The California Homeschool Boom and What it Means for California Families

California parents are increasingly disappointed with public schools in the state, resulting in a massive spike in the number of families that have left their public school to homeschool. 

A 2021 survey by the Public Policy Institute of California posed the question, “In general, how well do you think your local public schools prepare someone for a well-paying job in today’s economy?” Only 9 percent of California public school parents said ‘very well,’ where 29 percent said ‘not too well’ and 10 percent said ‘not well at all.’ When asked to “rate the quality of public schools in your neighborhood today [using a letter grade],” only 11 percent of Latino parents and 6 percent of African American parents gave their local public schools a grade of ‘A,’ with most — 41 percent and 43 percent, respectively — giving their neighborhood public schools a ‘C’ grade. 

Before COVID, some families were already turning to homeschooling in numbers: from 2012 to 2015, the number of hispanic homeschooling families rose by 68% nationwide. But for many families, COVID catalyzed the decision to homeschool. Nationwide, homeschooling doubled during 2020, and increased even more dramatically for Black families: “the proportion of Black homeschoolers increased fivefold, from 3.3% in late spring to 16.1% in the fall.” Research by the Home School Legal Defense Association indicates there were upwards of eight million homeschooled students by the end of 2021. 

The story in California paralleled the national trend. Lance Izumi, Senior Director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute, reports that “between the 2020 and 2021 school years, tens of thousands of students have left the regular public schools…the latest total [as of 2021] shows that 160,000 students have left the public schools here in California.” 

Academic performance is a chief reason for homeschooling, and the data indicate a positive outlook for homeschooled students. A 2017 analysis found that “college students who were homeschooled earn higher first-year and fourth-year GPAs when controlling for demographic, pre-college, engagement, and first-term academic factors.” 

California’s public schools are failing to adequately equip students, and minority students are especially suffering despite billions of dollars in ongoing funding aimed at increasing minority and low-income student outcomes. Black and hispanic students at traditional public schools consistently score below academic standards; take the examples of math and language arts scores for 4th grade, 8th grade, and 11th grade (toggle between the ELA and math scores with the tabs above the charts). It makes sense that homeschooling is an attractive option for families who are being left behind by California schools. 

While homeschooling isn’t right for every family, a plethora of parents are realizing that it’s the right option for their children. If you’re considering homeschooling but overwhelmed by the decision, a great place to begin is a brief overview of California homeschool laws. There are also homeschool networks throughout the state where parents support each other in their homeschool journeys. If you’re a parent considering homeschool for your children, it can be overwhelming to start, but you’re not alone- you’re part of a massive movement of California parents empowering themselves to do what’s best for their children.