homeschool vs. attending public school essay

Homeschooling Vs Public School

This comparative analysis will delve into the differences and similarities between homeschooling and public schooling. It will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each educational approach, covering aspects such as academic performance, socialization, curriculum flexibility, and parental involvement. The piece will draw on research studies, expert opinions, and anecdotal evidence to provide a balanced view of both educational methods. It will also consider the impact of recent global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on perceptions and choices regarding homeschooling and public schooling. PapersOwl showcases more free essays that are examples of Behavior Modification.

How it works

• 1 Homeschooling
• 2 Financial Basis
• 3 Availability and Diversity
• 4 Socialization
• 5 Environment
• 6 Education
• 7 Conclusion

Homeschooling

Education is an essential and determines the future of every child. In order to give children a bright future and a good education, parents must choose the best type of schooling for their children. The main education systems are public school, private school and homeschool. Homeschooling is led and managed by parents and public school is led by the government and qualified teachers. The real question is, which is better? While homeschooling has its benefits, public schooling is superior because it prepares children and teens for the real world in many ways.

People may believe that homeschooling is better because of negative influence and effects from public schools; however, it is better for children to be exposed to certain things early on than later in life. Taking the time to learn about the benefits and outcomes of public school over homeschool is important. Public schooling is cheaper, reflects the real world, and prepares young individuals for future obstacles which may occur.

Financial Basis

To start off, public schooling is funded by the government which makes it more affordable than homeschooling. The government guarantees all children education, no matter the financial status. However, there are private schools that can be very expensive; the most common education systems are public schooling and homeschooling. Reporter Amy Esbenshade Hebert, explained that “Whatever the advantages of home-schooling, saving money isn’t necessarily one of them. Add up the expense on books, curricula, tutors, field trips — not to mention the loss of a second income if one parent becomes the full-time teacher — and the cost of home-schooling can easily rival paying private-school tuition” (Herbert, 2007, p. 88). For public school, normally, buying supplies once or twice a year is required. But for homeschool, spending an abundant amount on the curriculum alone, not to mention textbooks and supplies including wifi and a device or computer are essential. There are costs associated with both education systems, but homeschool is distinctly more expensive than public school. Although some people might complain about the added expenses of supplies and participation in athletics, public schooling are still much more budget friendly than homeschooling.

Availability and Diversity

In addition, public schools provide access of an education for any child no matter academic performance, income level or disability. Public schools ensure that every student has the same opportunities regardless. Given that any child is admitted, they are likely to have classmates that do not act, think, or look like them. The diversity of classmates can be a great learning experience. It exposes children to different cultures and attributes. While there is not much exposure to the diversity with homeschooled, many homeschooling programs offer dual enrollment. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education stated that

In some states, homeschooled students participate in public school athletics alongside other students. In other states, they are banned from participating. In other states, homeschooled students are barred from participation in public school athletics. The trend in recent years has been towards allowing participation, and the states are today split fairly evenly down the middle on the issue. (¨Homeschool¨, 2018, para. 1)

Although this has good points as to why and how public schooling programs are available, not all homeschooling programs have this option available in certain areas and it is not always the best economical choice.

Socialization

Furthermore, conventional schooling and homeschooling both offer their own respective advantages in preparing children for the social demands of the real, adult world. It is possible to become socially well adjusted through private schooling and homeschooling. However, it is challenging and encompassing part of a child’s formative years. Public school is a major place where kids learn to socialize, how to behave around their peers and teachers, and how to generally just communicate and interact well. Students have the ability ability to interact with people of diverse ages and beliefs. Contrarily, Calvert Education explains,

For one thing, homeschoolers do not have the same exposure to peer pressure and bullying, both of which are tied to poorer academic performance and lower self-esteem. Parents often decide to homeschool because they do not want their child’s values to be defined by their peers or for their children to face social ridicule or bullying. In private or public schools, the pressure to “fit in” or achieve a perceived level of social status among classmates can be quite great. (“Homeschooling” 2017, Homeschool Socialization Sect. para. 2-3)

As much as I would agree that these are possible disadvantages of public school, every person will go through some type of pressure or negative things in his or her lifetime. Public schooling is a way to become familiar of the real world and be exposed to problems and certain circumstances. Bullying and social ridicule are very negative and can result in many outcomes; however, they are real and whether someone is homeschooled or not, they will or may face negative circumstances in their lifetime. With the experience of public schooling, individuals may be able to handle it differently and react differently than people who are homeschooled. Experience is a number one factor that can change how someone reacts to, copes with, and manages a situation. Homeschooling limits children’s interaction with others, as well as it limits their contact and association with diverse individuals.

