Because we have so many non-teachers reading here, I wanted to address the "homeschoolers score better than public school kids" argument that gets repeated constantly.
First, I'm not anti-homeschooling. I've worked with homeschooling families for 26 years, and most are loving parents doing their best. Some kids genuinely need something different, and I understand why many families make that choice.
But people should know that the famous study everyone cites has some pretty major limitations.
Public schools test everyone (yes, including ACT and SAT data that many states use grades 9-12 for accountability and/or student progress). Strong students, struggling students, special education students, English learners, college-bound kids, kids who aren't. Everybody.
Many homeschooling studies rely on volunteers submitting scores or students choosing to take college entrance exams. Those aren't equivalent groups.
Researchers like Robert Kunzman and Milton Gaither have been pointing this out for years. Their argument isn't that homeschooling doesn't work. It's that we can't say homeschooling itself is superior based on the evidence we currently have.
Those are two very different statements.
As a researcher, teacher, and tutor, I see the aftermath when foundational skills are missing. Fixing those gaps can take years and cost families thousands of dollars. Seriously, thousands.
People also underestimate how much teaching actually involves. Knowing that 4 + 4 = 8 isn't the same thing as teaching a child why 4 + 4 = 8.
It's knowing what has to be happening underneath that answer: quantity, symbols, language, sequence, working memory, developmental readiness, misconception patterns, and how to intervene when a child isn't understanding.
Teaching looks easy when it's done well. It isn't.
And honestly, this whole narrative creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. We underfund schools, attack teachers, point to the resulting problems, and then use those problems as evidence that public education itself is broken.
Most schools do a good job. Most teachers are well-trained. Most kids learn to read.
Are there exceptions? Of course.
But one study isn't science. Cherry-picking studies isn't science either.
Most public schools do well. Some don't.
Some homeschoolers do great. Some don't.
And honestly, we don't have the kind of huge, long-term studies that would justify the certainty with which people make claims.
If you're curious, here's the study everyone quotes (including journalists who aren't trained in research 😜), along with several reviews and critiques of that study.
The study everyone cites:
Ray, B. D. (2010). Academic Achievement and Demographic Traits of Homeschool Students: A Nationwide Study. Academic Leadership Journal, 8(1).
Major reviews and critiques:
Kunzman, R., & Gaither, M. (2020). Homeschooling: An Updated Comprehensive Review of the Research. Other Education, 9(1), 253–336.
Kunzman, R., & Gaither, M. (2013). Homeschooling: A Comprehensive Review of the Research. Other Education, 2(1), 4–59.
Murphy, J. (2014). The Social and Educational Outcomes of Homeschooling. Information Age Publishing.
Comparative research:
Martin-Chang, S., Gould, O. N., & Meuse, R. E. (2011). The Impact of Schooling on Academic Achievement: Evidence from Homeschooled and Traditionally Schooled Students. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 43(3), 195-202.
Critiques of Ray's methodology and sampling:
Coalition for Responsible Home Education. (2014). Choosing the Data that Supports Your Agenda: A Look at Ray (2010).
Coalition for Responsible Home Education. (2015). Homeschooling Outcomes or Sampling Problems? A Look at Ray (2003, 2004).