What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is an educational option that allows parents to teach their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Maybe you’re one of those parents considering an alternative to the conventional classroom. Perhaps you’re drawn to the freedom of customizing your child’s education, the flexibility of creating your own schedule, or the opportunity to align learning with your family’s values.

Whether you’re seriously considering homeschooling or simply curious about how it works, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started on your home education journey. And we’ll point you to some other helpful resources along the way.

The Homeschooling Movement: Past and Present

Funny thing about homeschooling: home education was once the norm and not the exception.

For most of human history, children learned from their parents, family, and maybe their tutors if they came from a privileged station in life. Meanwhile, state-run public schools—and even private schools—are a relatively modern invention that only became widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

By the mid-20th century, homeschooling had nearly disappeared from the American landscape. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, a movement of parents began reclaiming their educational liberty, fighting legal battles to secure the right to educate their children at home. These pioneering families trailblazed the freedoms that today’s homeschoolers enjoy.

Today, homeschooling has gone mainstream across America. According to the Pew Research Center, 3.4% of students were homeschooled in the 2022–2023 period.

That’s a lot of families enjoying the benefits and freedoms of home education.

Check out NHERI for a slew of homeschooling facts and figures.

Why Families Choose Homeschooling

Let’s talk about why so many families are jumping on the homeschooling bandwagon.

The reasons are as varied as the families themselves, and most homeschoolers will tell you it’s rarely just one factor that sealed the deal.

Learning Tailored to the Student

Every student learns differently.

Maybe your son grasps math concepts quickly but needs extra time with reading. Maybe your daughter excels with experiential learning but struggles with standard textbooks. Different strokes, different folks, and all that, right?

In a traditional classroom with 25+ students, teachers simply can’t tailor their approach to each student’s unique learning style. At home, you can speed up or slow down depending on what your student needs. If your 10-year-old is ready for high school math but reads at grade level, hey, no problem! You’re not stuck moving at the pace of an entire classroom.

Learning Built on Your Values and Beliefs

Many families choose homeschooling because they want their values not simply acknowledged but woven throughout their children’s education.

Whether you’re motivated by a deep-seated faith or simply want to emphasize specific character traits like resourcefulness, compassion, or critical thinking, homeschooling lets you integrate these values into your child’s daily learning—you get to choose materials that reflect your family’s worldview instead of accepting whatever perspective happens to be in the assigned textbook.

Learning Adapted to Your Lifestyle

Life doesn’t always fit neatly into the traditional school calendar.

Maybe your family travels frequently. Maybe your child is pursuing competitive sports, performing arts, or other passions that demand flexible scheduling. Homeschooling adapts to your family’s rhythm rather than forcing your family to adapt to a school’s schedule.

Want to take advantage of off-season vacation rates? Go right ahead. Need to schedule lessons around a parent’s shift work? No problem. Homeschooling wraps around your life instead of dictating it.

Learning in a Safe Environment

Let’s face it—traditional school environments don’t work for every student.

Some kids wilt under peer pressure or struggle with classroom distractions, while others face bullying and other negative social situations that interfere with learning.

Homeschooling creates a safe and positive learning atmosphere where your student can focus on education without social anxiety. It’s also ideal for children with special learning needs, health issues, or those who simply benefit from more one-on-one attention than a classroom teacher can provide.

The Legal Side of Homeschooling

Good news! Homeschooling is 100% legal in all 50 states. But—and isn’t there always a “but”?—the rules differ depending on where you live.

Some states take a hands-off approach, basically saying “You do you, boo” when it comes to your student’s education. Others want regular check-ins, standardized testing, or curriculum approval. And then there are those states that want to see detailed records, professional evaluations, or proof that you’re covering specific subjects.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what you might expect:

• In “low regulation” states like Texas, Idaho, and Alaska, you’ll find few requirements beyond a basic notification that you’re homeschooling.
• “Moderate regulation” states—think Virginia, Florida, and Oregon—typically ask for notification, standardized testing, or some form of assessment.
• Meanwhile, “high regulation” states such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts might request portfolio reviews, professional evaluations, or specific subject requirements.