Environment

In addition, the main difference between homeschooling and public schooling is the environment. In homeschooling, there are no distractions because children are studying at their own risk. David R. Hodge stated, “for instance, the most widely cited reason by parents which accounted for 88% of all homeschooled students was concern about school environments and the associated detrimental effects related to substance use, peer pressure, etc” (Hodge, 2017, p. 274). Parents feel that the public school environment is dangerous and will cause their child to rebel. Also that it may teach a different set of values and beliefs than what parents believe and want to instill in their child. In a homeschooling setting, parents are able to watch over their child, help them develop, and teach them morals. Homeschooling provides students with a calm, safe, and comfortable environment. However, even though public school classrooms do not always have the same calm and peaceful atmosphere, the disarray of the classrooms is helpful to children. This is because, in reality, the real world is not so calm and peaceful. Therefore, the children who live sheltered and preserved from real life are the ones who commonly have difficulty adjusting to reality. It is necessary for children to learn to interact and work with one another to build the dynamic skills needed for the real world. Both homeschool and public school provide helpful opportunities for children to learn, but public school is more impactful in assuring a children’s future success and adjustment to the real world.

Lastly, public schools provide children with certified teachers who are committed educators. Where in homeschooling, children are taught by their parents who only need a highschool diploma or G.E.D. to homeschool. Parents do not have the same level of education or experience as teachers. As well as, parents have to be fully dedicated to their child’s’ education for them to succeed. Many parents have jobs; therefore, balancing a job while trying to educate their children can be difficult. In addition, while parents are directly involved in the education of their children, it may be difficult to teach certain subject without experience. Therefore, homeschoolers may have to invest in a tutor or educational professional for support which defeats the whole purpose of homeschooling. Although homeschooling may teach a student to become more independent and do things on his or her own, it is not always best to just rely on oneself. Tara Jones expresses that “it may be that home-educating parents have more opportunities to be influential, supportive and encouraging in their children’s education as well as having more control and power over their children’s learning” (Jones, 2013, p. 117). However, she also contraversed that “home-educating families argue that they are not able to access the funding and services that schools have in order to educate their children” (Jones, 2013, p. 118). Therefore, even though homeschooling allows parents to have more jurisdiction and opportunities for their children, many may struggle to provide his or her child with services and education the education they need.

To conclude, public schooling has its advantages financially, socially, environmentally, and educationally. However, it is important that both the advantages and disadvantages of public schooling and homeschooling are taken into account. Homeschooling can have a more direct role on a child’s daily learning and help protect a child from bullying or other negatives aspects of reality. As well as, being in a friendly environment, having less distraction from students, and becoming more self motivated and independent are all aspects of homeschooling. However, children lose out on social interaction with peers while homeschooled.

In addition, fewer resources such as technology that may be available in public school are not provided and with parents having to dedicate time and money to homeschooling it can result in a loss of income or reduced working time. Not only do students that are homeschooled miss out on the interaction with peers and diversity of people, they lack the real world experiences which are the reasons why parents decide to homeschool their children in the first place. With homeschooling, parents or people in general are afraid of the negativity that is exposed to children in public schools. This includes, bullying, violence, peer pressure, and many other negatives influences. Furthermore, while homeschooling can provide a wide variety of courses and curriculums that are not available with public school, homeschooling is much more expensive than the traditional government funded public school. Whether the differences between homeschooling and public schooling it all comes down to each parent’s learning goals for their children.

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Home School Versus Public School Essay

Introduction, similarities and differences between public schools and home schools, reference list.

Home schooling is the education of students at home by parents or tutors instead of learning in the formal school setting. Public schools are institutions of learning that are offered to all students by the government and that are paid for by the state taxes, either partially or in full. These two types of schooling have similarities and differences in the way they are run. This paper explores the main similarities and differences between home schools and public schools.

These two types of schooling have some similarities. Firstly, the overall goal in both types of learning is to give education to the students and to ensure academic excellence. Learning takes place to ensure that students in both public and home schools get a good education.

