieved November 3, 2020 from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020001.pdf

About the Author

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. is an internationally known researcher  (see Google Scholar Profile for many of his publications), educator, speaker, and expert witness, and serves as president of the nonprofit National Home Education Research Institute. He is a former certified teacher in public and private schools and served as a professor in the fields of science, research methods, and education at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He holds a Ph.D. in science education from Oregon State University, a M.S. in zoology from Ohio University, and a B.S. in biology from the University of Puget Sound. Dr. Ray has been studying the homeschool movement since about 1984.

For more homeschool research and more in-depth interpretation of research, media, journalists, and others please contact:

National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI)

PO Box 13939 Salem OR 97309 USA

tel. (503) 364‑1490 [email protected] www.nheri.org

Copyright © 2024 by National Home Education Research Institute

About nheri.

NHERI conducts homeschooling research, is a clearinghouse of research for the public, researchers, homeschoolers, the media, and policy makers, and educates the public concerning the findings of all related research. NHERI executes, evaluates, and disseminates studies and information (e.g., statistics, facts, data) on homeschooling (i.e., home schooling, home-based education, home education, home school, home-schooling, unschooling, deschooling, a form of alternative education), publishes reports and the peer-reviewed scholarly journal Home School Researcher, and serves in consulting, academic achievement tests, and expert witness (in courts and legislatures).

PO Box 13939 Salem, OR 97309 503-364-1490 503-364-3837 fax contact NHERI

• Academic Leadership Journal
• Bibliography of Research on Homeschooling
• Education Resources Information Center
• Home School Researcher journal
• NHERI on Research
• NHERI Research News
• Journal of School Choice review of research

About Homeschooling

• Classical Conversations
• Home School Legal Defense Association
• Homeschool Freedom in your state
• Homeschool World
• Homeschooling Today
• State Homeschool Organizations
• The Old Schoolhouse
• The Teaching Home

You must be logged in to post a comment.

How Home Schooling Will Change Public Education

Subscribe to the brown center on education policy newsletter, paul t. hill paul t. hill founder - the center on reinventing public education, research professor - the university of washington bothell, former nonresident senior fellow - the brookings institution.

June 1, 2000

• 14 min read

More than 1.2 million students are now being taught at home, more students than are enrolled in the entire New York City public school system. Paul T. Hill reports on the pros and cons of learning at home—and the effects home schooling will have on public schools.

Home schooling, not a present threat to public education, is nonetheless one of the forces that will change it. If the high estimates of the number of children in home schools (1.2 million) is correct, then the home-schooling universe is larger than the New York City public school system and roughly the size of the Los Angeles and Chicago public school systems combined. Even if the real number of home schoolers is more like 500,000, less than the lowest current estimate, there are more children home schooling than in charter schools and public voucher programs combined.

Home schooling is not a new phenomenon. In colonial days families, including wealthy ones, educated their children at home, combining the efforts of parents, tutors, and older children. The rural one-room schoolhouse was created by families that banded together to hire a teacher who could substitute for parents but who would use the same mixture of direct instruction, tutoring, and mentoring by older students.

There is nothing un-American about home schooling. Home-schooling families are, however, breaking a pattern established since colonial times—education has been becoming increasingly institutionalized, formal, and removed from the family. How important is the contemporary home-schooling movement and what does it portend for American public education? No one can say for sure. It is difficult even to estimate the numbers of children being schooled at home, and evidence about student learning and other outcomes is mostly anecdotal.

It is, however, possible to draw three conclusions about where home schooling is likely to go and how it will affect the broad public education enterprise—which for the purpose of this article includes charter schools and publicly funded voucher programs as well as conventional district-run public schools.

• Home schooling is part of a broad movement in which private groups and individuals are learning how to provide services that were once left to public bureaucracies.
• As home-schooling families learn to rely on one another, many are likely to create new institutions that look something like schools.
• Although many home-schooling families are willing to accept help from public school systems, the families and the schools they create are far more likely to join the charter and voucher movements than to assimilate back into the conventional public school system.

Developing New Teachers

Parents who decide to school their children at home commit time and energy to an activity that was once left to specialized professionals. Even in the states with the most permissive home-schooling laws, parents must learn what is normally taught to children of a given age, find materials and projects that teach specific skills, and learn how to use their own time and that of their children productively. The vast majority of home-school parents hope their children will attend college and so must also learn how to assess their children’s progress against higher education admission standards.

Even a casual perusal of the home-schooling literature reveals the scale and intensity of home-schooling parents’ search for ideas, materials, and relevant standards of performance. Home-schooling web sites continually post new ideas and materials for teaching subjects from math to drama. Parents can find advice about what kinds of programs are likely to work for their own children and can enter chat rooms with other parents struggling with the same issues.

Without making a quality judgment about these resources, it is clear that many serious people are putting in a great deal of effort. The materials available are not amateurish: They come from universities, research institutes, mutual assistance networks, school districts, and state education departments. People who contribute to home-schooling web sites and association meetings are also conducting serious research and development. Home schooling is a very large teacher training program, and many tens of thousands of people are learning how to teach, assess results, and continuously improve instruction. It also must be one of the biggest parent-training programs in the country.

Like charter schooling, home schooling depends on the creation of new human capital. People have to learn how, in new contexts and under new rules, to teach and motivate students, take advantage of complementary adult skills, find resources, and make effective use of scarce time and money.

Critics charge that much of this effort is wasted and that at best all the new human capital developed at such cost can only duplicate what already exists in conventional public and private schools. Unlikely. Although the new people will undoubtedly reinvent some wheels and some may go down blind alleys, these initiatives bring new blood and new ideas into a stagnant education sector that was previously dominated by civil service cartels and was thus rule-bound and risk-averse.

Collaboration and Evolution

Home schoolers are not all recluses living in log cabins. Growing numbers of home-schooling families live in or near cities, are well educated, and hold down normal jobs. They are not all afraid of the modern world; many are inveterate users of the Internet, and large numbers of West Coast home-school parents work in the computer and software industries.

Although large numbers of home schoolers are Christian fundamentalists and Mormons, many other religions are represented as well. There are active home-schooling organizations for Lutherans, Catholics, and Jews. In Washington, Oregon, and California, many of the new urban home schoolers are not active members of any church.

Home schoolers’ fierce independence rarely leads to isolationism. Increasingly, parents are bartering services—the mother who was a math major tutors children from several families in return for music or history lessons. Families come together to create basketball or soccer teams, hold social events, or put on plays and recitals. Growing numbers of home schoolers value the expertise of professional educators and are readily accepting help, advice, and testing assistance offered by school districts.

In such an atmosphere, it is highly likely that parents will come together to collaborate, specialize, and exploit comparative advantages. It is too soon to say whether many such collaborations will ever become elaborate enough to include cash payments for services or the hiring of coordinators to schedule, integrate services, and exercise quality control. But some home-schooling collaboratives have already advanced to the point that groups of parents find themselves running organizations that look much like schools. In Colorado, Arizona, and Michigan, several such groups have won charters and are operating as new public schools. Some home-schooling groups have also created management firms offering to create new schools that coordinate parent efforts and incorporate many of the values and processes of home schooling.

The advantages are obvious: Parents can limit their time commitments and get for their children the benefits of others’ expertise. They can also get public funds to pay for materials, facilities, management time, Internet hookups, and testing. Those that have mastered a subject or learned a great deal about instructional methods can even decide to become paid teachers.

However, home-schooling parents would be skittish and demanding clients. Many have learned exactly what they want for their children and are unlikely to stick with an arrangement that does not deliver. But all the preconditions exist for the emergence of new schools based on what home-schooling families have learned.

Although growing numbers of home schoolers are receiving valuable assistance from local public school systems, mass returns to conventional public schools are unlikely. Most home-schooling parents fled something they did not like about the public education system—variously perceived as lax discipline, bad manners, low standards, unsafe conditions, or hostility to religious practice.

In general, their web sites make it clear that home schoolers dread bureaucracy, unions, and liberals. Parents complain about teachers who would not adjust to individual children’s needs and about principals who insist that district rules prevent using better methods, changing children’s placements, accelerating instruction, or replacing bad teachers. Web sites also complain about liberal social agendas, particularly those associated with homosexuality and perceived attacks on the family.

