argumentative essay on homeschooling vs public schooling

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Homeschooling vs Public School (Argumentative Essay)

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Public Schooling versus Homeschooling

Education is viewed as an essential commodity to the future of every child. Parents’ desire is to give their children the best education in a favorable environment. In an attempt to give their children the best education, parents have to choose the best schooling system they feel best considering the abilities of their children. Amongst the choices available are the public education and homeschooling. Homeschool are led and managed by the parents while public schools are governed by the government. Parents make their decisions depending on their social and economic beliefs and other factors depending on the experience they have had with schools. Some parents believe that homeschooling is better than public schooling and reverse is also true to some parents.

Public schooling is the oldest education system in the educational system. It has preferences to homeschooling by some parents. In public school apart from uniforms and other requirements the government pays most of the tuition fees. Payment of tuition fees by the government guarantees most children education, whether from rich or humble backgrounds. This is not the case with homeschooling as parents are forced to buy everything from books to teaching services in homeschooling.

In public school the level of socialization is high. Children meet and interact with other kids from different parts of the country. Children get to know how to communicate to various groups of people from different parts.

Public schools have enough funds to enable students to participate in extra-curricular activities like clubs, bands, and sports. These events make the child grow up physically healthy and with confidence.

Homeschools are gaining popularity due to their advantages over public schools. Many parents see the expenses of homeschool as less than that of public schools. In a homeschool, there are no uniform requirements, and this reduces its expenditures. Also, there are no mandatory fees in homeschooling.

In a homeschool, there is family togetherness. Every child grows up knowing their family values and cultural practices. The family does most of the chores together, which is viewed as an essential part of learning. Each child is given a chance to show his worth and role in the family; this makes children feel part of the household.

Academically, the quality is enhanced in homeschools. The parents choose what curriculum best fit their children depending on children’s ability. Most parents have had education in public schools, and they have their good and bad experience about the quality of academics in public schools. Also, in a homeschool teacher-student ratio is reduced and every student can be attended by a teacher at persona levels, unlike public schools.

In a homeschool the environment is safe, and parents feel their children are secured. The children are free from the danger of drugs, unwanted religion by the parents, bullying, etc., which might not be the case in a public school. With such threats out of mind, the students are safe.

Education quality is essential to the future of each country. Therefore, all efforts and funds should be directed towards quality education. The high quality of teaching in homeschooling makes it have an advantage over the public schools. This implies that the homeschooling should be encouraged and where possible its expenses subsidized by the government. Funding the costs alone may not be enough, but a combination of it and other activities like inter school sports will see homeschooling a great success and a better option.

Compare and Contrast Essay: Homeschooling vs Public Schooling

A lot of people like to debate what type of schooling is best for their children. Public schools provide an environment with different types of people and help students adapt to what the world is like. Students learn very useful social skills and practice them every day to be prepared for future opportunities. Homeschooling, on the other hand, seems like a better option for many students as they struggle to balance their schedule, more often at the high school age. Now, especially with the pandemic going around, many parents are switching their children to the homeschool option. 

Money can very often be an issue when parents decide on their child’s schooling. Public schools are typically less costly than homeschool curriculums. The reason why many parents can’t get homeschool, even if they want to, is mostly because of the cost. It is very stressful juggling a job and children in need of an education, and it just seems simpler to send them to public school.

Something that moves parents to deciding on homeschool for their children, is concern for their safety. Public schools may have drugs going around and people getting discriminated against and bullied. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 high school students reportedly experienced school bullying. That leads to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and even attempts. And parents are trying to keep their children feeling safe in their home. 

Being able to socialize in a healthy way is important to learn from a young age, so we can apply those skills in the future when you need to apply for a job interview. Public schooling includes more socialization than homeschool. Homeschool can teach some skills, but in public schooling it is “built in”, as students are pretty much required to communicate with classmates and teaching personnel. Some homeschooled students tend to feel very lonely. I myself have no friends, and sometimes think to myself that it would be way better to actually learn to socialize in a social setting instead of cooped up in a home sitting at a desk.

Schedules can be very important for teens as they start to be more involved in activities and even work. Public schools are on a pretty tight schedule and everything is laid out specifically by hours. While in homeschool, the schedule is very flexible and changeable. Having a pretty flexible schedule also helps with job opportunities. If a restaurant wants you to work from 8 to 10 AM, on a weekday, it would be really hard to juggle this and public school. While for homeschool, you can just watch the daily lessons later in the day. 

