8 Amazing Benefits of Homeschool vs Public School

Is homeschooling the right choice for your child? 

With so much debate surrounding homeschool vs public school education, it may feel challenging to make the switch. 

Get ready to compare and contrast these two types of schooling so that you can decide which is the best fit for your child. 

This guide focuses on the benefits of homeschooling and explains why more and more families are choosing this option. 

Keep reading to discover if homeschooling is the right decision for your family! 

Table of Contents:

• Why Families are Choosing to Homeschool
• 8 Amazing Benefits of Homeschool vs Public School
• Start Homeschooling with One Simple Spanish Class

Why Families are Choosing to Homeschool

Families are increasingly choosing to homeschool their kids. 

According to the Institute of Education Sciences’ 2016 survey, 80% of parents chose to homeschool due to environmental concerns such as safety or negative peer pressure. 

Another 17% of homeschooling parents said that dissatisfaction with academic instruction at traditional schools was the most important reason for homeschooling. Meanwhile, 16% reported that a desire to have religious instruction in their homeschooling was the key reason. 

Homeschooling Statistics (2021)

Did you know that the number of homeschoolers more than doubled in recent years? Let’s take a look at scholarly articles and statistics to better understand this shift in education. 

During the 2020-2021 school year, there were approximately 3.7 million homeschool students in grades K-12 in the United States. This means that roughly 3% to 4% of school-age children are homeschooled. 

The number of homeschoolers grows by about 2-8% each year. However, the recent pandemic years experienced a major increase in the number of homeschoolers. 

During this unprecedented and unstable time, more families are seeking safe and reliable methods of schooling. Homeschooling is quickly becoming the best option for flexible and dependable education. 

8 Amazing Benefits of Homeschool vs Public School

Check out the following eight positive effects of homeschooling!

1. Personalized Education

Every student is unique. Some excel in fast-paced environments while others prefer in-depth instruction. 

Homeschooling enables students to receive an education that works for them. With one-on-one tutoring and lessons, homeschoolers are much less likely to fall behind. 

Similarly, homeschoolers don’t have to slow themselves down for their peers. If they understand the material, they can fly through it at a pace that matches their processing speed. 

Homeschooling lets kids explore the world at their own pace and on their own terms. 

2.  Higher Academic Achievement

Homeschoolers excel academically. 

According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association and the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschoolers have higher GPAs and test scores than public school students. This increase can be as much as 15-30% higher!

Another study lists the median homeschool test scores in the 70th to 80th percentile. Due to this high performance, as many as 25% of homeschoolers are enrolled in one or more grades above their age level. 

Additionally, one study suggests that homeschoolers are nearly 10% more likely to graduate from college. They are also more likely to be accepted into prestigious universities, thanks to their rigorous academics. 

3. Healthy Social and Emotional Development

Many parents worry that homeschooling could lead to isolation. However, this simply isn’t the case. 

The National Home Education Research Institute suggests that homeschoolers actually have higher measures of social, emotional, and psychological development than their public school peers. This comparison is measured in terms of peer interaction, leadership skills, family cohesion, self-esteem, and participation in community service. 

One reason for these high numbers is that homeschoolers are more likely to be engaged in social and educational activities outside of the home. Their flexible education enables them to participate in activities like field trips, 4-H, sports teams, and volunteer work. 

With one in every five children and adolescents experiencing a mental health problem, there has never been a better time to homeschool. Homeschoolers score higher on the Self-Esteem Index, have better quality relationships, and report lower rates of anxiety. 

When done correctly, homeschooling is the most effective way to raise emotionally intelligent individuals. 

4. Flexibility

One of the main benefits of homeschooling is flexibility. 

With thousands of online homeschooling options available, it is easier than ever to learn in non-traditional environments. 

Homeschoolers don’t have to follow the regular school year schedule. If your child needs extra time on a specific lesson, that’s okay. You can shift the school calendar and use all 12 months instead of the normal nine to finish up a grade level. 

Furthermore, children with special needs can be better accommodated in a homeschooling environment. For example, students with attention disorders like ADHD often need extra breaks during the school day. Homeschooling allows you to add in additional breaks that help your student focus better.

Homeschooling adds flexibility, not only to your child’s life but also to yours! This flexible schooling option works well for military families, travelers, and those contending with illness. 

5. Lack of Peer Pressure

Children are highly susceptible to peer pressure. Studies demonstrate that peer pressure is the number one cause for adolescents to begin bad habits like smoking. Moreover, students who experience bullying are much more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school. 

Homeschooling lets you decide who interacts with your child. This power enables you to cut off negative influences and unwanted peer pressure.

Children perform better and have greater academic success when they learn in a safe environment.

6. Independence and Self-Discipline 

Children who learn at home have a more independent approach to life and learning. 

Homeschooling teaches students essential skills like time management, self-motivation, and taking charge. As a result, homeschoolers are more likely to seek out answers independently and take action when faced with a problem.

This self-discipline also makes homeschoolers better prepared for college. Successful undergraduate students need to be able to take personal responsibility for their academics and maintain accountability for their work. 

7.  Greater Community Involvement 

It is a common myth that homeschoolers never leave their house. 

In reality, homeschooled children actually have closer ties to their community. 

In fact, homeschooling families have the highest level of community involvement of all school sectors. This statistic measures the number of times families participated in activities like attending a concert, visiting the zoo, going to a museum, or visiting a library. 

8. Positive Life Trajectory 

A student’s childhood sets the trajectory for the rest of their life. 

Homeschooled children turn into well-adjusted and successful adults. For example, they are more likely to volunteer in the community and vote in elections, compared to the general population.  

Furthermore, research shows that adults who were homeschooled for at least seven years score higher on happiness scales and have more active social lives. 

Start Homeschooling with One Simple Spanish Class

Set your child up for a successful future by adding a second language to their homeschooling routine. 

Bilingual people have better job opportunities and earn more than their monolingual counterparts. Plus, most colleges require at least two years of foreign language for their applications. When comparing homeschool vs public school, it is much easier to outsource quality language instruction at home. 

Homeschool Spanish Academy is the easiest way to add language classes to your child’s at-home curriculum. Our native-speaking teachers from Guatemala have experience guiding students of all ages to proficiency and fluency. We offer high school credit, tailored programs, and affordable pricing to make language learning accessible for everyone. 

Take a look at our sample curriculum and sign your child up for a free class today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

Want more Spanish resources? Check these out!

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• Can Homeschoolers Participate in Sports?
• 10 Tips for When Homeschool Isn’t Working
• Is There Homeschooling in Latin America?
• 10 Productive Back-to-School Activities for Your Spanish Class
• Foreign Language Credits 101: How to Earn Credits for College
• Tips and Tricks for Homeschooling Your Kids While Working Full-Time
• How To Include Foreign Language Into Your Homeschool Schedule

• Author
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Faustina Mulnik

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

As a native English speaker, I’ve spent over 6 years perfecting my Spanish. My studies have led me to major in Spanish, translate documents at a local museum, and communicate with people I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to know. I’ve studied abroad in Spain, lived in Yellowstone National Park for a summer, and volunteered in Costa Rica. I’m a passionate travel enthusiast seeking to share my love for all things Latin America.

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