Are there any statistics for or against homeschooling?

Over the years, there have been a number of studies done on the effectiveness of homeschooling. The research typically shows that homeschooled students perform well above their public schooled peers on standardized achievement tests. Research has also been done to determine if there is a correlation between academic achievement and factors such as family income, level of education possessed by the parents, and the amount of money spent on curriculum and educational resources. The impact of higher income, more money spent, or higher level of education possessed by the parents, is slight to non-existent. In other words, homeschooling typically provides an excellent educational environment in which students excel, regardless of whether the family is rich or poor, or the parents have advanced degrees or only a high school diploma.

A landmark study entitled Homeschooling Grows Up was also performed in 2003 to examine the effectiveness of home education in preparing students for the adult world. This study found that students who were homeschooled are well prepared to enter adult life. They are civically involved, possess a strong work ethic, and report a high level of satisfaction with life.

You can learn more about homeschool research by visiting the National Home Education Research Institute and the Research page at hslda.org