Homeschool Students Score Better Academically and Socially
Basic Statistics Academically Home school students scored significantly higher than their public and private school counterparts.
The studies below prove homeschool students do exceptionally well when compared with the nationwide average. In every subject and at every grade level of the ITBS and TAP batteries.
Socially Studies also show homeschoolers mature and better socialized than are those sent to school. Dr. John Wesley Taylor's nationwide study revealed that the self-concept of home school students was significantly higher than that of public school students for the global and all six subscales of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. The Galloway-Sutton Study (performed in 1997), showed that from five success indicators (academic, cognitive, spiritual, affective-social and pyschomotor), comparing with public and private schooled students, "in every success category except pyschomotor, the home school graduates excelled above the other students."

Cost The average amount spent on home schooling per child in the US is $450.
Household Income18% of home school families earn less than $25,000, 44% of households between $25,000 and $49,000.
Religious Over 75% attend religious services

Links to Studies Homeschooling Works!Findings of an independent study by Lawrence M. Rudner, Ph.D., Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation Home Education Across the United StatesStudy on home schooling, conducted by Dr. Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. (1997) General Research Fact SheetFrom the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute was founded by Dr. Brian Ray.
Fact Sheet I From the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute was founded by Dr. Brian Ray. Fact Sheet IIb From the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute was founded by Dr. Brian Ray. Fact Sheet IIIb From the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute was founded by Dr. Brian Ray. Homeschooling on the ThresholdA Survey of Research at the Dawn of the New MillenniumBy Dr. Brian Ray.

Academic StatisticsThe average homeschool 8th grade student performs four grade levels above the national average (Rudner study).
One in four homeschool students (24.5%) are enrolled one or more grades above age level.
Students who have been home schooled their entire lives have the highest scholastic achievement.
In every subject and at every grade level of the ITBS and TAP batteries, homeschool students scored significantly higher than their counterparts in public and private schools
,/p>Minority PerformanceHome school - average reading score (white) - 87 percentile; Public school - average reading score (white) - 61 percentileHome school - average reading score (minority) - 87 percentile; Public school - average reading score (minority) -49 percentHome school - average math score (white) - 82 percentile; Public school - average math score (white) - 60 percentileHome school - average math score (minority) - 77 percentile;
Public school - average math score (minority) - 50 percentile

Homeschooling ExcelsHomeschoolers Sweep National Spelling Bee in 2000 Homeschooled children took First Place, Second Place, and Third Place in the national spelling bee on June 1st. First place winner, George Thampy, took home $10,000, and the week before earned another $15,000 the week before coming in 2nd place at the Geography Bee also in Washington DC!
Homeschoolers make up about 3% of the population, yet 11% of the contestants were homeschooled, not to mention the top 3 winners.
Homeschooler Wins National Geography Contest in 1999

Top College Applicants According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Stanford University "last fall accepted 27% of home-schooled applicants -- nearly double its overall acceptance rate.
"Top Scholarship RecipientsAbout 10% of top contestants for this nation's largest scholarships are homeschoolers, even though they make up less than 3% of the student population

For data above reference Brian D. Ray, PhD, Home Schooling on the Threshold (NHERI Publications, PO Box 13939, Salem, OR 97309), and HSLDA, Home Education Across the USA (HSLDA, 17333 Pickwick Dr., Purcellville, VA 20132), and HSLDA, Home Schooling Works, Pass it on! Rudner Report, (HSLDA, 17333 Pickwick Dr., Purcellville, VA 20132

Homeschooling statistics show the obvious advantages of homeschooling. In fact, any form of home schooling, whether it is Christian homeschooling or even homeschooling online with homeschooling software, research shows that all homeschooling programs will benefit children greatly. Read further and see just how much homeschooling will help a child.

The Homeschooling Advantage

Statistics show that a student who is partaking in homeschool will outperform any public school student on standardized tests. The reason is because a homeschooling curriculum places a heavier emphasis on ensuring that a child is actually learning that which is being taught to them. The reasons for this phenomenon are as follows:

* Parents design the curriculum, ensuring that children are taught relevant, interesting information.