Although home-school web sites are full of ideas about learning projects and what conventional educators would call “authentic” performance measures, parents are openly suspicious about forms of student-directed “progressive” education used in public schools. They strongly favor reading, writing, and debating. Web sites are full of resources for teaching classic liberal arts subjects (including rhetoric) and suggestions for study of primary sources.

Complaints about state standards and performance-based education are far less prominent in home-schooling materials than in religious-right political agendas. Educated home schoolers are concerned about preparing their children for the real world and are open to state standards and testing programs that guide action and give measures of progress.

These concerns, and the fact that many families began home schooling after what they perceived as “takeovers” of their local public school systems by “progressive” academics and left-of-center parents, make it unlikely that large numbers of home-schooling parents can readily return to public schools. Some home schoolers will get by with the help available from public school systems, and others will seek to create charter schools. Some—the numbers depend on costs and the availability of private subsidies—will also be attracted to specially constructed private schools such as those now being created by the conservative Christian Heritage Schools.

Given American families’ reliance on dual incomes, it is unlikely that home schooling will continue to grow indefinitely. But it will almost certainly continue to attract families that cannot find comfortable places in conventional public schools, and it will continue to be a channel through which parents become attached to private and charter alternatives.

What’s the Harm?

What could be wrong with a movement that leads tens of thousands of people to spend vast amounts of time and money learning to teach, working closely with children, developing new instructional materials, and subjecting them to real-world tests? Critics charge that three things are wrong with home schooling: harm to students academically; harm to society by producing students who are ill-prepared to function as democratic citizens and participants in a modern economy; and harm to public education, making it more difficult for other parents to educate their children.

• Student Learning. The very nature of home schooling makes it difficult to quantify student performance. But the best available evidence is strongly positive about home-school student learning. Consider these results from the Bob Jones University testing service for home schoolers:
• Almost 25 percent of home-school students are enrolled one or more grades above their age level peers in public and private schools.

Home-school student achievement test scores are exceptionally high. The median scores for every subtest at every grade (typically in the 70th to 80th percentile) are well above those of public and private school students.

Students who have been home schooled their entire academic life have higher scholastic achievement test scores than students who have attended other educational programs.

However, these results are drawn from a small, self-selected group of home schoolers who sought a university’s help in assessing student progress. Although there is no known profile of home schoolers against which to compare the sample, it is almost certainly a better-educated, higher-income, and better-supported (e.g., by church membership) group than home schoolers as a whole.

Thus, it is still impossible to say whether, on the whole, home-schooling students are doing much better than their public and private school counterparts. However, it is also totally unwarranted to argue that home schoolers are doing badly. The available evidence certainly seems to indicate otherwise.

Preparation for Adult Life. Nobody knows whether home schooling produces any different mixture of geniuses, socially adept individuals, academic failures, or misfits than do conventional public schools. For that matter, nobody has a good grasp on what the distribution of those outcomes is—or ought to be—in the population as a whole.

Some educators worry about the agendas of conservative religious leaders and parents, assuming they want children to become intolerant, insular, hypercompetitive, or convinced of religious or racial superiority. There is little basis for these fears, other than the long-standing tensions between religious groups (both conservative and mainstream) and the academic left.

Others avoid the trap of assessing schools in terms of current pedagogical orthodoxies but worry that home schooling (along with private schooling, charters, and vouchers) pulls children away from the socially centripetal experience of the common school, in which people of all races and backgrounds are educated together to common standards. This concern too has little empirical basis. Home schoolers certainly do not experience “common schools,” but neither, apparently, does anyone else. Whether they attend private or public schools, the vast majority of students are likely to attend classes and associate with others very like themselves.

Moreover, contemporary public schools do not meet the aspirations of those who expect them to be incubators of young democrats. Graduates of private (including conservative Christian) schools are more likely than demographically similar public school graduates to express tolerant attitudes, volunteer time and money for social causes, and participate in civic debates.

None of this proves that home schooling meets every aspiration Americans have for their children. But it does place the worries about home schooling in perspective, and it suggests the basis on which home schooling should be evaluated: It needs to be compared to the real performance of conventional public schools, not to some idealized aspiration.

Harm to Public Education. Home schooling limits public school enrollments and therefore reduces the amounts of money state governments provide to local school districts. It also reduces the numbers of parents who expect to enhance their own children’s education by voting for taxes and bond issues. On the other hand, home schooling reduces the burdens on public school systems and, in areas with growing populations, decreases pressure for new buildings and staffs. Unlike charters and public vouchers, home schooling does not force an overt transfer of public funds from an incumbent bureaucracy to a new rival organization.

Like charters and vouchers, home schooling is also criticized for weakening the common civic enterprise represented by the public school system. To some, deliberation about education is a necessary means of making one society out of many groups. They think that people who demand freedom from regulations, educate children themselves, or pay for private schools weaken critical public forums. A contrary view is that intellectual and values diversity are so important to a democratic society that questions about education should never be settled authoritatively. People who hold that view point to legislatures’ susceptibility to capture by interest groups and their inability to settle deeply controversial issues. They have reason to think that state standard-setting processes have degenerated into logrolling sessions among advocates for different subjects and that states have pretended false clarity about what skills young people must have in our boisterous, competitive, fast-moving, technology-driven, and unpredictable society.

Again, in a situation where so little is understood, the potential harms of home schooling seem far smaller than the harms of trying to prevent or thwart it. Every issue raised here is amenable to evidence, but abstract arguments and fears do not stand up against home-school parents’ First Amendment rights and their evident willingness to back up conviction with money, time, and effort.

The issues raised above are far from resolved. Scholarly and political discussions about home schooling are burdened by an unrecognized ambiguity in our use of the term public education, which in some instances refers to a commitment to use any means necessary to ensure that every child learns enough to participate fully as a citizen, earner, and parent and in other instances refers to a specific set of political bargains, rules, programs, job rights, and bureaucratic oversight mechanisms. The difference between these two definitions of public education is evident everywhere but most painfully in the big cities. There, aspirations for student learning, racial justice, and introduction of disadvantaged students into the mainstream of society are high. Political and educational leaders talk endlessly about the importance of high standards. But students fall farther behind the longer they are in school, and more than half of them drop out before gaining a regular high school diploma.

Our dialogue about home schooling, charters, and public vouchers, then, is frozen by confusion over means and ends. The people who run and staff conventional public schools are convinced that the current arrangements are public education. The question—put into play by home schooling and related reforms—is whether that definition is too narrow. It is time to ask whether home schooling, charters, and vouchers should be considered parts of a broad repertoire of methods that we as a society use to educate our children.

A longer version of this essay will appear in a future issue of the Peabody Journal of Education.

Paul T. Hill is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution; a member of Hoover’s Koret Task Force on K-12 Education; and a research professor, Center on Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington.

Early Childhood Education K-12 Education

Governance Studies

Brown Center on Education Policy

Katharine Meyer

May 7, 2024

Jamie Klinenberg, Jon Valant, Nicolas Zerbino

Thinley Choden

May 3, 2024

Homeschooling Vs Traditional Schooling

How Does Homeschooling Compare To Traditional Schooling?

Homeschooling, also known as home education, does exactly what it says on the tin; it is a system of education in which parents elect to keep their children home from school in order to educate them. This is perfectly legal as long as the parents follow the required legal process which involves informing the school and local authority of the decision.

It is important to remember that this legality is only required if the child has previously been in school; in situations where the child has never attended school, parents have no legal obligation to tell the authorities about their decision to home-educate.

Benefits of Homeschooling

The decision to home educate has a range of benefits when compared to traditional schooling methods. It gives the parent greater autonomy and choice over the curriculum, and the subjects studied, allowing them to focus on a preferred path of study. If the student shows particular strengths, interests,s or passion for a specific subject, there is far more flexibility and freedom to pursue this avenue and to tailor a programme of study which suits the needs of the pupil exactly.

In a similar sense, this flexibility extends to the timetable. Home education offers a much more fluid schedule, not constrained by a traditional sequence or time period. Instead, lessons can be structured and addressed in a way that best suits the lifestyle of the family involved, offering a more free and easy approach that can take into account days out, activities, clubs and even trips.

