How do homeschoolers score on academic tests?
Homeschooled students score well above average on standardized tests. That is the most consistent finding in the research. Studies by Dr. Brian Ray at the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) put homeschooled students at the 87th percentile on average, against the 50th percentile for public school students.
This 37-percentile-point gap holds across subjects and grade levels. It stays about the same whether the teaching parent has a college degree or not, and whether the state regulates homeschooling heavily or barely at all.
In a 2009 study, Dr. Ray looked at over 11,000 homeschooled students. They scored 34 to 39 percentile points above public school peers in reading, language, math, science, and social studies.
Why the gap exists
A few things drive it:
- One-on-one instruction is more efficient. A parent explains a concept until the child gets it, instead of moving on when the class period ends.
- Self-selection matters. Families who homeschool tend to be more invested in their children's education than average.
- Flexible pacing lets students move fast through material they know and slow down where they struggle.
- Fewer non-academic demands on school time. No hallway transitions or long stretches waiting for the rest of the class to catch up.
How do homeschoolers do in college?
Homeschool alumni show up at universities across the country, and they do well once they get there. A 2010 study in the Journal of College Admission found that homeschool graduates earned higher GPAs and graduated at higher rates than their traditionally-schooled peers.
Many universities recruit homeschool applicants. MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and most major state universities publish clear admissions pathways for homeschool students. Instead of a traditional transcript, admissions officers weigh portfolios, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation. Plenty of families build a formal transcript anyway.
Colleges that track their homeschool students report good experiences. These students tend to be self-motivated and academically prepared, and they manage unstructured time well.
Are homeschooled kids socially well-adjusted?
Socialization is the most common worry, and the most contested area of research.
Studies of social development in homeschooled children find no evidence of deficits. Several report higher social maturity and better self-concept scores than in traditionally-schooled peers.
One caveat matters: social outcomes depend on how much community the family builds. Kids who join co-ops, sports teams, and community activities build strong social skills. Kids kept home alone without peers fall behind, though that would be true of any isolated child.
What can't the research tell you?
The research on homeschooling is encouraging, but it comes with real limits worth understanding.
Selection bias is significant
Families who choose to homeschool are not a random sample. They tend to be more educated, more involved in their kids' schooling, and more financially stable than average. The academic gap between homeschooled and public school students probably reflects those family traits as much as the schooling method.
No data on the worst cases
Homeschool studies mostly capture families engaged enough to volunteer for them. The worst cases, children neglected under the cover of homeschooling, never show up in the data at all.
Quality varies enormously
"Homeschooling" describes everything from a rigorous classical education to outright neglect. The average outcome is strong, but the range is wide. A well-run homeschool produces excellent results; a sloppy one leaves real gaps.
"The research shows the potential. Whether your homeschool reaches it depends on how seriously you take the work."
Homeschool Fox parent, Virginia