Though there are many differences in homeschooling and public schooling, they both teach relatively the same subjects. Sometimes more or less, as it depends on if it is a religious based homeschool or public school. They both offer the basics, such as math, science, reading, writing (English in older grade levels), and also foreign language can be an option for older grades. In many homeschool curriculums there are plenty of options for Performing Arts and Family and Consumer Science. Though public schools may offer more in terms of elective courses, variety of sports and other extracurricular activities. Also, both options may use many types of media and sources to teach in a more fun or “hands-on” way. If it is alright with your on-site teacher, you can get creative while doing homeschool too. It isn’t as boring as some people perceive it to be. There are plenty of classes like art and science that offer hands-on activities. 

Both schooling options can have downsides, and great sides to them. Money, safety, being social, and scheduling are all important factors in a healthy school experience, but at the end of the day, I believe what matters most is what you feel like fits you best and what makes you most comfortable.

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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!

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Home vs. Public Schooling: Middle Ground Argument Essay

The discussion of the advantages of homeschooling as an alternative to public schooling is rather controversial because there is a lot of evidence to support the opposite positions. I am inclined to state that homeschooling is the contemporary tendency that is popular with the public because it provides many possibilities for personal development where the accents are made on the development of the individual’s abilities, skills, and talents without any pressure which is typical for group learning.

Moreover, the level of the development of information technologies can make the process of learning comfortable and oriented to the individual’s needs. Having analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, I can conclude that home schooling is necessary for personal development, and public schooling is important for the person’s socialization. However, the individual can develop social skills without references to the school activities. That is why home schooling is more effective for a person’s intellectual growth. This idea can demonstrate the effectiveness of home or individual schooling as an alternative to traditional public schooling.

Nevertheless, it is possible to discuss the question of homeschooling from the other perspective and with references to its adaptation to public schooling. It is often possible to find the ‘middle ground’ while discussing controversial points. Homeschooling is important for personal growth because it provides the possibilities for developing abilities and talents with references to personal needs and demands. Individual learning is more effective to increase the person’s level of knowledge, and the contemporary approaches to online learning help people avoid any difficulties in their schooling. However, learners need guidelines and regular consultations provided by their tutors.

Group work and communication are also important for a person’s socialization. That is why I can correct the previous claim and state that home schooling is beneficial for individual learners when it is effectively connected with the elements of traditional public schooling. Students should receive the possibilities to see their group and tutors improve their knowledge and different skills. Thus, the previous claim requires its expansion with references to the new vision of the issue.

To prove the new claim according to which homeschooling can be effectively combined with the traditional approaches to teaching and learning used in public schooling, I need to discuss some ideas provided in the works by Rivero and Romanowski. It is unnecessary to use the additional sources for providing the shreds of evidence for the new claim because the mentioned authors pay much attention to the parents’ possibilities to choose the form of home schooling which is more appropriate for their children because of various similarities and differences with the public schooling methods.

I am inclined to conclude that the middle ground solution is more practical about resolving the opposition between home schooling and public schooling developed by educators and parents because the effective combination of these two systems can provide positive results. The accentuation of the strengths of homeschooling is possible with references to using some effective methods of public schooling. It is impossible to use only one variant of schooling at the current stage of the education system’s development, but it is possible to support homeschooling as the modern approach which is effective while basing on the definite elements of public schooling.

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IvyPanda. (2021, January 16). Home vs. Public Schooling: Middle Ground Argument. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-vs-public-schooling-middle-ground-argument/

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IvyPanda . 2021. "Home vs. Public Schooling: Middle Ground Argument." January 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-vs-public-schooling-middle-ground-argument/.

1. IvyPanda . "Home vs. Public Schooling: Middle Ground Argument." January 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-vs-public-schooling-middle-ground-argument/.

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IvyPanda . "Home vs. Public Schooling: Middle Ground Argument." January 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-vs-public-schooling-middle-ground-argument/.

