What is Homeschooling
Homeschooling is an educational approach where parents or guardians take primary responsibility for educating their children at home, outside of a traditional public or private school setting.
Homeschooling (also written as home schooling or home education) is an educational model in which parents or guardians take primary responsibility for educating their children at home, rather than enrolling them in a traditional public or private school. Homeschooled students learn in a home or community environment using curriculum chosen by the family, and they typically do not attend a conventional school building for their core instruction.
How Many Students Are Homeschooled?
Homeschooling has grown significantly in recent decades. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) estimates that approximately 3–4% of school-age children in the United States are homeschooled — roughly 1.5 to 2.5 million students. That number increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained elevated since.
Why Families Choose Homeschooling
Families homeschool for a wide variety of reasons:
- Religious or moral values — Desire to incorporate faith-based instruction or align education with family beliefs
- Dissatisfaction with local schools — Concerns about educational quality, curriculum choices, or school safety
- Customized learning pace — Gifted students can accelerate; students with learning differences can move at their own speed
- Special needs — Flexibility for children with IEPs or 504 plans, medical conditions, or learning disabilities
- Geographic or lifestyle factors — Families in rural areas, traveling athletes or performers, military families
- Academic enrichment — Pairing homeschooling with dual enrollment or advanced study programs
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 U.S. states, though regulations vary significantly:
| Regulation Level | States | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Very low regulation | Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska | No notification required |
| Low regulation | Florida, New Jersey | Notice required, no standardized testing |
| Moderate regulation | California, New York | Curriculum approval or standardized testing |
| High regulation | Pennsylvania, Massachusetts | Standardized testing, portfolio review, or both |
Homeschool Curriculum Options
Homeschooling families choose from a wide range of curriculum formats:
- Structured packaged curricula — Complete grade-level kits (e.g., Abeka, Saxon Math, Classical Conversations)
- Online programs — Virtual schools and digital curriculum providers
- Eclectic homeschooling — Mix of resources chosen by the parent
- Unschooling — Child-led, interest-driven learning with minimal formal structure
College Admissions for Homeschooled Students
Homeschooled students are accepted at colleges and universities across the country, including highly selective institutions. Colleges typically evaluate homeschooled applicants on:
- SAT or ACT scores (often weighted more heavily in the absence of a traditional transcript)
- Portfolio of work samples or a parent-created transcript
- Dual enrollment credits (see dual enrollment)
- Extracurricular activities, community involvement, and letters of recommendation
For homeschooled students preparing for college-level testing, Chegg offers test prep and study tools that work well alongside a homeschool schedule.
GPA and Transcripts
Homeschooling parents typically create their own transcripts, including course titles, grades, and a GPA calculation. This requires careful documentation, especially if the student plans to apply for merit scholarships or programs that require a minimum GPA threshold.