Home education is in many ways a family affair, and many parents cite this as a key reason why they made the decision. It allows the child and parent to spend more time together, making it particularly appealing during adolescence, as families can support one another during what can be a challenging period of the student’s life. Couples can also become closer as a result of the decision, as more time is spent together on a common goal. Some families also believe this strengthens the bond between parent and children, as more time is spent together during the formative years.

Home education can also be an ideal way to help children who may be struggling to achieve or progress, particularly if there are other school avoidance or anxiety issues at play. Parents can adapt their teaching methods to get the best results, and extra time can be spent on concepts that are tricky to grasp. With focused one to one attention, there is less danger of a misunderstanding being overlooked or forgotten, making steady progress more likely. In the same way, if a child appears to be excelling in a particular area, there are no curriculum or scheduling restraints; they can simply power ahead and onto the next topic.

For some parents, their religious or personal beliefs are a large part of their decision to home educate their child; not being bound by a timetable means there is more opportunity to spend time focusing on religious instruction or imparting ethical or moral lessons. Parents in the UK are not required to follow the National Curriculum when homeschooling, and this means there is more scope to follow a set religious lifestyle or belief system which may be restricted by traditional mainstream education.

Benefits of Traditional Schooling

There is no doubt that home education has a range of benefits, and can be a huge help to many students and families. For the sake of balance, however, it is important to consider both sides, and traditional education in a school environment can also offer a number of bonuses to both parents and pupils.

The most apparent advantage to choosing a mainstream school is of course access to a highly trained professional in the form of the teacher. Teachers are required to have a degree and postgraduate qualification in order to practice as a teacher in state schools, and this gives them a high level of not only subject knowledge but best practice and effective pedagogy. They are trained in the best way to teach and deliver information, to inspire and educate children and young people, and to develop and encourage critical thinking and analytical skills to a high level.

Time is another issue when it comes to traditional versus homeschooling . Home education requires a massive amount of commitment and dedication on the part of one or both parents. While some choose to bring in external tutors, this can be expensive, and cannot cover the whole curriculum. School is an environment dedicated to learning, and it is the sole job of the teacher to be there, allowing parents to pursue other commitments such as paid work which may be essential to the family.

Both home education and traditional schooling have pros and cons , and it is important to do your research thoroughly into each side before coming to a decision. Each child is unique, with their own learning style, interests, strengths, and challenges, and will all respond differently to different methods of learning. One of the most essential elements of schooling is to foster and inspire a genuine love of learning which the pupil will carry throughout their lives; the way this is achieved is down to personal preference.

Simon Kensington

Simon Kensington, homeschooling parent and creator of Get Homeschooled, shares insights from over 20 years of educating his three children at home. Balancing work with homeschooling as a single parent, he aims to empower others on this rewarding journey.

Recent Posts

How To Make A Report Card For Homeschool

Key Takeaways Understand the Purpose of a Homeschool Report Card: A homeschool report card serves as a record of a student's academic performance throughout the year. It helps parents track their...

How To Make Homeschool Fun

Key Takeaways 1. Create a Positive Learning Environment: Design a comfortable workspace that encourages learning and creativity. Incorporate hands-on activities that align with your child's interests...

Homeschooling vs. Public Education: A Worthwhile Debate

We’ve all seen them.  They were the unfamiliar and often socially awkward kids who joined our tee ball teams or showed up to the Girl Scout meetings.  “Who are they?” we all whispered.  Maybe they went to a different school.  Maybe they were new in town.  But when we asked our parents about these kids, they replied in that slightly condescending tone, “Oh, they’re homeschooled.”

Despite the stigma which still surrounds homeschooling, parents who choose this form of education are finally getting their payoff.  Since 1999, the number of parents who choose to homeschool their children has grown by 75%.  And although the number of children in a homeschooling environment still only represents a mere 4% of the total number of school-going youth, the number of parents choosing to forgo “traditional” public education is growing seven times faster than the rate of children being enrolled in public schools each year.

For those who argue that these numbers do not justify the effectiveness of a homeschooled education, we might instead look to the statistics.  The typical homeschooled child scores in the 65th to 89th percentile on standardized testing, while the average child in a public school environment scores somewhere around the 50th percentile.  Further, homeschooled children have been shown to score consistently higher on the ACT and go on to earn higher GPAs as college students.  Homeschooled children have even been shown to attain four year degrees at much higher rates than students from public school  and private schools.

The benefits don’t stop there.  Whereas the average total expenditures for a child in public school near $10,000 a year, those for the homeschooled child average somewhere between $500 and $600 a year.  So not only does homeschooling provide educational benefits, but it provides financial payoffs as well.

But what about socialization?  Often plagued with the stereotype that homeschooled children lack basic social skills and cues, proponents of homeschooling claim this is not true.  The National Home Education Research Institute claims that homeschooled children have actually shown to become more socially engaged individuals than their peers, demonstrating “healthy social, psychological, and emotional development, and success into adulthood.”

So what might the future bring?  Will more parents opt for homeschooling than public schooling?  And what can be done to remedy the apparent downfalls in public schooling that are causing more parents to choose homeschooling?

It appears that the issues with public schooling really come down to a few things.  First, there seems to be a lack of individual communication between students and teachers.  In larger public schools, there may be as many as 40 some students in a class, often severely decreasing the amount of time a teacher may spend one on one with each student.  Particularly at young ages, this one on one communication can be vital to the strength of a student’s education.  A student struggling with reading or math is easily overlooked in a large class and often does not have the confidence to approach the teacher on their own.

Public schools may also limit the achievement of a student.  Some schools are ill-equipped, whether financially or faculty-wise, to provide advanced or accelerated level courses for those students who have been shown to consistently score well academically.  Often these students are then forced to learn at a much slower rate due to the capabilities of  their classmates and thus are stunted intellectually.  Although this system is acceptable to parents of students who may be struggling compared to classmates, it could well be detrimental to those high achieving students.

Finally, as is evident by the strong anti-bullying push present in nearly every modern school, public schools often foster social anxiety and damage to mental health.  When a child learns to associate school and education with unease and even dread, it becomes a difficult perception to change.  Many students who are bullied in primary school struggle with their academics, too caught up in the social aspect of school to remember that education is the true purpose.

So what is to be done?  Given that the issues above have long been present, it seems unlikely that there will be an easy change.  Thus, it seems to be left at the hands of the parent, whether they believe in the merits of public education or prefer to foster their child’s learning in the home.

Source:   Education News

3 thoughts on “ Homeschooling vs. Public Education: A Worthwhile Debate ”

I really enjoyed reading this blog! In the area where I grew up there has always been a negative stigma towards homeschooling. I knew barely anyone that had been homeschooled growing up, so I had little to no knowledge on this subject! I truly cannot believe how many positives there seem to be surrounding the idea of home schooling! I think that this alternative route for education could benefit many kids. I will have to think about this someday when I consider where I want my kids to go to school! (if I have kids, that is)

I think that it is difficult to say whether homeschool or public school is the better option. All the statistics seem to say that children who are homeschooled are just as, or even more successful as those who aren’t, but homeschooling isn’t always plausible for families. Most parents work so they don’t have time to educate their children on top of that. I think that it is more a question of how can we improve the school system to accommodate for the problems that are easily fixed by homeschooling. Maybe building more schools so classes aren’t as large could be one option. There are always many issues with these solutions though as well so who really knows what the best fix is.

I love your topic choice for this blog! As you mentioned, homeschooling has often in the past been looked upon as a stigma within the average community. However, the points you made on the potential benefits leads me to question why this method of education isn’t used more often? With arguments surrounding a fostered environment, more individualized teachings, and advanced classes, maybe the main reason to why this form of teaching could be due to parents not having adequate resources to pursue this style. Many parents often have to balance a busy work schedule with time with their kids, and often public schooling is an easier option. Even with parents who are homemakers, they often may not have the skills to teach their child higher level calculus where public schools have that capability. Although homeschooling is a good alternative, there are still limits on its effectiveness and variability. Thanks for the great read, keep up the good work!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Our Mission
• Contributors
• Blogger Buttons

• The Commons

Home » What is Homeschooling?

What Is Homeschooling? A Complete Introduction to Home Education

The concept of homeschooling is not a novel one – it has been around forever. In fact, homeschooling was the only available options for a child’s education before 1852. Recently, more and more parents have chosen to homeschool their children as the national dissatisfaction with the U.S. education system increases.