Take some time to research your specific state’s requirements before diving in.

A quick search for “[your state] homeschool requirements” should point you in the right direction, or check with your state’s department of education website for the most up-to-date information.

Helpful Resource: HSLDA’s Homeschool Laws by State offers a fantastic overview of each state’s homeschooling requirements.

Getting Started with Homeschooling

So you’re thinking homeschooling might be right for your family. Awesome! But . . . now what?

Well, your next steps depend on where you are in your parenting journey.

If You Have Little Ones Who Haven’t Started School Yet

Lucky you! You’re starting with a clean slate.

When your child reaches school age, simply follow your state’s notification process (if there even is one). No need to un-enroll from anywhere or explain your decision to school administrators. You just begin! (Also, you may consider starting early with a preschool homeschool curriculum.)

Many parents of young children find themselves naturally “homeschooling” long before official school age anyway—reading together, counting things at the grocery store, exploring nature, and answering approximately 7,462 “why” questions a day.

If that’s you, congratulations! You’re already homeschooling.

If Your Kids Are Currently in Traditional School

Making the switch from traditional school to homeschooling isn’t complicated, but there are a few important steps:

First, do your homework on your state’s requirements. This is important. Know what you’ll need to do before you make any moves.

Next, write an official withdrawal letter to your school. Keep it simple—just state that you’re withdrawing your child to begin homeschooling, include the effective date, and request their records if you want them. Address this to the principal or superintendent, depending on your district’s policies.

Finally, follow through with any state-required notifications or paperwork. Some states require you to submit a notice of intent to homeschool, while others may need more documentation.

Once the paperwork is handled, take a deep breath. Many families find it helpful to take a week or two of “deschooling”—a period of adjustment where you don’t jump right into formal lessons but instead reset everyone’s expectations and rhythms. This transition time helps you, your spouse, and your kids shift gears into your new lifestyle.

Or, hey, if you’re a family of total overachievers, hit the gas and just drive. Really, that’s the great thing about homeschooling. You get to make the decisions.

Approaches to Homeschooling

On that note, one of the most exciting (and sometimes overwhelming!) aspects of homeschooling is choosing your educational approach. And you’ve got a lot of options here.

Traditional Homeschooling

Many parents love this approach for several compelling reasons.

For most parents, traditional homeschooling familiar and provides a clear structure that eases the transition from conventional schooling. The guidelines are clear, offering a well-explored roadmap for daily learning activities and yearly progress. Curriculum materials are abundant and often come with detailed teacher guides, which in turn makes planning straightforward. Come college application time, students will have an easy time translating their coursework into a transcript that admissions officers can readily understand.

I’s easy to see why this is such a popular approach.

Classical Education

Don’t let the name scare you away: this educational approach is more about the how of learning than ancient languages and serious books (although both ancient languages and serious books have a place in classical education!).

Classical education divides learning into three stages (the trivium, or “the three ways”): grammar (memorization), logic (analysis), and rhetoric (expression).

The grammar stage (typically the focus of the elementary years) focuses on facts and information. Meanwhile, the logic stage (middle school years) teaches students to analyze and question, and the rhetoric stage (high school) develops their ability to articulate ideas through writing and speech.

Classical education produces students with strong foundational knowledge and the ability to engage with complex ideas—skills highly valued in higher education and professional settings.

This approach isn’t quite as popular as traditional homeschooling, but it’s getting there. In fact, colleges now recognize the Classic Learning Test as a valid entrance exam along with the SAT and ACT. Pretty cool, huh?

Montessori at Home

If you’ve ever watched in amazement as your toddler focused intensely on something for an hour, then Montessori might just resonate with you. This educational approach respects children’s natural curiosity and creates prepared environments with hands-on materials that teach concepts through exploration.

A Montessori homeschool environment features child-sized furniture, carefully designed materials organized on accessible shelves, and activities that build on each other in complexity as the child grows. Parents act as guides rather than instructors, demonstrating materials and stepping back to allow independent discovery.