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Argumentative Essay On Home School Vs Public School: Socialization

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Education , Children , Teaching , Homeschooling , Family , Students , Home , Parents

Words: 1300

Published: 03/05/2020

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Home schooling is a system of education, which involves children being schooled at home. This system involves the children being taught by their parent or other qualified tutors. As opposed to the conventional settings of public or private schools, all the learning activities in the homeschooling system take place right at home. Homeschooling is by all means a legal, educational setup and the result that it yields are held in as high regard as those derived from the formal schooling system. Statistics about homeschooling prove that this option of schooling is very fruitful as far as academic excellence is concerned. A study of American colleges shows that 78% of admission officers are very optimistic with their students who have been home schooled (Glen, p.57). They expect these home-schooled students to perform much better than their counterparts from the conventional formal schooling system. The graduation statistics are also very encouraging as far as homeschooling is concerned. This is because 66% of homeschooled students graduate while only 58% of students from the formal education system graduate. This clearly shows that homeschooling is advantageous as far as imparting of knowledge an academic excellence is concerned. Statistics from colleges have also shown that on average, homeschooled students tend to get higher grades during the course of their college education compared to their counterparts from the conventional schooling system. There is however a question as to exactly how the homeschooling system affects the personality of the associated children. This is particularly in relation to the social nature of the homeschooled children in their capacity to associate with other people on a social and an intellectual level. Homeschooling does not have a negative effect on the socialization capabilities of the home schooled students. The capacity to enlist a private tutor for a given student was in the past a luxury only affordable to the elite and the richest members off society. In the 1960s, however, the concept of homeschooling started getting critical acclaim as one of the only avenues to combat the nature of the formal schooling system that was viewed as being rather secular. The rise in popularity of homeschooling was enhanced by the low costs off homeschooling. Unlike normal conventional education, homeschooling is considerably cheaper especially in instances where the parents of the student are the tutors. In such cases, the additional costs of schooling are greatly reduced. Homeschooling is also a convenient method of education. A good example is the case where people have to move from one place to another frequently for example entertainers and athletes (Mayberry, p.81). In such cases, the process of enrolling the child to a different school after a short period can be hectic for the child as well as affect the learning process of the child in question. In such cases, homeschooling is a very convenient method of education where children can travel with their parents while at the same time getting the best quality education available. Homeschooling is also very advisable in instances where bonding and mentorship is preferred. This is because the student and the tutor interact on a more personal level over a long period. There are a number of factors that have led to the criticism of homeschooling by society. One such factor is the socialization aspect associated with formal schooling. Homeschooled children learn in isolation. As a result, they do not interact with their peers as they would if they were in a formal education system. As a result, the children may grow up to become anti-social members of society since they are not conversant with the formal schooling system, which has a large number of pupils in a single class interacting on a daily basis. They do not interact with their peers on a large scale. Another objection to the home schooling system stems from more of a humanitarian point of view. According to this point of view, peer interaction is part of the growth and development stage of a child. This means that peer interacting is very necessary or the proper growth and development of a child. Homeschooling seems to be inclined towards the deprivation of this essential ingredient to the development of a child. Children who are home schooled are denied the right to interact with their peers as they are supposed to. These children are denied a paradigm of childhood. They are deprived of one of their developmental necessities. Critics of the homeschooling system are also of the notion that homeschooled children adopt more of an isolationist policy as opposed to teamwork. This is because these children are used to doing things on their own. Therefore, the concept of teamwork and working with their peers is an alien ideology altogether. The critics are concerned that this ideology might seep into the working environment where teamwork is an essential part of success. These people may not be able to work well with others. This might limit their performance at work. Homeschooling is preferred by parents because off its character building capabilities. In the homeschooling system, parent, and tutors are more involved in the actual shaping of the character of the children in question. Moral issues are also prevalent in homeschooling instances. Many parents feel that a formal education system suffers from moral bankruptcy and the only way to ensure moral enrichment of their children is through the homeschooling system (Mur, p.72). On average a homeschooled student, performs much better than their counterparts in the conventional schooling system. Renowned authors such as Harold Benet have also produced publications advocating for homeschooling. The critics of homeschooling however have a valid point. There are instances where people tend to develop antisocial tendencies due to homeschooling. This is because homeschooling does not provide high levels of peer interaction as the formal schooling system. Socialization is an essential part of human development as this aspect can be well incorporated into the homeschooling system. This is because homeschooled children have free time, which they can use to interact with their peers and build friendship. During the weekends, homeschooled children as well as children in the formal education system can interact with each other thus eliminating the anti-social aspect associated with homeschooling by its critics. Interaction can also be part of the home schooling curriculum. The tutors can ensure that the children interact with their peers. Statistics shows that homeschooling is more effective in terms of student performance and college admissions. Homeschooled children also on average get better college grades than their peers. There is, however, a necessity to fuse this system of education with aspects of socialization. This might include allowing the children to go out and play with their peers after the learning activities are completed. The result will be an all rounded child, sharp both academically as well as socially. Homeschooling does not have a negative effect on the socialization capabilities of the homeschooled children, if this all round concept of home schooling is initiated.