Page Navigation

• 1 What is the definition of 'homeschool' and homeschooling?
• 2 What types of students are not considered to be homeschooled?
• 3 Publically and governmentally supported homeschools
• 4 Is homeschool legal in the U.S.?
• 5 Are there different types of homeschooling?
• 6 Why do families choose to homeschool?
• 7 Are homeschool parents well educated?
• 8 What types of families homeschool their children?
• 9 Do students homeschool all the way through high school age?
• 10 Where does homeschooling take place?
• 11 Do graduating homeschool students have a graduation ceremony?
• 12 Concerns about homeschooling and potential disadvantages
• 13 Online education, technology, and homeschooling
• 14 Dual enrollment: the relationship between homeschooling and public schools and colleges
• 15 Academic performance statistics of homeschoolers
• 16 Homeschool growth statistics

For modern families, homeschooling is easily the most flexible and diverse educational option available. The homeschooling population has continued to diversify. Today, the most popular style of homeschooling reflects the continued diversification and is fittingly called ‘eclectic.’

While many families have recently been encouraged to research homeschooling because they have lost faith in the public education system, homeschooling is not defined or characterized by this dissatisfaction.

Because this page is quite extensive, the navigation table to the left should help you skip over sections and get a feel for the structure of the page.

What is the definition of 'homeschool' and homeschooling?

Define homeschooling : Homeschooling means parent-led home-based education or just home education. Students are considered ‘homeschooled’ once their parents report that they are educated at home vs. public/private/boarding school for at least part of their education . Students are also considered ‘homeschooled’ if they are enrolled in public or private schools for no more than 25 hours a week.

Usually, one parent, most commonly the mother, does not pursue a professional career and stays at home to educate the child or children. The other parent is usually the ‘breadwinner’ who financially supports the family. The stay-at-home parent teaches their children an academic curriculum at home instead of following the traditional route of sending them to a public school or private school. There are single parents who have careers and families that homeschool. We take our hat off to you if you have been able to manage this.

No two homeschools are alike

Because homeschooling is an individualized non-public education, every homeschool experience is unique. Each homeschool is distinctive. Every method and style will be different, if just slightly. That's why there is a popular saying among homeschoolers that there are as many homeschooling styles and methods as there are homeschools. Likewise, there are almost as many reasons for choosing to homeschool. There is no “one right way.”

There is no “one right way.”

What types of students are not considered to be homeschooled?

This might sound like a weird section heading, but it is actually quite fascinating. Students who were temporarily educated at home due to some illness are not considered to be homeschoolers. Students that spend over 25 hours a week at a public or private learning institution are no longer considered to be homeschoolers.

What are umbrella schools and cover schools?

Umbrella schools are popular ways of avoiding direct reporting as a homeschooler. Most states require that homeschoolers report an annual evaluation to the government’s local school district. Some states require more frequent reporting. Using this technique, families can educate their children while also enrolling them in an umbrella school. In this loophole, the parent will legally enroll the student in a private school and therefore has no responsibilities to report anything to the state. These schools are also called ‘cover schools.’

Publically and governmentally supported homeschools

Ready for the definition of homeschooling to get a little bit blurrier? Some states, including California and Florida, have homeschool charter schools. There are also homeschool public schools. These combinations logically seem to be defeating the purpose and essence of homeschooling.

How do these schools operate?

The charter school gets funds from the state government and accepts responsibility for the homeschool students’ educations. They enroll students in their charter school and facilitate ‘distance education.’ If you live in Florida, you may be familiar with the Florida Virtual School . The FVS is an online school that provides ‘personalized learning.’ Even if you do not live in the state of Florida, you can gain access to over 100 courses through their website. Their website includes materials for the entire spectrum of public education.

Is homeschool legal in the U.S.?

Yes! Homeschooling is legal in every state. Homeschooling is also legal in many other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa. The entire continents of Europe and North America support homeschooling. In the America, each state is allowed to create their own laws and regulations for homeschooling. These laws vary greatly – some states have very strict requirements while other states are extremely lax.

Are there different types of homeschooling?

Yes, there are many different education models, methods, and philosophies of homeschooling. The models range from ‘unschooling’ to traditional style classroom learning to online learning . The majority of homeschooling families follow some type of traditional curriculum and supplement learning with a variety of other activities, interests, trips, and methods.

The ‘ unschooling ’ method is the most unorthodox. In its most basic sense, in an ‘unschooling’ household a child will express interest in something (or a general subject), and the parent will then facilitate learning about this interest. This can mean buying materials about this subject or simply spending time researching the subject together.

Most homeschool families take advantage of a child’s interests and help them learn about what they are most fascinated with. However, this is usually supplemental education and not used as a core educational style. At the bare minimum, most families follow a general curriculum that includes math, English/writing, sciences, history, and some arts.

Click here if you're interested in reading more about unschooling .

Why do families choose to homeschool?

There is a wide range of reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. Some parents homeschool because they are unsatisfied with the public education system. Others choose to teach at home for convenience. For families with strong religious beliefs, homeschooling can offer a platform to ensure that their children are not exposed to certain subjects or topics or teaching methods that are standard in public schools.

Still, other parents might homeschool their children for health reasons, learning reasons, or accessibility. Many homeschool parents want their children to get a more well-rounded education that the public school system allows. Lots of homeschoolers are very talented writers or athletes who can use the flexibility of homeschooling to their advantage.

Are homeschool parents well educated?

Very few states enforce any level of minimum parental education for a family to homeschool their child/children. Surveys have that polled homeschool parents found that 11% of homeschool parents never finished their high school education. Another 20% of homeschooling parents had completed high school or had received some type of a GED.

The largest segment, at 30%, had completed vocational training, technical training, or some portion of a college degree. 25% of teachers, the second largest segment, had Bachelor’s degrees. Interestingly, the last segment (14% of parents) had completed graduate or professional school which is a larger number than the segment who had not achieved a high school diploma.

What types of families homeschool their children?

Homeschoolers are often stereotyped – it’s an undeniable fact. The traditional stereotypes are rarely true. Nevertheless, as with all stereotypes, there are certainly select groups that fit the conventional mold. Most homeschool parents simply want to take charge of the most influential aspect of their child’s development – their education.

Homeschoolers come from all over the country, from all walks of life, from all income levels, and represent a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs.

Do students homeschool all the way through high school age?

What age do students stop homeschooling? Parents can choose to homeschool their children for as long as they want. Many homeschooling families keep their children in home education until they graduate from homeschool-high-school. But this is not required.

Other parents teach their children until certain conditions are met. Some parents stop once they believe they are no longer qualified to teach. And still, others wait until they believe their children have matured enough to handle the social pressure, influences, and other adverse effects of public education and the ‘outside’ world. Furthermore, other families leave the decision up to their children.

Sometimes extremely independent students and self-learners ask their parents to pull them from public schools so they can create a more independent schedule.

When a student is homeschooled all the way through high school graduation, it is important that his or her parent(s) kept records of all their schooling. The type of record varies from state to state. This is especially important if the student wishes to attend college.

Statistically, 23% of homeschoolers are in K-2 nd grade, 23% are in 3 rd -5 th grades, 24% are in 6 th -8 th grade, and the final 29% are in 9 th -12 th grade. The number of homeschooling families in younger grades is clearly larger. This is most likely due to most "new homeschooling families" starting in early grades.

Homeschooling until the high school grades is an attractive option.

Where does homeschooling take place?

Although ‘home’ is in the name, homeschooling is not limited to just  the household. At the root, homeschooling starts from within the home, but lots of learning and engagement takes place outside of the home. Students frequently learn in the community, using free resources like public parks and museums for exploring science, history, and nature.

Many homeschoolers consistently utilize field trips as significant learning experiences. Homeschoolers are often very "volunteer oriented" and look for services in which they can give back to the community -- not to mention that many families participate in group co-ops. Homeschoolers take all sorts of ‘lessons’ – including music,  athletics,  martial arts, dance, art, and much more.

If you're ever in need of a homeschool student, find your local 4-H association -- it is bound to be full of  homeschoolers . Of course, some families are isolated in the home, but this is not the norm. More often than not, a homeschool education gives students a broad range of rich and diverse educational experiences that involve many activities external to their place of residence.