Both types of schooling involve the student sitting down with an instructor and receiving instructions. In home schooling the instructor can be a parent or a tutor while in public schools, the instructor is a teacher. In addition, students in both schools use the same resources to do research, such as the libraries, Internet, and museums. Moreover, students from both schools take field trips by visiting art exhibitions and museums. Another similarity is that both types of schooling use a curriculum to guide them.

Public schools use a curriculum designed by the public education authorities while in home schooling, the parent designs a suitable curriculum or uses one that has already been designed and proven to be successful. Furthermore, in both types of schooling, the student has to study and do quizzes and tests to determine the level of understanding the content. These two types of schools are also similar in that most of the subjects taught in public schools and home schools are the same.

Even though the parent of home-schooled children can choose the learning content most suitable for the child, some content such as algebra and many others are mandatory. Many home schools will also use books that correspond to those used in public schools in terms of content and grade level. Another similarity is that in both there are laws that regulate learning. There are laws that govern both public schools and home schooling, and they need to be adhered to in terms of the learning content.

Besides, when entering college, both home schooled and public schooled students take the same standardized tests (Cai, Reeve and Robinson, 2002). However, these two types of schools differ in various ways. In public schools the student learns within a group setting and is therefore likely to learn social skills through interacting with other students. This enables the student to learn to socialize with other members of the society and be able to interact in the real world.

Students in public schools are encouraged to work with others and solve problems as a team and these interactions give them knowledge and experience. In home schooling, the student learns alone and there is no interaction with other students. They do not get the opportunity to interact with their peers during learning. Home schooled students are encouraged to develop individual styles and explore their own interests.

Therefore, home schooled students may have problems interacting and relating with other members of the society in the real world. Another difference is that students in public schools may perform poorly in class due to distractions such as peer pressure. In home schooling, the students are shielded from any distractions that may come up in a learning environment and therefore they are more likely to perform well (Cai, Reeve and Robinson, 2002).

In home schooling, the student can choose the environment that is most conducive for learning. However, the learning environment in public schools is rigid and cannot be adjusted. Moreover, in public schools the curriculum is designed by the public education authorities. They also decide the books to read and the subjects that should be done in each grade.

In home schooling, the parent can develop a curriculum for the child or choose one from the ones already designed. The parent also chooses the learning materials that are most suitable for the child. Another difference is that in home schooling, the children can be taught at their own level and with the learning styles most suitable to them. They can also learn at their own suitable time. In public schools, learning is scheduled by the school and is therefore not flexible.

All Students in public schools are taught with the same learning styles and therefore some of them might not learn effectively (Berends, 2009). In home schooling, the individual student’s learning needs are met because there is a one-on-one teaching. There is only one student being taught and therefore the instructor gives him/her all the attention. The parent can be able to monitor the progress of the student and further explain concepts that the student has not understood. The student is also taught at his/her learning pace.

In public schools, the teacher has to pay attention to many students and therefore may not be able to monitor the progress of each individual student. Understanding and meeting the needs of all individual students in a public school is difficult. All the students do not learn at the same pace and therefore the class might move on while some students have not yet understood a concept (Cai, Reeve and Robinson, 2002).

In public schools, there are many teachers with expertise in different subjects. In home schooling, the parent may not have enough knowledge and expertise to teach all the subjects. Another difference is that public schooling keeps the child away from the parents for long periods of time and therefore reduces family bonding.

In home schooling, parents and students are together all the time. Home schooling strengthens family bonds as the members of the family are always in close contact. Moreover, in public schools, extra-curricular activities are available to the students.

Students in public schools engage in sports and other activities after the class hours. This is not the case in home schooling as there are no peers for the home schooled student to play with at home. Another difference is that home schooling is more expensive than public schooling.

This is because public schools are mostly free and learning materials are provided. In home schooling, the parent has to acquire learning materials for the student and may sometimes hire a tutor if he/she does not have enough time or expertise to teach the child in a certain subject area (Berends, 2009).

Public schools and home schools have both similarities and differences and each has its pros and cons. Each individual student has unique learning needs and some can learn best in a public school while others are best suited to a home school. Therefore, parents should critically weigh each option in order to ensure that their children learn in a school that is best suited to them.

Berends, M. (2009). Handbook of Research on School Choice . New York: Taylor & Francis.