Montessori emphasizes independence, practical life skills, and following the child’s interests within a thoughtfully structured framework. The approach naturally integrates subjects through project work and respects each child’s unique developmental timeline.

Charlotte Mason

Are you a family of nature lovers? Charlotte Mason weaves together short lessons with “living books” (lingo for real literature rather than textbooks), thoughtful nature journals, and character development. Walking in nature where kids sketch interesting findings, reading rich literature and discussing it rather than filling out comprehension worksheets, and focusing on forming good habits.

This British educator believed in treating children as whole persons deserving respect, not empty vessels to fill with information. Mason’s approach limits all lessons to 15–20 minutes for younger children, values narration (that is, telling back what was learned) over testing, and emphasizes the formation of good habits and exposure to “living ideas” through quality literature and experiences. Art appreciation, music study, and handicrafts also play important roles.

This well-rounded approach is gentle but thorough.

Unschooling

The free spirits of the homeschool world, unschoolers trust that children will learn what they need when they’re interested and ready. Rather than formal lessons, unschooling parents create rich environments full of resources, then follow their children’s lead.

That Minecraft obsession? Your student is learning coding, spatial reasoning, and creative design.

A passion for baking? That’s chemistry, measurement, and following instructions.

Unschooling parents tend to see themselves as facilitators rather than teachers, and really, that’s the strength of unschooling: this approach requires parents to trust the learning process and their children’s innate curiosity while remaining actively engaged, while answering questions, providing resources, and creating opportunities for diverse experiences.

Unschoolers often develop strong self-direction, creative problem-solving, and the ability to pursue deep interests—qualities highly valued in entrepreneurial and innovative fields.

Eclectic/Relaxed Homeschooling

Many homeschoolers eventually land here, selecting their favorite aspects of different approaches.

You might use a structured math curriculum, take a Charlotte Mason approach to literature and nature, and unschool science by encouraging your student to follow her interests. Or you might homeschool with one approach for a few years before deliberately switching to another, encouraging exploration through the Montessori at home model in early childhood before adopting the traditional approach as your student reaches high school.

The Best Approach

After exploring these varied approaches to homeschooling, you might be wondering which one is “best.” Here’s our conclusion: the best approach is the one that aligns with your family’s values, works with your children’s learning styles, and feels sustainable for your lifestyle.

The truth is, your parenting—your relationship with your children, your values, and how you implement whatever approach you choose—matters far more than which educational philosophy you adopt. Research consistently shows that parental involvement is the strongest predictor of educational success. So whatever get involved.

That said, different methodologies offer valuable frameworks that can provide structure, guidance, and community. They give you a starting point and a shared language to describe your educational choices. They offer tested pathways that others have walked before you.

The beauty of homeschooling lies in your freedom to choose, adapt, and evolve. You might start with one approach and find yourself incorporating elements of others as you discover what resonates with your family. Your kindergartener might thrive with Montessori-inspired activities while your middle schooler benefits from a more classical approach to literature and history.

When Is the School Year?

The traditional September-to-June school year with summers off is just one option. Consider these alternatives:

• Year-round schooling with shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year
• Quarters or terms with longer breaks between them
• Six weeks on, one week off schedules that provide regular refreshment
• “Sabbath schooling,” where you school for six years and then take the seventh year as a more relaxed exploration year

Some families adjust their schedule seasonally. You know, formal bookwork during cold winter months, more field trips and outdoor learning during beautiful spring and fall weather.

The Best Schedule

The best schedule is the one that works for your family.

So don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust as you go. Many families find their perfect rhythm through trial and error, and what works beautifully one year might need tweaking the next as children grow and family circumstances change.

The bottom line?

Homeschooling wraps around your life instead of forcing your life to wrap around school. That flexibility is one of homeschooling’s greatest gifts to families.

Curriculum Planning, or “So What Are We Going to Learn?”

Let’s talk curriculum—the materials you’ll actually use to teach your kids. The options are nearly endless, which is both exciting and a bit dizzying for newcomers.