Works Cited

Galen, Jane. Home schooling political, historical, and pedagogical perspectives. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Pub., 2009. Print. Home schooling should be coupled with social activities. These social activities include peer interaction Mayberry, Maralee. Home schooling: parents as educators. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, 2007. Print. Home schooling produces more competent professionals. These professionals are more equipped with technical knowledge Mur, Cindy. Home schooling. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Print. the author talks about the academic benefits f home schooling. Home schooled children learn more Nelson, Erik. Home schooling. Eugene, Or.: ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, 2004. Print. home schooling helps to build a better relationship between children and parents. As a result parents get to understand their children better Williamson, Kerri Bennett. Home schooling: answering questions. Springfield, Ill., U.S.A.: C.C. Thomas, 2010. Print. Home schooling affects the social nature of students. These students are used to working in isolation not team work

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Argumentation For and Against Homeschooling: Essay Example

Homeschooling: essay introduction, why homeschooling is bad: essay body paragraph, why homeschooling is good: body paragraph, home schooling: essay conclusion, works cited.

The popularity of homeschooling seems to increase, although some people are convinced that homeschoolers are not going to amount to anything valuable in the long run. In this speech, I am going to outline the strong points and drawbacks of homeschooling.

It is believed that homeschooled children lack social skills, and their parents bear huge expenses and have no time for themselves; on the other hand, homeschooling perfectly fits the child’s needs, is valued no less than public schooling, and creates closer family bonds; additionally, in contrast to public schools, homeschooling de-stresses children rather than distresses them.

As their strongest argument, skeptics generally maintain that homeschooled children do not receive the social interaction they need. At earlier stages of development, it is critical for children to socialize and advance their communication skills.

Children studying at home do not get this opportunity and are likely to have problems socializing and making friends later in life. An unsociable child is also prone to have troubles with peer acceptance – not least because homeschooling is still regarded as an oddity and deviation.

Another argument is concerned with the cost of home education. At that, it does not matter if the parents choose to educate the child themselves or hire a tutor –in both instances, their budget is likely to be shattered.

A serious point to consider is that, on average, a tutor’s services will cost $30-40 per hour (“The Tutor Guide” par. 1). A parent tutor will probably have to quit their job to get all the time they need. One way or the other, homeschooling is a costly affair.

Apart from the money it takes to homeschool children, parents are likely to devote most of their time to it. Eventually, they might find themselves spending 24 hours a day with their children with not a moment of solitude and privacy left. Although such parental participation does not seem alarming short term, it can be stressful in the long run – which is the reason some parents find they are not quite ready to homeschool.

These arguments are logical and true to life – but let us look on the brighter side.

Those who stand for homeschooling insist that it provides tailor-fit education. The child has a chance to learn at their own pace, which can be slower or faster than that of public school students. It is true that every child is special, and every child’s needs matter.

Still, in cases when children cannot cope with the public school environment, homeschooling can be the only way out (Kirk et al. 2). The parents (or tutor) can fit the education process to their child’s needs – presumably, for the children’s own good.

To counter the parental stress argument, it does not make much logical reasoning to admit homeschoolers are likely to have better relationships with their families. Provided that the parents are not overly authoritative when it comes to educational activities, familial bonds are formed and preserved lifelong.

By educating their children and tracking their progress, parents have a chance to know their children better, which is the cornerstone of good parenting. Additionally, parental involvement can prevent aggressive and destructive behaviors in teens and pre-teens, which is another solid point to consider.

