Homeschooling in 2026: what the new numbers say

If you are weighing homeschooling this year, you are not alone, and the homeschooling statistics for 2026 show it. Below are the most reliable numbers we could find, where they come from, and what they do and do not tell you. Last reviewed: September 2026.

Homeschooling statistics 2026: how many children are homeschooled?

It depends on who is counting, and that is worth knowing before you quote a figure.

• About 3.4 million K-12 students in 2024-25, roughly 6.26% of school-age children, according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI).
• 3.4% of K-12 students in 2022-23, according to the federal National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The two sources use different survey methods, definitions and school years, so the totals differ. Still, both agree on the direction: more families homeschool now than before 2020.

Is homeschooling still growing?

Yes, though more slowly than the pandemic spike. The Johns Hopkins Homeschool Hub tracked states that publish counts and found average growth of 4.9% in 2024-25 across 28 states. Ten states reached record highs. South Carolina grew 21.5%, Vermont 17% and Ohio 15%.

Growth is not universal, though. Florida's traditional home education count dipped 1.7% to 152,871 students in 2024-25. Numbers for 2025-26 have not been published yet, so the homeschooling statistics for 2026 mostly describe the year before.

Who homeschools? What the 2026 homeschooling statistics show

Homeschool families are more varied than the stereotype. EdChoice's 2025 survey of parents found that homeschooling parents are 69% White, 15% Hispanic, 10% Black and 5% Asian, and they span the political spectrum: 44% Republican, 29% Democrat and 27% Independent.

Homeschooling parents also have slightly more school-age children on average. A 2025 Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance study found 1.77 K-12 children per homeschooling parent, compared with 1.60 for all parents. That is one reason planning for several children at once comes up so often.

Why are more parents considering it this fall?

Satisfaction with schools is at a low point. In September 2026, Gallup reported that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with K-12 education, the lowest in 27 years. Even parents' satisfaction with their own child's education fell to a record low of 66%.

Technology is part of the conversation too. Common Sense Media found that 86% of kids ages 9 to 17 use AI, and New York City paused student-facing generative AI for pre-K through 8th grade this September. As a result, many parents want more say over when and how their children meet screens and AI.

Can homeschoolers get state funding in 2026?

In some states, yes, and the amounts vary a lot. General information only, not legal or financial advice:

• Texas: the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts drew more than 274,000 applications and made over 100,000 awards for 2026-27. Homeschool students are eligible for $2,000 per year, far less than the private school amount.
• Arizona: its universal ESA counted 105,579 students for 2026-27 as of mid-September, and the state notes that the number is still changing.
• Elsewhere: roughly a dozen states offer education savings accounts or similar programs that homeschool families can use, each with its own rules. Check your state's official program page before you plan around it.

Homeschooling statistics 2026: what they mean if you are deciding

Statistics can tell you that homeschooling is common, growing and diverse. However, they cannot tell you whether it fits your family. The practical questions are closer to home: what your state requires, how many hours you can give each day, and how your child learns best.

If you are thinking about switching during the school year, start with our step-by-step guide on how to start homeschooling mid-year. And if the planning worries you more than the teaching, see how PaperTim drafts the week for you: your child works on paper, the AI talks only to you, and you approve everything before it prints.

This post was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the PaperTim team before publishing.