As public schools struggle with accountability ratings, homeschool numbers have been rising in Texas with an estimated 750,000 students, or about 5.95% to 6.28% of K-12 students, based on U.S. Census data for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years – more than private and charter students.
Current estimates for the number of homeschool students in the U.S. in 2025 suggests there are around 3.7 to 4 million students, representing approximately 6% to 10% of the K-12 student population.
This number is substantially higher than the roughly 2.5 million students (about 34% of the population) who were home schooled before the Covid pandemic. While there was a significant spike during the pandemic, homeschooling rates have remained elevated compared to levels before the pandemic, with growth continuing into 2024-25.
Beginning in 2026-2027, homeschool students in Texas can get vouchers through the TEFA program† program and are eligible to receive up to $2,000 per year to use for approved educational expenses like curriculum, tutoring, and other supplies.
There are numerous factors driving parents to homeschool their children, the first being the quality of education. Homeschoolers are consistently scoring higher on college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT compared to public school students. Studies show homeschoolers often score 15-30 percentile points higher on standardized tests.
Studies have shown that more and more families are opting to home school, influenced by the rise in online learning, changing cultural and social needs, and the ongoing public discourse about traditional vs. alternative education.
There are several driving factors for a parent’s choice to teach their children at home including the ability to tailor the curriculum to the unique learning needs and interests, and to receive more focused attention in a student’s areas of difficulty without being held back or left behind.
Additionally, with access to online courses for specialized tutoring, families are able to create personalized learning experiences, which can benefit those who are gifted or with special needs, as well as being able to avoid perceived flaws in the public and private school systems such as curriculum or school safety, while others simple want a way to avoid what they perceive as political or social indoctrination in the classroom.
Homeschooling allows families to incorporate their own cultural or religious values into their children’s education, ensuring that the content aligns with their beliefs.
Home school groups can find special classes and field trips by searching for local coops, enrichment programs, plus extracurricular activities such as gymnastics or robotics. Programs such as 4-H can also fill the gap on many other activities.
Homeschoolers, just like their public school peers, can do dual credit, which allows them to earn college credits while still in high school which can count towards both high school graduation and a future college degree, potentially saving time and money.
Additionally, home school students can participate in UIL sports in Texas, but it depends on the local school district’s decision. Under the new law (Senate Bill 401), participation is the default, meaning a district must vote to “opt out” if they do not want to allow homeschool participation.
If a school district opts out, students can still participate in the nearest school district that does not opt out. Students must also meet academic requirements, such as demonstrating grade- level proficiency on a standardized test, and abide by all other UIL and district rules.
(USPS 303-580)