Thinking about homeschooling but not sure where to start? You are not alone. More American families are teaching their kids at home than ever before, and most of them started with the same questions: Is it legal? What does a normal day look like? How much does it cost? And will it actually work for our family?
This guide walks you through the basics of homeschooling in the United States: what it is, how the law works, the most popular teaching approaches, what it really costs, and the honest pros and cons. By the end, you will know whether it is worth taking the next step.
Homeschooling at a Glance
- Homeschooling means parents direct their children’s education at home instead of enrolling them in a public or private school.
- It is legal in all 50 states, but each state sets its own rules for notice, testing, and record keeping.
- About 3.4 million K–12 students were homeschooled in the 2024–2025 school year, according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI).
- Families spend about $600 per student per year on average, and plenty of free resources exist.
- There is no single right way to homeschool. Most families mix methods to fit each child.
What Is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is a form of education where parents or guardians take responsibility for their children’s schooling instead of enrolling them in a traditional public or private school. Parents decide what their kids learn, how they learn it, and when.
That does not mean one parent teaches every subject alone at the kitchen table. Many homeschooled students take online courses, join co-ops with other families, attend classes at libraries or community centers, or work with a tutor for subjects like advanced math or a foreign language.
One important distinction: enrolling your child in an online public school or a virtual charter school is usually not homeschooling in the legal sense. In most states, those children are public school students who happen to learn at home. With true homeschooling, the parent is in charge of the education.
Is Homeschooling Legal in the United States?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. There is no federal homeschool law, so each state writes its own rules, and the requirements in one state can look very different from those in the next.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which tracks homeschool laws across the country, groups states into four levels of regulation:
| Regulation level | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| No notice required | Parents do not have to notify the school district or any state agency. |
| Low regulation | Parents notify their local school district. |
| Moderate regulation | Parents notify the district and may need to submit test scores or a professional evaluation of their child’s progress. |
| High regulation | On top of notice and testing or evaluation, the state may require curriculum approval, parent qualifications, or home visits. |
Before you start, look up your own state on HSLDA’s state-by-state homeschool law map or on your state department of education’s website. Laws change, so always confirm with an official source.
Most states do not require parents to hold a teaching certificate. A few states set basic parent qualifications, such as a high school diploma or GED, which is one more reason to read your state’s rules first.
How Many Families Homeschool?
Homeschooling has grown quickly over the past few years. NHERI estimates that about 3.4 million students in grades K–12 were homeschooled during the 2024–2025 school year, roughly 6% of school-age children in the U.S. That is about double the estimated 1.69 million homeschooled students in 2016.
Homeschool families are also more diverse than many people assume. According to NHERI’s research summary, about 41% of homeschool families are non-white or Hispanic, and homeschoolers include religious and non-religious families, every income level, and every political view.
Why Do Parents Choose to Homeschool?
Every family has its own reasons, but NHERI points to a handful of common ones:
- To customize learning to each child’s pace, interests, and needs
- To help children accomplish more academically
- To strengthen relationships between parents, children, and siblings
- To provide a safer learning environment
- To pass on a particular set of values, beliefs, or worldview
Some families homeschool for a year or two to get through a specific season, such as a move, a health issue, or a difficult school situation. Others homeschool from kindergarten all the way through high school graduation.
How Homeschooling Works Day to Day
There is no required bell schedule in homeschooling. Because lessons are often one-on-one or in small groups, many families find they cover core subjects in less time than a traditional school day, then use the rest of the day for reading, projects, outdoor time, activities, or outside classes.
A typical homeschool week might include:
- Core lessons in reading, writing, and math most days
- Science, history, and geography a few times a week, sometimes combined into themed units
- Independent reading and practice
- Field trips, sports, music, or art
- Time with other homeschool families through co-ops or park days
Depending on your state, you may also need to keep records such as attendance, a list of subjects covered, samples of work, or test results. Even when your state does not require it, a simple portfolio makes it easier to see progress, and it helps if your child later returns to school or applies to college.