Types of Curriculum

All-in-One Boxed Curriculum Sets

Think of these as the DIY kits of homeschooling: everything you need for all subjects in one package, though you’ll still be the one putting everything together. You’ll get teacher guides, student workbooks, reading materials, and sometimes even manipulatives or science supplies.

Pros: comprehensive, organized, and nothing falls through the cracks.

Cons: can be pricey and might not perfectly fit every child’s learning style.

Mix-and-Match Subject Curriculum

Many families choose different publishers for different subjects. Maybe Saxon for math, IEW for writing, Mystery of History for social studies, and Apologia for science. This gives you the beneficial structure of a formal curriculum with the flexibility to choose what works best for each subject and child.

Pros: pick the best of all options, find the best deals, and personalize your student’s learning.

Cons: research required, planning required to fit your schedule, and may have gaps or overlay between the different curricula.

Online Learning

From complete virtual schools to individual courses, the online options have exploded in recent years. Some offer recorded videos your child can watch anytime. Others include live classes with real teachers and classmates via video.

There’s also the hybrid option. You can conduct certain classes online, using homeschool programs or even tutors, and lead others at home. Your homeschool, your decision.

Pros: perfect for subjects you’re not comfortable teaching, reduces preparation time for certain subjects.

Cons: screen time concerns for younger students, scheduled live classes reduce scheduling flexibility, and less hands-on learning for kinesthetic learners.

Unit Studies

Unit studies take a topic (like “horses” or “ancient Egypt”) and build multiple subjects around it.

While studying horses, your child might read Black Beauty (literature), calculate riding stable costs (math), learn about different breeds (science), and explore the role of horses in transportation history (social studies). Unit studies work especially well for teaching multiple ages together.

Pros: makes learning more engaging by following interests, excellent for teaching multiple children of different ages together, creates natural connections between different subjects.

Cons: skills that need sequential practice (like math) can be challenging to incorporate, may require more parent preparation and creativity, more difficult to track progress in traditional subject areas.

DIY Curriculum

Some veteran homeschoolers create their own curriculum using library books, online resources, documentaries, and real-world experiences. While this requires more planning up front, it can be incredibly rewarding and cost-effective.

Pros: most customizable option available, extremely cost-effective, perfectly tailored to your child’s interests and needs.

Cons: requires significant time for planning and preparation and can be overwhelming (especially for new homeschoolers).

Finding What Works

Most new homeschoolers discover that what seems perfect on paper might not work as well in practice. That expensive curriculum with the gorgeous photos? Your child might find it boring. The method that worked brilliantly for your first child? Your second child might hate it.

Some experienced homeschoolers recommend starting with structured materials for core subjects like math and reading, especially when you’re beginning. As you gain confidence, you can branch out and experiment with different approaches.

Avoid the sunk-cost fallacy. You might have invested in a curriculum, but pouring more time and energy into something that isn’t working may not be the answer. Don’t be afraid to set something aside if it’s not clicking with your family.

And remember: curriculum isn’t just books and worksheets. Museums, nature centers, documentaries, gardening, art supplies, building blocks, cooking projects, YouTube tutorials—these can all be valuable parts of your educational toolkit.

But What about Socialization?

If you’re considering homeschooling, prepare yourself now: some oh-so-clever wit will eventually ask “the question.” You know the one: “But what about friends?”—often delivered with a deeply concerned head tilt and furrowed brow.

Let’s address this socially awkward elephant in the room. The idea that homeschooled kids are isolated hermits who never interact with other humans? It’s a myth.

Real Socialization vs. School Socialization

First, let’s get something straight: putting 25 same-aged kids in a room where they’re often told not to socialize for most of the day isn’t exactly natural socialization. Real-world social interactions involve people of different ages, backgrounds, and relationships—which is exactly what most homeschoolers experience on a daily basis.

How Homeschoolers Actually Socialize

Homeschool Co-ops

These are groups where multiple families come together regularly for classes, activities, field trips, and social time. Some meet weekly for academic classes taught by parents who share their expertise, while others are more casual park days or field trip groups.

Community Activities

Homeschooled kids participate in the same extracurricular activities as everyone else: sports teams, dance classes, martial arts, theater productions, art classes, music lessons, whatever.