Cai, Y., Reeve, J. and Robinson, D.T. (2002). Home schooling and teaching style: Comparing the motivating styles of home school and public school teachers. Journal of Education Psychology, Vol. 94(2), pp. 372-380.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Homeschooling — Argumentative About Homeschooling

Argumentative About Homeschooling

• Categories: Homeschooling

About this sample

Words: 704 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 704 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Tailoring education to individual needs, flexible schedule for experiential learning, a nurturing and supportive environment, socialization and social skills, academic rigor and accountability, mitigating drawbacks and finding solutions.

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Homeschool vs. Public School:

The ultimate showdown, read ahead:, a spectrum of schooling options, homeschool vs. public school: the pros and cons, do you wonder if they might be better off in public school, what about public school at home.

• Wouldn’t My Children be Better Educated by a Professional?

Since Homeschools Are Private Schools in Texas, Aren’t They Regulated the Same Way?

Is homeschooling about to become the new normal.

• Public schooling : Your children are  under the care of trained professionals  who apply a district-wide or statewide curriculum over which you have almost no influence. Children are educated in  groups of approximately 25 and are   away from home about eight hours per day  (counting the commute) for approximately 180 days of the year.
• Private or charter school : Your children are  under the care of trained professionals  who apply a specific curriculum over which you have almost no influence. However, private and charter schools offer alternatives to public school curriculums. If you choose a private or charter option, it’s likely because their curriculum or method of instruction more closely aligns with your own educational philosophy.  Class sizes may be considerably smaller. As with public school, children are away from home about eight hours daily  for approximately 180 days a year.
• Public school at home : Also known as virtual school, your children are  under your care but are under the instruction of trained professionals.  They apply a district-wide or statewide curriculum over which you have almost no influence. Instruction may be in online groups, but  your child is at home  with limited in-person exposure to other students. Students may complete their work more quickly, spending  as few as four hours daily .  Depending on the program , students with special circumstances may have flexibility to complete their work outside regular school hours.
• University-Model : This hybrid model is part homeschooling and part private school.  Your children are at home for two to three days per week, attending a kind of private school on alternate days . As for curriculum, the choice is yours on home days and you may have some influence on group days. Some programs have trained educators, while some use parents to teach group classes. Most programs have a regular academic schedule, meaning that your child will be away from home about 20 hours weekly.
• Unschooling : In this alternative method of homeschooling,  your child engages in self-directed learning with varying degrees of oversight by parents or teachers . Since the child is in the pilot’s seat, we listed unschooling to the left of other homeschooling types. Typically,  the child is at home with parents, schooling as much as the family deems necessary . (Although acceptable in Texas, other states may have minimum attendance requirements.)
• Homeschooling : This encompasses  many variations , including traditional homeschooling, classical education, Charlotte Mason, unit studies and other types. However, most share the common characteristic of  parent-taught education using a curriculum of the parent’s choosing. The class size is the number of school-age children in the household. In Texas, parents determine the school schedule.  Other states may have statutes requiring a certain number of days or hours.

I Needed Her

I needed relationships, i needed a godly worldview, but i’m not a certified teacher wouldn’t my children be better educated by a professional.

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Homeschools

• Requires that parents teach in a bona fide manner and provide a letter of assurance, if requested by the school district.
• Requires written curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math and a course in good citizenship.

Traditional Private Schools

• Requires immunizations unless parents have an exemption for health risks or religious reasons.
• Must report names of students who are suspected of having infectious diseases.
• Must obtain records of anyone under the age of 11 for identification purposes.
• No alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of school.
• Requires all students to have a medical screening.
• No guns or other weapons allowed on school premises.
• Require adequate financial resources.
• Demonstrate professional management of their resources.
• Provide a clearly stated philosophy with objectives that are adequate to implement the philosophy.
• Need a physical location and facilities adequate to support the program.
• Staff must hold relevant college degrees and be qualified, by preparation or experience, for the positions and work to which they are assigned.
• Must have a minimum attendance requirement similar to public schools, either in hours per day or days per year.
• Must conduct a self-study and qualitatively assess its strengths and limitations, including achievement of objectives and compliance with state Board of Education rules.
• Private elementary schools must maintain student academic records and achievement levels required for promotion, comparable to those in public schools.

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Great read!!! Thanks for sharing such a great read, keep sharing such a great blog. Blog like these helps each and every homeschooler in homeschooling their children in the best possible way.