Popular Homeschool Approaches
Homeschool families use many different teaching styles. Here are the ones you will hear about most often:
| Approach | What it looks like | Often a good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional (school at home) | Textbooks or an all-in-one curriculum, grade levels, tests, and a set schedule | Families who want clear structure or are coming straight from public school |
| Classical | Learning in three stages (grammar, logic, rhetoric) with a focus on history, great books, and writing | Families who want a rigorous, language-rich education |
| Charlotte Mason | Short lessons, “living books” instead of textbooks, nature study, narration, art and music | Families who want a gentle, literature-based approach |
| Montessori | Hands-on materials, child-led work, and a carefully prepared learning space | Young children and hands-on learners |
| Unit studies | One theme, like the ocean or ancient Egypt, that ties several subjects together | Families teaching several ages at once |
| Unschooling | Interest-led learning with little formal curriculum | Self-motivated kids and very flexible parents |
| Eclectic | A mix of methods and materials chosen subject by subject | Families who like to pick what works for each child |
You will also choose between religious and secular materials. Both are widely available for every grade level, so you can match your curriculum to your family’s values.
How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
Homeschooling can cost a lot or very little. According to NHERI, homeschool families spend an average of about $600 per student per year on their children’s education.
What you spend depends mostly on:
- Curriculum: free online lessons and library books, or complete boxed programs and paid online courses
- Outside classes, co-ops, and tutoring
- Books, supplies, and science materials
- Field trips and extracurricular activities
- Testing or evaluation fees, if your state requires them
For many families, the biggest cost is not curriculum at all but income. If one parent cuts back on work to teach, that change usually matters more to the family budget than any book or program. Families keep costs down with the public library, free online resources, used curriculum, and hand-me-down materials between siblings.
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
Pros
- Each child learns at his or her own pace
- A flexible schedule for travel, appointments, and family time
- Freedom to choose curriculum and teaching style
- More one-on-one attention
- Closer family relationships
Cons
- A big daily time commitment for the teaching parent
- Possible loss of income if a parent reduces work hours
- Planning and record keeping fall on you
- Time with friends takes more intentional effort
- Some subjects, like advanced science or math, may need outside help
Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family?
Before you decide, talk through these questions as a family:
- Why do we want to homeschool, and what do we hope will change?
- Does one parent or another trusted adult have time to lead lessons each day?
- Can our budget handle curriculum costs and any change in income?
- What does our state require, and are we comfortable meeting those rules?
- How will our kids spend time with friends and other children?
- How does our child learn best, and how does he or she feel about homeschooling?
You do not have to commit forever. Many families start with one school year, then take stock and decide what comes next.
How to Get Started
- Read your state’s homeschool law and complete any required notice. If your child is enrolled in school now, follow your state’s process for withdrawing them first.
- Choose an approach, or start simple and adjust as you learn how your child learns best.
- Pick materials for the core subjects first: reading, writing, and math.
- Sketch a simple weekly routine instead of an hour-by-hour schedule.
- Find your people: local co-ops, library programs, and homeschool groups.
- Start a basic portfolio to track work and progress.
Homeschooling FAQ
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool?
In most states, no. A few states set basic parent qualifications, such as a high school diploma or GED. Check your own state’s law before you begin.
How many hours a day do homeschoolers do school?
There is no national rule. Some states set a minimum number of school days or hours per year, so check yours. Many families find that focused one-on-one lessons take less time than a traditional school day.
Can homeschooled students go to college?
Yes. Colleges and universities across the U.S. admit homeschooled students. Keeping a clear transcript, a list of courses, and standardized test scores makes applications much easier.
Homeschooled kids make friends and build social skills through co-ops, sports teams, faith or community groups, classes, clubs, and park days. It simply takes more planning than it does at a traditional school.
Can I homeschool if I work full time?
Some families do, by sharing teaching between parents, using online courses or tutors, or scheduling lessons in the evenings and on weekends. It takes careful planning, so be realistic about your time.
Is online school the same as homeschooling?
Not always. In most states, a child enrolled in a public online or virtual charter school is legally a public school student, not a homeschooler. The difference matters for your state’s rules.
The Bottom Line
Homeschooling gives families the freedom to shape their children’s education around who they are and how they learn. It also asks for real time, planning, and commitment. Start by checking your state’s law, be honest about your schedule and budget, and remember that you can begin with a single school year and adjust from there.
Planning to homeschool later? Pin this image to your homeschool board on Pinterest so you can find this guide again.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, so always confirm current requirements with your state.