In fact, a typical ‘pro-homeschool’ argument is that homeschoolers get more exposure to a diverse age range than public school students since they are not limited to interacting with other students of the same grade.

Do graduating homeschool students have a graduation ceremony?

Yes! There are numerous homeschool graduations where a ceremony identical to public school graduations is held – with caps, gowns, diplomas, after parties, etc. It is not necessary to attend one, but many families enjoy celebrating the achievement for the same reasons as public school families.

Concerns about homeschooling and potential disadvantages

Homeschooling comes with its fair share of concerns for new homeschool-curious parents.

Homeschool stereotypes

Many stereotypes accompany homeschooling. Probably the most common stereotype is that homeschoolers are weird and unsocialized. If this issue is concerning to you, you'll be interested in reading the most comprehensive article on the issue of homeschooling and socialization .

Homeschool parents are sometimes said to be overly protective, sheltering, too involved, and sometimes even close-minded. Some people think that the majority of homeschoolers are conservatives and their sole motivation is to control the curriculum and materials their children use. Other areas of the country may associate homeschooling with hippies.

Yes, many stereotypes exist. For the average homeschool family, no, they are not usually true.

What does an average homeschooler look like?

Homeschoolers are comprised of students between the age range of 5-17. Within this range, 51% were found to be female and 49% male. Homeschoolers are 68% white, 15% Hispanic, 8% African-American, and 4% Asian/Pacific Islander. 35% of families live in suburban areas, 31% in the countryside, 28% in cities, and the final 7% reporting that they lived in a town. 20% of these families are bracketed as "low income," which means their annual income falls below the poverty line.

Is homeschooling expensive? How much does homeschooling cost?

This question is a definite concern for most families and homeschool families have cited this as the biggest disadvantage of homeschooling. Nevertheless, it does not usually prevent families from homeschooling. The answer to this question of actual cost varies a lot . The cost is contingent on the choices that the parents make. Here is a safe rule of thumb – homeschooling is more expensive than public education and less expensive that private schooling options.

Parents under the poverty threshold or who have a very tight budget can practically homeschool for free. There are free resources everywhere including libraries, public broadcasts, podcasts, museums, and a plethora of internet resources. Families with more money to spend can purchase premium learning tools and courses that they find useful and more educational.

Homeschooling costs change with age – (older students are usually more expensive)

Homeschool parents usually discover that homeschooling is more expensive once their child reaches the teenage years. At this age, many homeschool students begin dual enrolling in local colleges. They also (usually) need textbooks or educational materials that are more advanced and thus more expensive.

The amount of money spent per student for a homeschool-high-school education is minuscule compared to the cost per student in public institutions. Of course, in almost all states the homeschool family must pay out-of-pocket for all educational expenses while public school students attend for "free."

Do colleges accept homeschool graduates?

There are almost 1,000 universities and colleges that accept students with homeschool diplomas. Most students will find that colleges are more interested in standardized test scores, the actual high school transcript, and extracurricular activities than where the diploma is coming from. This does not mean that universities don’t discriminate against homeschool graduates. Homeschool students do have difficulties when applying to certain schools. Nevertheless, big name schools like Yale, Stanford, Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, and much more.

If you want a comprehensive list containing many more disadvantages to homeschooling, check out our homeschooling pros and cons page .

Online education, technology, and homeschooling

Online education has undoubtedly impacted the growth of homeschooling. Online education has allowed parents to save time and given them easier access to the curriculum. The recent boom (last 20 years) in technology has also given homeschool parents infinitely more opportunities for alternative and supplemental learning.

Online home school programs and services allow parents to enjoy some of the flexibilities of homeschooling without taking the entirely hands-on approach that homeschool parents took 20+ years ago. There are also many tutors and private instructors that some homeschoolers with financial means use. The majority of homeschoolers combine all types of learning technology/internet learning with physical curriculum and hands-on learning.

Dual enrollment: the relationship between homeschooling and public schools and colleges

Some states allow parents to dual enroll their children in nearby schools and in their registered homeschool. It is also possible in many states for homeschool students to dual enroll in a local community college or university. Online courses at community colleges can be very appealing and popular option for high school aged homeschool families. In this way, homeschoolers can gain college credit (assuming they pass) for their required ‘high school’ classes.

Academic performance statistics of homeschoolers

The National Home Education Research Institute posted that homeschooled children perform an average of 10-30% higher than public school students on standardized tests. This study pooled a random number of home educated students. No discrimination was made meaning that the sample included the entire spectrum of homeschoolers. This means the study included students that taught by uneducated and highly educated parents, parents in both low and high-income brackets, and other influencing factors.

Home educated students also performed above average rankings on required tests for college acceptance such as the SAT and ACT (according to the National Home Education Research Institute). Because of this above average performance, lots of colleges provide resources specially designed for homeschoolers.

Homeschool growth statistics

Since 1999, the number of homeschoolers has continued to increase. At present, the homeschooling community has grown by 75%. Even after experiencing such growth, homeschoolers collectively comprise 3-5% of school children nationwide. The number of primary school students whose parents made the decision to pull them from public education systems has grown 7x faster than the number of children being registered in K-12 each year.

According to the United States government, in 2012 there were 1.77 million homeschooled students in America. This is an 18% increase since the previous study conducted back in 2007. At present, the number of homeschooled students is over 2 million.

For more information about government recorded statistics, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nhes/ .

Can I trust government statistical data on home education?

While the government offers useful statistics about homeschoolers, some of these stats should be taken with a grain of salt. Sometimes the complicated nature of setting up a ‘legal’ homeschool causes parents to become distrustful about reporting their homeschool to the government. So, when the government asks for survey details about home education, it is likely that some families would opt to not participate.

Even if a family is 100% sure they are in full compliance with government regulations and laws, surveys are often found to be intrusive. Homeschool families are often unwilling to submit any information to the government that they are not required by law to do so. Their avoidance of government participation is understandable. Their tax money continues to fund the public systems which conduct education research. Government surveys do not benefit homeschoolers in any way.

Last modified: April 28, 2017

Connect With Us

Recent articles.

• Homeschooling
• Free Resources
• Education News
• Beginners Basics
• Free Downloads
• Unschooling

Are You A Blogger?

Our policies.

• Write for us!
• Press & Media
• Our mission
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

Social Media Connection

• Quora Most Viewed
• Homeschool Curriculum

• Tools and Resources
• Customer Services
• Original Language Spotlight
• Alternative and Non-formal Education 
• Cognition, Emotion, and Learning
• Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Education and Society
• Education, Change, and Development
• Education, Cultures, and Ethnicities
• Education, Gender, and Sexualities
• Education, Health, and Social Services
• Educational Administration and Leadership
• Educational History
• Educational Politics and Policy
• Educational Purposes and Ideals
• Educational Systems
• Educational Theories and Philosophies
• Globalization, Economics, and Education
• Languages and Literacies
• Professional Learning and Development
• Research and Assessment Methods
• Technology and Education
• Share This Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

Home Schooling and Home Education

• Kalwant Bhopal Kalwant Bhopal University of Birmingham
•  and  Martin Myers Martin Myers University of Nottingham
• https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.855

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Please check back later for the full article.

Home schooling (often referred to as “home education” in the United Kingdom) is a decision made by many types of families to take direct responsibility for their children’s education rather than sending them to school. Home schooling is an increasingly popular choice for parents in Europe and North America. In many respects the ubiquity of schooling is a relatively recent innovation reflecting the increasing management of educational practices by the state. Traditionally, home schooling may have been the only option available to many families until the 20th century.

In the United States the return toward home schooling became an identifiable trend among disparate types of families in the late 1960s. On the one hand it appealed to conservative, Christian evangelical families who have argued that education is the responsibility of the family and who also wanted schooling to reflect their personal religious values. On the other hand, home schooling was the choice of radical and liberal parents who challenged both the pedagogical practices of schools and the types of knowledge prevalent in the curriculum.

More recently, however, a more heterogeneous and diverse range of families have increasingly turned toward home schooling. These include families from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, those whose children have special educational needs, and those who are dissatisfied with the education that schools offer their children. In tandem with the growth in numbers there has been widespread concern that parents who choose to home school are putting their children at risk of physical abuse, neglect, lack of interaction with others, and poor educational outcomes.