Thank you! We love helping homeschool families find the resources they need! Blessings, Ashley – Customer Relations

No Thank YOU

i need more info

Dear Kimberly,

I am not entirely sure what you need more information about, but if you are trying to find out how to homeschool, check out our website, under Getting Started: https://homeeducator.com/getting-started/

Blessings, Ashley – Customer Relations

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article! I am hoping and praying that my husband will come to an agreement for me to homeschool our children. Thank you for sharing this!

Dear Michelle,

I am so glad you enjoyed it! We have some other great articles below to help equip you if you decide to homeschool.

Watch: I am a homeschooler (meet other homeschool families)

Record keeping: https://homeeducator.com/keeping-homeschool-records/

Preparing a high school transcript: https://thsc.org/homeschool-transcript/

Great article, I really enjoyed seeing homeschooling from an inside perspective. You mentioned a lot of facts on the homeschooling reasoning. However, I believe that no matter what a parent may choose to do with their child, God will be there guiding them along the way. I plan on becoming a public school teacher myself. And i do believe that God has a strategic plan to place me in a school where I will have an effect on those students like myself (christian and going through public school). I was expecting to read more about the difference between the two. But overall great read, and I appreciate the time and effort put into this article!

Thank you for your kind words! The differences between the two can be subtle or extreme, depending on the state you live in. For instance, in Texas, there are only 3 requirements families must meet, they do not have to report to anyone, and parents should oversee the homeschool, not a program, according to Texas Education Code. However, some states do have rigorous reporting requirements and families must report to the district, or other facilitators, depending on that state’s laws. Learn more about homeschool laws across the United States: https://homeeducator.com/getting-started/state-requirements/

Is Jennings the only author on this source? This page is a little hard to cite and I want to make sure I give credit where credit is due!

Dear Sarah,

Actually, I believe this article was an effort of multiple members of our publications team and our other teams to collect information. Thank you for that. Ms. Jennings one member of our team. The contributors are: Donna Schillinger, Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., Kenzie Knapp, Jeremy Newman

Thank you for sharing this article!

Blessings, Ashley – Customer Support

I’ve been homeschooled all my life and I’m going into 6th grade and I debating if I should stay home school or go to public school and this helped a lot. thank you so much!!!!!!

I love hearing that! Keep up the great work.

Well written and informative. It can be challenging for many parents to transition to homeschool but reading this article answers a lot of questions and concerns.

Thank you! We love helping homeschoolers find great ideas.

Public School vs. Homeschooling

In recent years, home-schooled children seem to be “winning.” They have conquered national spelling bees, obtained generous scholarships to elite universities, and have even been crowned beauty queens. If home-schooled kids are enjoying such success, it is understandable why any parent would ask, “Is regular or home school best for my child?”

Like many questions about your child’s education, this particular one does not have an easy answer. It is important to consider many factors before deciding whether your child should stay at home to learn or should be sent to a regular public school.

Home environment vs. school environment

For many advocates of either homeschooling or public school education, the environment offered by either situation is the determining factor as to whether a child should be home-schooled or sent to a regular public school.

The calm, safe environment of home school

Proponents of homeschooling believe that children thrive better in a safe, comfortable environment with which they are familiar. Ironically, so do advocates of public schooling.

However, home-schoolers believe the home is the safest, most secure environment in which a child can learn. At home, a child does not have to deal with peer pressure or with fitting in with the popular cliques. A child can just “be.” This gives the child the opportunity to focus on the lessons being taught and on the educational expectations required of him or her.

Orkid Jalali offers her take on the pros and cons of homeschooling your children.

Home-schooled students do not have to worry whether they are wearing the right clothes, the right shoes, or are shopping at the right stores, or playing the right video games. Since there are (usually) no other children around, home-schooled children learn in a relatively calm, peaceful environment, and – most importantly – they usually have the opportunity to work at their own pace and in their own style. For some, that spells the difference between success and failure.

The critical social component of regular school

Regular public school classrooms are not, by nature, relatively calm environments, especially at the elementary school level. However, that does not mean a student cannot thrive in such an environment. In fact, supporters of regular public schooling argue that the chaos of the classroom is actually what children need to succeed.

Humans are social creatures. That is the belief of many regular public school proponents. Children should interact and work with one another in order to build real, vital skills needed in the real world. For example, the advocates of regular public schooling believe that learning the reading process can certainly happen effectively at home. After all, they say, most kids do learn to read at home. However, the goal of public education is not to teach students simply how to read, solve math problems, or to solve scientific equations. If that were the case, homeschooling would be the best option for everyone.

