Inside: Homeschool success statistics & the impact on mental health
Homeschooling has been steadily growing in popularity over the years. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States, the number of homeschooled students increased from approximately 850,000 in 1999 to around 1.7 million in 2016 and up to 3.7 million in 2021 (NHERI).
With its growth, or if you are considering homeschooling, you may be asking questions like, can kids find homeschool success academically? What are the benefits of homeschooling? What about homeschool and mental health?
It is essential to recognize that homeschooling outcomes can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the quality of the curriculum, parental dedication, social opportunities, and access to resources.
Overall, the following homeschool statistics show that homeschooling can be very successful for kids and parents, both academically and mentally.

Do homeschooled kids do better academically?
The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) reports that on standardized examinations, homeschoolers often get results that are 15–30% higher than those of pupils attending public schools. Homeschoolers often get scores between 85% and 87%, whereas students in public schools typically achieve scores of approximately 50%.
According to Prosperity for America, homeschooled students score 72 SAT points higher than the national mean.
What is the success rate of homeschooling for college students?
Students who were homeschooled have been accepted with success into colleges and institutions all across the world. Homeschool candidates may face a variety of admissions procedures, but many universities have certain standards they must meet, such as standardized test results, portfolios, or interviews. Homeschoolers frequently highlight their academic success, extracurricular activities, and civic engagement to indicate that they are prepared for higher education.
The study, Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschool Students in the Journal of College Admissions, found the following results for homeschoolers in college achievement:
- When compared to the entire cohort (25.0), homeschooled kids (26.5) reported a considerably higher ACT-Composite score.
- Compared to the general population (6.0), homeschooled kids (14.7) received more college credits before entering their first year.
- Compared to the general group (3.54 and 3.44 respectively), homeschooled children reported considerably higher high school and transfer GPAs (3.74 and 3.65 respectively).
- Compared to the entire cohort (3.08), homeschooled kids (3.37) obtained a considerably better autumn semester GPA.
- The first-year GPA of homeschooled pupils (3.41) was higher than the average group’s (3.12). Additionally, compared to the freshman cohort (3.16), homeschooled kids (3.46) had a much better fourth-year GPA.
How do parents benefit from homeschooling?
Parents can benefit from homeschooling, too! High levels of parental satisfaction with homeschooling have been found in several surveys. Homeschooling offers flexibility and a personalized approach that many parents value since it enables them to customize the curriculum to their child’s unique needs, interests, and learning styles.
Is homeschooling good for anxiety? Do homeschooled kids have better mental health?
In an online survey of college students from a variety of colleges and universities, the results showed that homeschooled students showed significantly lower levels of depression than traditionally educated students.
So, what is the relationship between homeschool and mental health? Homeschooling offers kids and families a flexible schedule, which can lead to lower levels of stress because kids can take breaks when needed.
When learning at home, kids are in a comfortable environment. Kids don’t have to worry about the stressors that can exist in a traditional classroom, so they can relax and focus on their learning.
Many kids are not getting enough sleep and early school start times are a part of that. Homeschool kids have the advantage of being able to sleep and start school later. Getting enough sleep can lead to better overall health!
On the other side, if you are thinking about switching from traditional to homeschooling, consider how the change in schedule will affect your child. For some, it can be helpful, but for others, the change in schedule can cause anxiety.
Homeschool Success & the Benefits of Homeschool
There are many benefits of homeschooling such as flexibility both in schedule and curriculum, meeting family goals, academic success, and kids’ mental health.
Homeschool success can largely be determined by you and your kids based on your own family’s goals. From the statistics shared, you can see that many homeschooled kids see academic success that continues on into higher learning.
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