The identification of the risks of home schooling is often a controversial subject, not least because many home schoolers specifically choose this route in response to the risks they associate with sending their children to school. For many families, their decisions to home educate are often entangled within contested discourses shaped by ethnicity, religious, cultural affiliations, or a dissatisfaction with the education mainstream schools offer. For black and minority ethnic families, home schooling is often a strategy adopted to counter the racism, oppression or inequity their children experience in schools. For other families, such as those with children who have special educational needs, schools are simply unable to cater to their children’s needs. How parents manage the different risks associated with making this decision is key to understanding the complexities of home education and why some families chose to do it, while others do not.

Printed from Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Education. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a single article for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 13 May 2024

• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice
• Accessibility
• [66.249.64.20|185.147.128.134]
• 185.147.128.134

Character limit 500 /500

Home School vs School Education

School Learning: The Advantages

School learning leaves parents more time to path out their own tasks and/or career during every day life. Whether a child is ‘unschooled’, (taking charge of his or her own education) or more actively-taught by parents, both methods involve a large time and effort investment by the whole family. When a child is learning at school, their teachers perform all the tasks, from teaching lessons, to making a timetable, organising trips and visits, sorting out resources, that a home schooling parent would have to carry out.

A state-maintained school education will tend to be cheaper than home schooling. Although, at home, parents do not have to pay costs like uniform, travel, etc, there will be higher costs which would not usually be incurred in a school-based education, such as buying a curriculum, text books, computer and writing resources, field trips, science equipment, etc. Also a school based education usually allows both parents to bring in an income, if that is desired.

The socialisation issue: while there is fierce debate about the level that social interaction is a problem within home schooling, in a mainstream school opportunities to meet other children and adults form a part of everyday life and are therefore less fraught.

A school teaching environment offers qualified teachers who will usually have experience with various teaching methods as well as in their own specialist subject, and schools also have specialist teachers and staff available, for example career counsellors and PE teachers. This may especially affect children with special educational needs who further benefit from expert teaching and care.

Home School Learning: The Advantages

Child-centred learning – you can learn with your child at his/her own pace, without any competitive aspect.

Since socialisation will have to be more organised and/or structured, a home schooled child will meet people who share their interests and hobbies rather than merely their age, and get involved with a range of extra-curricular activities.

Home schooling allows much flexibility of education, which takes into account a child’s level of learning that day, and fits in once in a lifetime learning opportunities as and when they occur, such as an exciting exhibition coming to town.

Home schooling can happen anywhere, and can take in exciting locations such as science museums, zoos, as well as being able to home school abroad (although parents should check local rules and regulations).

Home schooling involves more family time.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the author: justworldschool.

Related Posts

Questionnaire: Should I Home Educate My Children?

Questionnaire: Ask Your Child About Home Education

Home Schooling a Child with Behavioural Difficulties

Home Schooling a Child with Special Needs

how many people in britain get home schooled

Very Good essay for doing school projects. Also very easy to understand also…..!!! I like this essay……!!!!!

mee too @billa bose i agree ….very nice essay for my homework ????????????????????????

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Homeschooling Vs Public School: The Pros and Cons of a Home Education

11+ Past Papers Bundle

As parents, you understand the value of your child’s education.

You also know how important it is to select the right type of education for your child.

For most people, talking about homeschooling versus public school is like talking to a brick wall – it doesn’t matter how persuasive the argument is or how strong the points are; it’s still unlikely you are going to change pre-existing opinions.

However, homeschooling is on the rise and is becoming more and more popular for parents everywhere. Homeschooling has risen 40% in the UK over the last 4 years.

The main thing to remember is that there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to education – whether you are a fan of traditional schooling, or you prefer to invest in home education resources, you should weigh up all of the options to see which is best suited to your child.

You may be considering this option for your child so here’s a quick breakdown of how it stacks up against public schooling. 

What is Homeschooling?

Simply put, homeschooling is schooling your child at home. It is also known as home education and is legal in several parts of the world, including the UK and the US. 

There are many reasons people choose homeschooling but some common things that drive this decision include:

• Dissatisfaction over the curriculum or method of teaching
• A desire to instil a specific worldview
• Providing flexibility for a child to pursue his/her passion
• Religious concerns
• School safety concerns
• A one to one approach
• Spend quality time with your children
• Regularly moving with work
• Children with learning difficulties

How Much Does Homeschooling Cost in the UK?

The Department for Education has made it clear that choosing to teach your children at home means taking on the full financial responsibility for their education. 

As a parent, when deciding whether it’s a good match for you, you need to take into consideration the kind of budget and time you will need to put aside monthly for your child’s education.

There is no hard and fast rule around how expensive homeschooling will be but it’s still important to plan how much it will cost you to educate from home.

Thanks to the internet, the cost of homeschooling has drastically reduced with access to various educational apps, youtube, and online learning support.

For example, apps such as KidSmart promote self learning for kids but have access to on-demand tutors within the app should your child get stuck.

Many two-parent families have a simple setup where one of the parent’s works and the other is a stay at home parent who focuses on the education of the child. 

Some parents share responsibility but every person has a system that works for them.

Many people who go down the homeschooling route have flexible schedules when it comes to work with many people working from home, running their own business or working online. 

Planning to homeschool your child? Here are some basic things that you might need:

• A computer with educational software
• Higher home energy bills
• Access to tutors in areas you are not comfortable in teaching.
• Travel and entrance costs for educational visits to parks, museums, zoos, etc.
• Stationery, workbooks, textbooks, craft materials
• Curriculum course fees and tuition fees for specific subjects where necessary
• Exam fees. If you decide to enter your child for certain promotional exams like the GCSE, IGCSE, and A/As, you’ll need to pay for each subject (about £140, each) and the exam centre (£40). 
• Educational apps and e-learning resources for kids

While there are no government-backed statistics on the standard costs in the UK, seasoned homeschoolers will tell you that your expenses will depend on the standards you set for your homeschool. 

Homeschooling Pros and Cons

Homeschooling may be regarded by some as an innovative or a ‘hippy’ form of education, but in truth, it is one of the world’s oldest forms of education.

Homeschooling is a little bit like marmite , it’s not for everyone, it either works for you or it doesn’t. Just like any educational system it has advantages and disadvantages.

Here are some of the main benefits of homeschooling:

The Pros of Homeschooling Vs Public Schooling

1. Personalised Teaching and Learning 

Homeschooling allows parents to have more say in how they teach the syllabus. With no standard homeschooling in the UK curriculum, you can simply tailor the curriculum and teaching methods to suit the learning needs of your child. 

In the public school system, there’s a structured program for all students to follow without much thought to their unique learning needs.

In the UK, parents rely on parent’s evenings and end of year reports and exams to assess how their child is performing.

A teacher has to focus on a class of about 15 to 35 students, which means they cannot always give students the individual attention that they require. 

Just like in the real world, the louder voices dominate and if your child is introverted there’s a high chance they may get lost in the crowd.

It’s easy for a child to be lost in the classroom and not have individual attention on areas that need improvement. 

The result?

Your child’s weak points are not being focused on and it’s harder to measure their progress.

2. Flexible Schedules

Opting to homeschool your child means not having to deal with hectic morning routines, crazy rush hour traffic – waking up to alarms and racing through showers, dressing up, and breakfasts just to get your child to school in time. 

Instead, you and your child’s mornings will be more relaxed, and you can alter schedules as needed. 

3. Effective Learning

One of the greatest criticisms of public schooling is that students learn for assessments and do not actually gain deep subject knowledge. 

Everything revolves around grades. Grades promote them to the next class and do not always reflect your child’s ability. If gaps in your child’s knowledge were spotted earlier they could have been identified and fixed.

With one and one teaching, your child can actually focus on learning for the sake of knowledge and implementation.

By giving your child individual attention, you can pull them up on areas where they need work, reward them when they do well and measure their development in a streamlined effective way.

4. Advancements in Technology

Technology has changed the world – nowadays everything is a click away and we can access almost anything on-demand; food, clothes, books. You name it, it’s now possible.

Thanks to these advancements in technology, homeschooling has drastically changed over the years. Now we have a range of educational apps for kids and it’s never been easier to teach children from home.

Whether you want to sharpen your child’s verbal reasoning , mental maths or science skills you can rest assured that in 2019 there’s an app for that.