Carrie and Claire answer questions about being homeschooled vs. attending public school.

The mission of regular public schools, the supporters argue, is to teach kids those skills – and then how to use and apply them through meaningful, necessary interactions with their peers and teachers. That, in essence, is the focus of many regular public schools: relationships. Those relationships can only truly be formed in regular schools. Students can only truly learn how to problem-solve with their peers if they are in a regular public school. Students can only learn how to handle and overcome peer pressure if they are faced with it in a regular school.

Of course, this attitude held by many supporters of a regular public school may suggest that actual “book” learning is not as important as learning how to deal with others, but only you can decide which is more important to your child. Both environments clearly offer opportunities for children to learn, but only you can choose which kind of learning is most vital to you and your family.

Along with the environment in which they learn, students (and their families) also have to consider what they are going to learn. Homeschooling and regular public schooling have different philosophies about these elements as well.

Home curriculum vs. School curriculum

How children learn is a major factor in determining whether your child should stay at home or should go to school. Home-schooled children tend to learn through individual experience, and maybe that is best for your child. Regular public schooled children learn through relationships, and that may be what your child needs. Clearly, this is one major difference between the two philosophies. Another vital component, though, is what they learn, and like before, there are significant differences between the two camps.

The Rockstar Homeschooling Mom explains her curriculum choices.

For the most part, children learn the same basic skills, whether they are home-schooled or taught at a regular public school. They all learn to read, write, and solve basic math problems. Both sides can agree that is a good foundation. However, it is beyond this common foundation that home school and regular school differ. With this in mind, you must evaluate where you want your children’s education focus to be.

Customizing your child’s education with home school

Parents who home-school their children generally get to decide by themselves the focus of their child’s education. The curriculum at can be developed on the passions of the parents, or for what the child has a natural curiosity. In general, that is why most home-schooled children receive some type of religious instruction at home. The parents believe the teaching of religion or spirituality should be incorporated into education, and that is why many choose to teach their children at home.

This does not mean you can teach your kids at home only if you are going to teach them religious-based lessons. Home-schooled curriculum can take the shape of whatever the parent most wants to teach his or her child.

Exposing your child to a plethora of ideas and concepts

Regular public school is different, of course. Public schools, for the most part, base their curriculums on state standards, and the lessons are geared so the students can reach and surpass those standards. There is usually not a lot of time to cover material in-depth, but students are exposed to a broad range of ideas and concepts.

There-in stems the major difference between the curriculums: the home curriculum usually takes fewer ideas to a deeper level, while the school curriculum usually takes more ideas and tries to connect them with one another, hoping to show the students the big picture. Again, only you can decide which is the best approach for your child.

Home-schooling and regular public schooling each has advantages and disadvantages. One may offer a more controlled environment for your child, while the other may expose him or her to a world of ideas you could not possibly imagine. You may find it difficult to choose between the two. Making the right choice depends upon how your child learns, and what you would like him or her to learn. Keeping the best interest of your child in mind makes the decision clearer.

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Homeschool vs Public School: Similarities & Differences

The next school year is right around the corner, and you may be trying to decide between homeschooling or sending your kids to public school. It is an important decision, and both can benefit children in different ways.

What are the similarities and differences between homeschool vs public school?

Both homeschools and public schools utilize curriculum and online resources to teach skills, and students in either environment can be required to participate in standardized testing. However, homeschools and public schools differ in:  

• Parental Control and Workload
• Class Sizes
• Students’ Academic Readiness

Understanding how homeschooling and public schooling are alike and how they differ is crucial to making a sound decision on what best fits your family. Below are key similarities and differences of homeschool versus public school as you explore both options.

How Are Homeschool and Public School Similar?

Standardized testing may be required .

Public schools are known for requiring state-mandated standardized testing, but homeschooling may not exempt your child from the same criteria. As of today, 24 states require some form of nationally standardized achievement testing to be performed annually. The tests are designed to: 

• Test the students in the categories of mathematics and English Language Arts
• Measure academic achievement every year
• Determine the national percentile rank for individual students

Homeschooling parents who live in one of the 24 testing states must keep a record or portfolio of their child’s test scores and have it ready to present to the state if requested. Public schools take care of these records for the parent. 