* Children are given more attention because of the smaller class size, allowing for more one on one time.

* Children have less distractions resulting from social pressure from other students.

* Children have greater respect for their parents than any one else, meaning that children will cooperate more with parents than public school instructors.

* Parents will be allowed more time to bond with their children in a very positive way.

The Homeschooling Disadvantage

The disadvantage to homeschooling a child is that they are being removed from the social context placed upon them in public schools. Because of this, they will not have the same opportunity that other children have to develop social skills and relationships. However, as strong as these disadvantages are, homeschooled children have a greater potential for learning crucial information, as taught directly by their parents.

Homeschooling Resource

Many resources are available for parents who are interested in homeschooling their children. These resources come in two forms, guides and homeschool counseling. Guides can be found all over the internet and, with a little research, you will surely be able to find a guide that will aid you in creating the homeschooling curriculum that you feel is right for your child.

Homeschool counseling is a service by which parents get advice on how to operate a homeschool. These counselors will give parents all the information they need to ensure that the curriculum they create is on par with standards set by school boards and state legislatures. Either route is beneficial, meaning that you simply need to decide which is right for you.

Before deciding to take the plunge into the world of homeschooling, you must keep in mind that homeschooling is not right for everyone. Make sure that you can afford to take the time your child will need to get the most out of this education practice.

You will also want to make sure your child is open to this idea, as not all children will be as optimistic about the importance of education as parents will be. If you decide that homeschooling is right for your family, do not fret about whether or not your child will be falling behind other children, as statistics are available to show the obvious benefits of this type of education.

News Releases

Home schooling improves academic performance and reduces impact of socio-economic factors

Release Date: October 04, 2007
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TORONTO, ON—Home schooling appears to improve the academic performance of children from families with low levels of education, according to a report on home schooling released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.

“The evidence is particularly interesting for students who traditionally fall through the cracks in the public system,” said Claudia Hepburn, co-author of Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd edition and Director of Education Policy with The Fraser Institute.

“Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools do. One study we reviewed found that students taught at home by mothers who never finished high school scored a full 55 percentage points higher than public school students from families with comparable education levels.”

The peer-reviewed report, co-written with Patrick Basham and John Merrifield, builds on a 2001 study with new research and data. It examines the educational phenomenon of home schooling in Canada and the United States, its regulation, history, growth, and the characteristics of practitioners, before reviewing the findings on the academic and social effects of home schooling.

Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child’s ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.

“The research shows that the level of education of a child’s parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child’s academic achievement than it does in public schools.”

The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home.

Research shows that almost 25 per cent of home schooled students in the United States perform one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools. Grades 1 to 4 home school students perform one grade level higher than their public- and private-school peers. By Grade 8, the average home schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.

Hepburn said a growing body of new research also calls into question the belief that home schooled children are not adequately socialized.

“The average Canadian home schooled student is regularly involved in eight social activities outside the home. Canadian home schooled children watch less television than other children, and they show significantly fewer problems than public school children when observed in free play,” she said.

The report concludes that home schooling is not only a viable educational choice for parents, but can also be provided at a much lower cost than public schooling. The report notes that in the U.S., home schooling families spend less than $4,000 per year on home schooling while public schooling in the U.S. costs about $9,600 per child.

“Canadian and American policymakers should recognize the ability of parents to meet the educational needs of their children at home, without government involvement,” Hepburn said.

“While home schooling may be impractical for many families, it has proven to be a successful and relatively inexpensive educational alternative. It merits the respect of policy makers, the attention of researchers, and the consideration of parents.”

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The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization based in Canada. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research.

Contact: Claudia R. Hepburn
Email: claudiah@fraserinstitute.ca
Telephone: (416) 363-6575, ext. 227

Related Publications:

Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd Edition

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Home schooling improves academic performance and reduces impact of socio-economic factors

News Releases