Speaking about aggression, one cannot deny that bullying issues are pressing as ever. Despite public schools’ best efforts, peer pressure is persistent. Homeschoolers, in their turn, are free from the agony and negativity bullying brings.

Consider a harassed school student trying to concentrate – and failing at that. Now consider education in a comfortable homely atmosphere where a child feels loved and valued. In this respect, a homeschooler not only has a chance to focus but also develops an emotionally stable personality.

Finally – and this is good news – there is an extensive list of colleges that accept homeschoolers (Bunday n.pag.). Each year homeschooled students are admitted to study in selected colleges and universities across the U.S. Such institutions like Harvard College, Yale University, University of Chicago, Trinity University, and many others are known to have admitted homeschooled students – that is, without high school diplomas. Many institutions believe homeschoolers are more fit for the scholarly atmosphere. Based on some general tests, portfolios, and application essays, homeschoolers have equal admission chances.

To conclude, it would be wrong to say homeschooling does not have its weak points. Still, the strong points can seem more relevant for some and, eventually, determine their choice of educating children. Whether you think that the strengths of homeschooling outweigh the weaknesses or not, you have to admit the practice is viable and is quite likely to bring positive results.

Bunday, Karl M. “ Colleges That Admit Homeschoolers .” Learn in Freedom. Learn in Freedom, 2013.

Kirk, Samuel, James J. Gallagher, Mary Ruth Coleman, and Nicholas J. Anastasiow.

Educating Exceptional Children. 13th ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

“ The Tutor Guide: Tutoring Fees .” Care.com . Care.com, 2016.

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StudyCorgi. (2020, January 10). Argumentation For and Against Homeschooling: Essay Example. https://studycorgi.com/homeschooling-argumentation-for-and-against/

"Argumentation For and Against Homeschooling: Essay Example." StudyCorgi , 10 Jan. 2020, studycorgi.com/homeschooling-argumentation-for-and-against/.

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How Does Homeschooling Compare to Public School?

Rick Gomez / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Basic Differences

Test results, grade point average, college placement, emotional adjustment.

Many parents considering a homeschool education over a more traditional experience want to know how homeschooling compares to public school—especially when it comes to academic performance.

You're not alone if you've considered removing your children from regular school in favor of homeschooling. When you think of the advantages of teaching your kids at home , you likely envision the freedom of making your own schedule, focusing on particular areas of interest, and going at your child's pace.

But does a home-based education offer a leg up for kids in terms of scholastic advancement? It depends. Here's how educating at home stands up to public school for test results, GPA, college placement, and more. 

An education at home differs from a traditional public school education in some basic (but significant) ways that may impact academic performance. Individualized attention from a parent-slash-teacher can make a world of difference for a student who is struggling academically or has a learning disability , for example.

Working independently may also allow more advanced students to go at their own pace, not having to wait for others to catch up. On the other hand, depending on the challenge level of subject matter, you may have to learn about certain topics alongside your child (or access someone with the appropriate expertise).

Many factors you might expect to affect academic success at home have surprisingly low impact. Whether or not a parent has earned a teaching degree or certificate is not associated with their child’s academic achievement, and neither is the degree of government control in their state . Parents’ level of formal education and household income are also not correlated with children’s scholastic proficiency.  

While test results aren’t the only indicator of a child’s academic prowess, they can be an important benchmark of learning—and they do matter for college placement. The effects of homeschooling on test results are promising.

As far back as 1998, one study found that homeschool children’s median scores on standardized tests such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills landed in the 70 th to 80 th percentile.

Similarly, according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), students educated at home typically score 15 to 30 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized tests for academic achievement.

For Black students, the numbers are even higher. Black children who homeschool score 23 to 42 percentage points higher on standardized tests than their counterparts in public schools.

On the ACT, a test used nationwide for college admissions, composite scores for homeschooled students fluctuated between 22.3 in 2007 and 22.8 in 2014. (The highest possible score is 36.) Though not as high as scores from private school students, these rankings were 1.4 to 2.2 points above the average public school student.

Grade point average, or GPA, is another common point of reference for academic performance. Because many homeschool families don’t calculate GPA, limited data exists comparing grade point average between home and publicly educated kids. However, research has been conducted on the GPAs of college students who homeschooled during their K-12 years. 

One study conducted at an unnamed private university in the American Southeast found a statistically significant increase in the college GPA of students who were homeschooled versus those who were not.