KidSmart has been created to put the fun back into education. Through gamification , you can teach your child in ways that our predecessors could never have even imagined. It is imperative to make learning a fun activity for kids as they will be more engaged

Due to the rise of apps , you can easily measure your child’s progress and where they need to improve. Technology underpins everything in modern society and that shows no signs of easing up.

Arguably by using technology in your education methods, you are getting them more equipped for the practicalities of the real world as tech is ever-ever-growing in the current landscape.

The Cons of Homeschooling Vs Public Schooling

1. Time 

Choosing to homeschool means you have to wear two hats, you are both a parent and teacher all day long.

 In today’s busy world, time is a luxury very few parents can afford, even if you are a stay-at-home parent.

On the other hand, schools have a fixed daily structure that allows parents to work outside of the home more efficiently.

2. No Independence/Lack of Socialisation

Learning to be more independent is a crucial aspect of any educational system. 

Public schools teach children a certain degree of independence, depending on the year. For instance, they learn how to find their way from one class to the next, keep track of their own class schedules, and make it to and from the bus every day.

Homeschooling means that your child may be spending a lot of time at home. Efforts need to be made to involve them with other kids or it may hinder your child’s development. Mixing socially with others and learning how to integrate with others need to also remain a focus for any homeschoolers. Eventually, your child will potentially go into further education or employment so it is pivotal that these skills are developed at an early stage.

3. Limited Access to Diversity

Homeschooling means that the only people your child encounters in a typical day are you and other family members. 

While this is nice, education should be holistic enough to expose children to the diversity of the world outside of their immediate surroundings. 

By attending public schools, they are more likely to come across people that don’t look, act, or think exactly like they do, and learn to relate with them. 

In turn, this broadens their minds, exposes them to different cultures, value sets, moral beliefs and gives them a more well-rounded outlook on the world.

4. Lifestyle Change

There’s no getting around the fact that homeschooling is a large time commitment and if you are taking your children out of conventional schooling it will be a massive change.

Education requires time, effort and consistency to get the best results. Moving to a homeschooling structure means that you have to act both as a parent and a teacher towards your children.

Parents must think about how it affects their work life, as well as any other commitments that they may have which could interfere with teaching their child.

If parents have limited time, you need to source all the relevant tutors to ensure that your child has a smooth transition into homeschooling. 

For example, you may need to study the assessment guidelines, create a detailed education plan, form plans and stick to a routine. Tutors for English, maths, and science may be required if you feel that teaching is not your strong suit.

As a parent, you can’t afford to be lazy or have off days, and you need to make sure that you have things in place if work commitments crop up.

What resources can I use for homeschooling?

For many parents, the largest reservation about homeschooling is understanding how to teach. 

Doubts creep in for most people, ‘Do I know enough to be a teacher’ ‘Is my child better off in school?’.

These are valid questions to ask but with the wide resources available today we are limited only by our imagination when considering homeschooling our children.

Here is a short list of resources that can be used.

• Educational apps
• Past exam papers
• Workbooks 
• Trips to local museums and historic landmarks

The Bottom Line

When it comes to learning, every child is unique and the option that might be right for another child might not necessarily be the best choice for yours. 

Learning should be fun, rewarding and equip them with the skills required for them to live a happy prosperous life.

Homeschooling in the UK offers an attractive flexible lifestyle where you can really be attentive towards your child and their specific needs.

Due to the rise in edtech, it has never been easier to teach from home.

The disadvantages are that your child will need extra care to integrate within society, and that homeschooling is a large time commitment.

 As such, even though you might have considered the pros and cons of home education, you should keep in mind that these benefits and drawbacks are not universal and should be analysed by each family on a case by case basis.

Only then can you know for sure which option is best for you and your child. 

KS1, KS2, SATS & 11+ Practice

Homeschooled kids face unique college challenges − here are 3 ways they can be overcome

Associate Professor of Elementary Education, Mississippi State University

Assistant Professor of School Psychology, Mississippi State University

Disclosure statement

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Mississippi State University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.

View all partners

Homeschooling is the fastest-growing education setting in the United States. More than 3 million students were educated at home in the 2021-22 school year, up from 2.5 million in the spring of 2019. Current estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that there are 3.62 million students homeschooled in the United States . That’s a meteoric increase from about 1 million in 1997.

Some experts, including Harvard law professor Elizabeth Bartholet , find the increase a cause to call for greater regulation . University of Washington education policy professor David Knight agrees, citing a lack of accountability and measures of student progress. Knight also worries about an absence of certain disciplines such as social studies that public schools are required to teach.

For those of us who have researched the homeschool movement and studied its past, these are not new concerns. So what do we know about homeschooling and preparedness for college?

Data shows homeschooled students fare well

In 2020, we reviewed the evidence about how well homeschooling prepares people for college, career and life and published what we learned in a book chapter titled: “ Life after Homeschool .”

We found evidence that homeschooled students are just as prepared academically for higher education as traditionally schooled peers. In one study, researchers drew a sample of 825,672 students – including 732 students who had been homeschooled – and found the homeschooled group scored higher on several measures of college preparedness, including the SAT and first-year GPA in college.

Ave Maria University education professor Marc Snyder came to similar results in a 2013 study. Snyder compared homeschooled and traditional students at his Catholic university in Florida to find the average ACT scores for homeschooled students was 26. Public school students averaged 24.22, and students who attended Catholic schools averaged 24.53.

Snyder’s study reinforces data from the ACT itself. The testing outlet reported that from 2001-2019, the average ACT scores for homeschooled students trended up , while public school students’ scores declined slightly. In 2023, the national average on the ACT was 19.9 ; the average for homeschoolers was 22.8.

Areas of concern abound as homeschool growth accelerates

Still, calls for regulation persist because of a host of challenges homeschooled students present. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education wants states to require minimal qualifications of a high school diploma or GED for the parent providing primary instruction, instruction for students in the same subjects as in public schools, and annual standardized assessments. In some states, they note, parents don’t even have to tell their local school district of their intent to homeschool.

The pro-regulation side points to studies showing homeschooled students feel less prepared for college and are four times less likely to go to college after high school. Homeschool students also take an average of one fewer math and science course than traditional peers.

Homeschooled students also often lack resources and guidance provided in traditional high schools for college prep. And social challenges abound when these students transition; a study of seven homeschooled graduates in Pennsylvania found students struggling to maintain their existing moral beliefs related to drinking, drug use and sexual norms, with the majority admitting they changed some beliefs and practices.

There’s also data that shows homeschooled students find the more structured academic environment on university campuses to be difficult to adjust to after a more lax experience learning at home.

Still, efforts to regulate homeschooling face opposition from parents as well as advocacy groups such as the Home School Legal Defense Association . In March 2024, for example, these forces defeated an attempt in New Hampshire to require homeschool students to take a statewide exam.

3 ways to improve homeschooling

To help homeschooled students transition to college, we recommend parents take three steps to better prepare their kids.

Prioritize math and science to help address the math and science gap. Parents can use online courses offered through virtual high schools or employ tutors.

Enroll in dual-credit or community college courses to provide a taste of the structure of college life and to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Talk to children about the diversity of perspectives they will encounter at college. This can help prepare them for how to negotiate and respect the opinions of others.

Homeschooled students can successfully transition to college and compete with their peers. The challenges they face are entirely foreseeable, which means they can be addressed easily.

• Mathematics
• US education
• Accountability
• Home schooling
• Home school
• Higher ed attainment
• parental rights

Lecturer / Senior Lecturer - Marketing

Communications and Engagement Officer, Corporate Finance Property and Sustainability

Assistant Editor - 1 year cadetship

Executive Dean, Faculty of Health

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Earth System Science (School of Science)

What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?

When it comes to your child’s education, you want to know that you are making the right choice. But each child is unique when it comes to learning, and the option that might be right for another child might not be the best choice for yours. Many parents who are concerned about the quality of their child’s education make the choice to homeschool their kids. If you are thinking about homeschooling as an option, take the time to learn about the benefits of public school over homeschooling – they might just change your mind and your attitude about public school.

This video discusses the pros and cons of homeschooling vs schooling in public school.

What is Homeschooling?