Clubs and Groups

From Scouts and 4–H to chess clubs and robotics teams, homeschoolers join all kinds of groups where they connect with other kids who share their passions.

Religious Communities

Many homeschooling families are active in their churches, synagogues, or other religious communities, where kids participate in youth groups and activities.

Volunteer Work

Without rigid school schedules, homeschoolers often have more time to volunteer at animal shelters, food banks, or nursing homes, developing compassion while serving their communities.

Public School Activities

Many states now allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports, bands, clubs, and other activities—the best of both worlds!

Neighborhood and Family

Don’t underestimate the value of good old-fashioned neighborhood play and strong family relationships. Many homeschoolers develop deep friendships with nearby kids and close bonds with siblings.

Quality Over Quantity

What homeschooled kids might miss in terms of sheer quantity of peer interactions, they often make up for in quality. Their social experiences tend to be more purposeful and positive, with less exposure to negative peer pressure and bullying.

Studies consistently show that homeschooled children typically develop strong social skills and emotional intelligence. They often feel comfortable dealing with people of all ages and backgrounds—not just their exact peers—and develop confidence in their own identities rather than feeling that overwhelming pressure to conform.

So the next time someone asks you about socialization with that worried look, you can smile and say, “Actually, we’re so busy with social activities I sometimes wish we had more time at home!”

And maybe throw in a “Bless your heart” for good measure. Ha!

Academic Achievement in Homeschooling

If socialization is question number one from relatives and concerned strangers at the grocery store, then academic achievement is typically question number two. Will your kids learn what they need to know? Will they keep up with their peers? Will they get into college?

Short answer: Yes, yes, and yes (if that’s what they want).

What the Research Says

The research on homeschool academic achievement is remarkably consistent: homeschooled students typically do very well academically.

Studies have found that homeschoolers often score 15–25 percentile points higher on standardized tests compared to their traditionally-schooled peers—and these results hold across all demographics and family backgrounds.

But why?

The Homeschool Advantage

I mean, just think about it: in a classroom of 25–30 students, even the most dedicated teacher can only give each child a fraction of their attention. At home, your children get personalized instruction, immediate feedback, and lessons tailored to their learning styles and interests.

If your child doesn’t understand a concept, you don’t move on just because it’s time for the next subject. You can take extra time to ensure mastery. Conversely, If they grasp something quickly, they don’t have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up—they can forge ahead.

Homeschooled kids also get to focus on actual learning rather than test prep, classroom management, or busy work. Many families find they can cover the same material in a fraction of the time it would take in a traditional classroom.

College and Beyond

Colleges have increasingly recognized the quality of homeschool education. Many actively recruit homeschooled students, acknowledging that these students often arrive with strong self-motivation, excellent study skills, and a genuine love of learning.

Homeschool graduates have been accepted at top universities nationwide, including Ivy League schools, with many earning scholarships based on their academic achievements. The path to college admissions might look slightly different for homeschoolers (with more emphasis on SAT/ACT/CLT scores, detailed transcripts, and portfolios), but the destination is absolutely achievable.

The Parent Factor

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: your involvement is key. Homeschooling success depends largely on having a committed parent who ensures learning happens consistently, recognizes when a certain approach isn’t working, and provides both structure and inspiration.

This doesn’t mean you need to know everything yourself!

Successful homeschooling parents are good at finding resources, connecting their children with experts, and learning alongside their kids. Think of yourself less as a teacher who must know all the answers and more as a learning coach who helps your children find those answers.

Common Questions About Homeschooling

Homeschooling offers families the freedom to create an educational experience tailored to their children’s needs, interests, and learning styles. While it requires dedication and effort, many parents find the rewards—stronger family bonds, customized education, and watching their children develop a love of learning—well worth the investment.

Remember that homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each family’s journey will be unique, and it’s perfectly normal to adjust your methods as you discover what works best for your children. Whether you’re just starting to consider homeschooling or are well along your path, the homeschooling community offers abundant resources and support to help you succeed.