In another study from an unnamed university in the Midwest, students who had homeschooled finished their freshman year of college with an average GPA of 3.37, compared with the 3.08 average GPA of other students.

The academic advantages of homeschooling continued throughout the college years. As seniors, the same students earned an average GPA of 3.41, compared to the 3.16 average GPA of non-homeschooled seniors.

Other, more in-depth research tells a somewhat different story, however. A 2016 study analyzed data from nearly 825,000 students at 140 colleges and universities and found that students who had been homeschooled did not achieve higher GPA in their first year of college, nor were they more likely to return for a sophomore year.  

For many colleges and universities, admissions are handled very similarly between students who have had a traditional education and those who have homeschooled.

With the rise in various nontraditional forms of education, even institutions like Ivy League schools have acknowledged the value a home-based education can provide their potential students. (However, many do not publicize statistics about their homeschool admissions.)

Homeschooled students may need to emphasize certain aspects of their education in a college application to improve their chances of admission. Applicants may need to provide extra information about their academic curriculum and take optional tests to establish their academic abilities.

On the other hand, because homeschoolers can often earn college credit before high school graduation, they may have an advantage for college placement—or, at the very least, for finishing a degree sooner than students from public school. 

A comparison between home and public education isn’t all about academics. Your child’s emotional development matters, too. Stereotypes about homeschool education may have you believe that homeschooled kids are more likely to be socially awkward or emotionally stunted. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case.

According to the NHERI, homeschoolers often rank above average in measures of social, emotional, and psychological development.

The degree to which your child grows emotionally will largely depend on the environment in your home and the activities you expose them to.

Consider how you might involve your child in volunteering, participating in academic or extracurricular cohort groups, playing league sports, or taking lessons on an instrument. These outside-the-home extras can all expose your child to other people of various backgrounds, as well as help them make friends.

A Word From Verywell 

Only you can decide if homeschooling is the best choice for your family. If you do choose to teach at home, there are no guarantees that this form of education will produce better results, academically or emotionally, for your child.

In large part, the success of homeschooling depends on you as an educator and your child as a learner. However, much of the research indicates that homeschooling can provide your child a greater likelihood of academic achievement.

Ray BD. Homeschooling: The Research . National Home Education Research Institute. 2020.

Rudner LM. Scholastic achievement and demographic characteristics of home school students in 1998 . Educ Policy Anal Arch. 1999:7(8). doi:10.14507/epaa.v7n8.1999

Ray BD.  African American homeschool parents’ motivations for homeschooling and their black children’s academic achievement .  Journal of School Choice. 2015; 9:1, 71-96. doi:10.1080/15582159.2015.998966

ACT, Inc. Trends in ACT composite scores among homeschooled students . 2015.

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

Cogan M. Exploring academic outcomes of homeschooled students . Journal of College Admission. 2010;208:18-25.

Yu MC, Sackett PR, Kuncel NR. Predicting college performance of homeschooled versus traditional students . Educ Meas . 2016;35(4):31-39. doi:10.1111/emip.12133

U.S. News & World Report. How homeschooling affects college admissions . 2018.

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

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Homeschooling — Why Homeschooling is Better than Public Schools

Why Homeschooling is Better than Public Schools

• Categories: Homeschooling Public School

About this sample

Words: 1308 |

Published: Oct 2, 2020

Words: 1308 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Works Cited

• Clemmitt, M. (2014). Homeschooling. CQ Researcher, 24(42), 1005-1028.
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• Online, blended and distance education in schools. (2015). Routledge.
• Ray, B. D. (2017). Research facts on homeschooling. National Home Education Research Institute.
• Riley, K. J. (2015). The costs of homeschooling. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(3), 54-58.
• Smedley, T. C. (2018). Advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. Nova Science Publishers.
• Thomas, J. B. (2016). Homeschooling: Advantages and disadvantages. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: E Economics, 16(6).
• Wichers, M. (2001). Qualitative research on homeschooling. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(3), 1-17.
• Wizner, S. (2016). Homeschooling: Back to the future? Educational Leadership, 74(7), 60-64.
• Wurzel, J. S. (2017). Homeschooling in the United States: An exploratory study. Journal of School Choice, 11(1), 23-42.

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