In the simplest of terms, homeschooling is simply schooling your children at home. Homeschooling has become quite the progressive movement in recent years with more and more parents choosing to homeschool instead of sending their children to public school. There are a number of reasons why a parent might choose to homeschool their child – here are a few:

• The family might have different religious beliefs than those taught (or not taught) in public school. Homeschooling allows you to choose whether to incorporate religion or not.
• Homeschooling might offer more specialized educational attention for special needs children.
• Parents may have different educational philosophies than public school administrators and teachers. With homeschooling, you choose what philosophies to follow.
• Children may progress faster in a homeschool setting than in a public school.
• Schooling at home may promote a closer familiar relationship – many parents find that they enjoy spending extra time with their kids in homeschool.
• Public school options in the area may not offer the preferred degree of educational quality.
• Homeschool can save time since you don’t have to transport your children to and from school every day. The school day can actually be shortened for children.

The homeschool movement really started to gain speed in the 1970s when authors like Raymond Moore and John Holt began writing about educational reform. Homeschooling was a new option in alternative education at the time but, according to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are now more than 2 million children being homeschooled in the United States each year. And that number increases by as much as 7% to 15% each year.

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Your Kids

Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states, but there are some requirements you have to meet. Parents are required to choose or create an educational curriculum that meets certain educational standards set forth by the state. As long as those standards are met, however, parents have more educational liberty with homeschooling than with public school. Students may have more opportunities to choose what they learn with homeschooling, and they can learn at their own pace without having to keep up with more advanced students. Homeschool gives parents the opportunity to incorporate religion into their child’s education and it may promote a closer family atmosphere as well.

This video looks at which student does better: the one who is homeschooled or the one who attends public school.

One of the major downsides of homeschooling is that it takes a lot of time to plan and implement educational strategies. In most families, one parent needs to make homeschooling the children their full-time concern – it can be very challenging for a single parent to succeed with homeschooling. Because one parent may not be able to work, homeschooling may put a financial strain on the family finances. Homeschooled children may also have more limited access to extracurricular activities including sports, and they may not have the same level of social interaction as they would in public school. There are, of course, workarounds for these things but they are still challenges associated with homeschooling.

The Benefits of Public School vs. Homeschool

Now that you know a little more about homeschooling and its associated pros and cons, you may be wondering how public school stacks up. Each child is an individual with individual needs, so public school may or may not be the best option. However, the only way you’ll know this to be the case is to take time to learn about the potential benefits of public school versus homeschooling. Here are some of the top benefits you should consider:

• Public school has a built-in structure. Children, particularly young children, thrive on routine and they require a lot of attention and care. If you are trying to homeschool your children while also being a stay-at-home mom, you may find it more challenging than you imagine.
• Many public schools offer sports and elective options like art and music – these programs may not be available to homeschool students.
• A public school teaches children a certain degree of independence. Depending on the grade, children need to keep track of their own class schedules, find their way from one class to another, purchase their own lunch, and make it to and from the bus every day.
• Teachers are public schools are required to carry education degrees and they may have more experience working with and teaching children. Teaching a child is different from parenting a child and many parents struggle to do both.
• Public school is typically cheaper than homeschooling. You could spend $1,000 or more on a homeschool curriculum alone, not to mention supplies. For a public school, you have to buy supplies once or twice a year and you can pack your child’s lunch to save money.
• Children who attend public school have more opportunities for social interaction than many homeschooled students. There are homeschool co-ops that can be helpful, but a public school has built-in social benefits.
• Sending your children to public school frees you up to just be a parent. Doing double duty as both teacher and parent can be both grueling and frustrating at times – especially if you have other non-school-age children to care for.
• Public school gives you and your child some much-needed time apart which helps to foster your child’s independence and gives you a break as well. There is no harm in needing a break from your kids once in a while.
• In addition to the benefits listed above, there are some downsides to public school. For example, public school has a more rigorous and regimented schedule than most homeschool programs, and students may not have the same degree of freedom and flexibility to customize their education. But unless you can fully commit yourself to create and implementing a strong homeschool curriculum, your child may be better off in public school anyway.

This video outlines five differences between homeschooling and public school.

While there are many benefits of private school versus homeschooling, every situation is different. A public school could very well be the best choice for your child while homeschooling is a better option for another child. You may even find that one of your children does better in one environment and another child does better in a separate environment. Your job as a parent is to provide for your child’s needs to the best of your ability. This often means making compromises or making the best of a bad situation. As long as you keep your child’s best interests in mind, you will make the right choice.

Attending public school comes with its own challenges, but homeschooling is not always the better option. Before you decide to homeschool your child, take the time to thoroughly consider your options and explore them from all angles. You may just find that public school is a better option than you previously realized – it is up to you to make the most of it.

Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @publicschoolreview

More Articles

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 10 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

Share this Fact:

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.

Serial Killer Quick Reference Guides

#1 Stranglers

• Killer.Cloud
• Serial Killers
• Necrophiliacs

Sergei Ryakhovsky

The balashikha ripper, the hippopotamus,   active for 6 years (1988-1993) in russia, confirmed victims, possible victims.

• Serial Killer Profile
• Serial Killer Type
• General Information
• Characteristics
• Cognitive Ability
• Incarceration
• 8 Timeline Events
• Serial Killers Active During Spree
• Boolean Statistical Questions
• 12 Books Written About Sergei Ryakhovsky
• 3 External References

Internal References

Sergei Ryakhovsky (Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky) a Soviet-Russian serial killer known as the Balashikha Ripper and The Hippopotamus. Ryakhovsky was convicted for the killing of nineteen people in the Moscow area between 1988 and 1993. Ryakhovsky's mainly stabbed or strangulated his victims, he mutilated some bodies, mainly in the genital area. Allegedly Ryakhovsky carried out necrophilic acts on his victims and stole their belongings. Ryakhovsky standing 6’5" tall and weighting 286 pounds, gaining him the nickname, The Hippo. Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 from untreated tuberculosis while serving his life sentence in prison.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Sergei Ryakhovsky (aka) the Balashikha Ripper, The Hippopotamus, was active for 6 years between 1988-1993 , known to have ( 19 confirmed / 19 possible ) victims. This serial killer was active in the following countries: Russia

Sergei Ryakhovsky was born on December 29th 1962 in Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union. He had a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems including being teased or picked on.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a necrophile male citizen of Russia.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, and served time in jail.

In 1988 (Age 25/26) Sergei Ryakhovsky started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia , torture , strangle , rape , mutilate, and murder his victims.

He was arrested on April 13th 1993 (Age 30), sentenced to death by firing squad at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 (Age 42), cause of death: natural causes, untreated tuberculosis at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia.

Profile Completeness: 62%

Sergei Ryakhovsky has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a known:

( 651 killers ) serial killer.

The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.

( 308 killers ) RAPIST

Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.

( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC

Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).

( 89 killers ) TORTURER

Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.

( 251 killers ) STRANGLER

Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-06-30 collected by killer.cloud, 8 timeline events of serial killer sergei ryakhovsky.

The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Sergei Ryakhovsky. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline .

Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Sergei Ryakhovsky (1988-1993).

Adolfo Constanzo 16 Victims during 4 Years

Valery asratyan 3 victims during 3 years, john martin crawford 4 victims during 12 years, andrew urdiales 8 victims during 11 years, serial killers by active year, books that mention sergei ryakhovsky.

Kevin Smith

Serial killer stranglers.

Serial Killer Rapists

Sergey Kuznetsov

Butterfly skin.

Geraldine Fagan

Believing in russia.

Danny Schäfer

Freedom of religion or belief. anti-sect move....

100 of the Most Famous Serial Killers of All...

Stanley M. Burgess

The new international dictionary of pentecost....

External References

• Sergei Ryakhovsky on en.wikipedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Juan Ignacio Blanco , Sergei Vasilyevich RYAKHOVSKY on murderpedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Q372816 on www.wikidata.org , Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018 .

Sergei Ryakhovsky is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

• #3 of 45[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in December
• #10 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #10 of 29[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Russia
• #10 of 55[ Page 1 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #11 of 89[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #27 of 250[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #35 of 307[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #63 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #264 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
• #381 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
• #516 of 651[ Page 35 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers

LYTKARINO - FSSH-VOSTOK-ELEKTROSTAL head to head game preview and prediction

Oops! We detected that you use AdBlocker...

Please disable adblocker to support this website. Thank you!

I disabled all my adblockers for this website. Reload...

Open Modalf