Teachers and Homeschooling Parents Use Online Resources

Whether at home or in a traditional public school, the digital age is in full swing. No matter the age, efficiency level, or subject matter, there is an online program that can support the teacher and help the student learn more effectively. 

Federal and state governments provide funding for resources in public schools but homeschool parents do not receive funding with the exception of a few states that offer a tax break.

As a result, homeschool parents are conscientious about finding affordable resources and using free online tools, such as setting up a Google Classroom and curating online resources.

How Are Public Schools and Homeschool Different?

Everyone knows that homeschool and public schools are different, but to what extent? Is there that much of a divide between the two experiences? Breaking it down to a few critical factors may give you the answer. 

The Cost of Homeschooling is Paid Out-of-Pocket 

Public school is free for the student in terms of out-of-pocket expenses, but that is not to say there is no cost. Taxpayers pay an average of $10,615 per student each year.  These numbers can range from as low as $6,000 in states like Utah and as high as $18,000 in more expensive states like New York. 

Homeschooling is funded by the student’s family and can range anywhere from $250 to $2500 per student every year. Families who homeschool multiple children could spend more depending on the amount spent on the following:

• Materials 
• Meals and snacks
• Extracurricular sports teams or activities
• Gas for planned and unplanned field trips

Additionally, in most states, families cannot claim compensation for homeschooling on their taxes. The only exceptions are Illinois, Minnesota, and Louisiana. In these states, homeschooling families can claim a tax credit.

Parental Involvement is Not Required with Public Schools

Parents of public school children are strongly encouraged but not required to be a part of their children’s educational experience. This allows both parents of the household to work outside of the home to provide more income. 

Homeschooling a child can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours a day. Parents are expected to do the following:

• Teach all subjects that as required by their state.  
• Plan every lesson according to the needs of the child. 
• Find, plan, and attend all extracurricular activities. 
• Keep detailed records of test scores and portfolios of student work samples according to the state guidelines. 

It is possible to work full time and homeschool . This type of homeschooling requires creative scheduling and a strong family support system.

Homeschooling Parents Control the Curriculum 

Homeschooling parents have more educational freedom to teach children with the curriculum that suits them. Every child has a different way of learning, so choosing the curriculum that connects with your child can be challenging.  

Luckily, there are online communities, blogs, and forums that can help you choose not only the right program for your child but one that will be a good fit for you as well. 

On the other hand, parents who send their kids to public school have little to no control over what their children learn in school or how they are taught. The test-based curriculum of public school moves quickly, and some children are taught at a faster rate than they can retain. For these struggling students, the pace can create gaps in learning. Alternatively, some students need acceleration that may not be possible with the constraints of a typical classroom.

Homeschooled Students Show Higher Academic Test Scores 

Academic achievement tests scores of homeschooled students tend to be equal to or higher than public school students. Parents without a teaching certificate can successfully homeschool their children without a degree in education. Each state varies with homeschooling laws and requirements for parents to provide a non-traditional education.

Class Sizes Can Affect Academic Achievement 

Studies show a correlation between higher academic achievement scores and smaller class sizes . Public school students learn in a class size of 25 to 30 students to one teacher, while homeschool students more readily get one-on-one attention. 

While teachers at public schools can struggle to give each child the attention they need to succeed, homeschooling parents can take extra time to work through the problems and subjects that are more difficult for the student. Pacing is set by the child’s rate of learning.

In Conclusion

While homeschooling may not have financial benefits, there are other aspects to consider that may make it a good option for some families. There are similarities between homeschool and public school, but the differences between the two are considerable, and families may want to think carefully before deciding one way or the other. 

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16 Public School vs Homeschool Pros and Cons

The National Home Education Research Institute reports that there are more than 2.3 million homeschool students in the United States right now. This figure has been rapidly climbing since 2010, with some years seeing 8% growth. Homeschooling is the traditional educational practice that was once considered an alternative form of instruction, but it is now becoming a mainstream choice for students of all capabilities. Some public schools even offer it as an option for the most gifted and talented students in their district.

It Is often far cheaper to educate students in the home environment when compared to the structure of modern public schools. In the United States, the average taxpayer supports each student to the tune of more than $11,000, plus capital expenditures, to create a positive learning environment. Homeschooled students cost virtually nothing to the taxpayer because the family picks up the tab.

Although there are some stereotypes involved with homeschooling, it is just as diverse as the public school population. You will find Christians, atheists, liberals, conservatives, families in poverty, and households with enormous wealth all looking at the pros and cons of public schools compared to homeschooling.

If you are thinking about making a switch, then here are some of the key points to consider.

List of the Pros of Public Schooling vs Homeschooling

1. Public schools allow parents to work outside of the home more efficiently. The design of the average day for public schools is purposely intended to work in conjunction with the usual demands that adults face in the workplace. Kids will get on the bus at 8am, and then return home around 4pm during each weekday (save for early release days, holidays, and some teacher work days). That makes it possible for a two-parent household to make ends me it better because both adults can work outside of the home full-time without the added financial burden of daycare expenses.

2. Public schools are still an affordable option compared to other outcomes. Homeschooling is still cheaper than a public school, but for the average household, attending classes through the local district is still an excellent financial consideration. The average cost of a boarding school in the United States was more than $24,000 in 2017. If you attended classes at a school that was independent of affiliation, your price would be even more than that. Many families can attend the local public school without an additional expense beyond their tax liabilities. That is why it is such an affordable option. Everyone in the community chips in to provide an effective learning environment.

3. Public schools offer access to more diversity. When children attend a public school, then they are more likely to encounter other people that don’t look, act, or think exactly like they do. It is an opportunity to learn about different cultures, income levels, and perspectives that homeschooling does not always provide. There are even opportunities to work with other students that may have physical or mental disabilities. By understanding how humanity is diverse at a younger age, it creates a strong foundation that students can build upon as they get older and approach adulthood.

4. Public schools offer more extracurricular opportunities. Students in public school often have more options for activities after the final bell compared to children who are attending a homeschool or private school. There are options for athletics, theater, and music. Although some school districts will offer these opportunities to homeschooled students upon request, this option is not always guaranteed. If a student is interested in high school sports, then in most locations, public school is their only option to be active.

5. Public schools require specific certifications that teachers must meet. Teachers in public schools are generally required by their state or community to be certified in the subject material that they will teach. Private schools and charter schools do not always have this requirement, which means parents are not always aware of the level of training that their child’s teacher has obtained before being hired. Homeschooling often places the burden of teaching on the parent, which means they must be well-versed in all subject materials to help their students stay competitive with the local district.

6. Public schools allow students to have more social opportunities. One of the most common complaints that students have when they are homeschooled is that they do not get to spend as much time with their friends when compared to their public school counterparts. When you attend a public school, then the connections that you can make are automatically there. If you are homeschooling, then it is up to each family to find the connections in their community where relationships can begin to build. If you are the only family that decides to homeschool or you live in a very rural area, then it can be an isolating experience.

7. Public schools offer a guaranteed schedule. Unless there is a snow day or an unexpected emergency, you know what to expect from the public school calendar each year. Families receive this schedule at the beginning of the year, allowing them to plan for specific events in advance that might have a conflict with their regular schedule. When the end of the year comes along, you know whether or not your child will advance to the next grade. With homeschooling, parents must always be vigilant about motivation. Otherwise, the school year can easily extend into the summer months.

8. Public schools provide a glimpse of how the world operates. With the development of homeschooling co-ops, there are more opportunities for students who learn at home to socialize than ever before. Where a public school holds an advantage is in its overall structure. When you are in control of your entire schedule as a homeschool student, it can be a struggle to adapt to firm expectations about what you are supposed to do or when you must arrive. Being in a public school creates an opportunity to learn how to manage these expectations so that it is easier to be successful once you begin to pursue a vocational career.

List of the Cons of Public Schooling vs Homeschooling

1. Homeschooling allows parents to determine the curriculum. Parents have a lot more say in the curriculum that their children follow when they decide to homeschool instead of sending their kids to public school. Although there are state laws that must be followed in the United States regarding the quality of the materials are used, there are several options from which to choose that you would not receive if you worked with your local school district. You also get to be in control of the schooling schedule, which means you can work around family needs more often without having an extensive back-and-forth with administrators.

2. Homeschooling helps you to create stronger bonds with your kids. Many homeschooling parents act as the teachers for their children when using the educational materials for each grade level. There is much more time for family bonding when compared to public schooling because the classroom is wherever you want it to be. You are spending more time together in a way that promotes conversation and bonding that is just not possible when working with the local school district.

3. Homeschooling allows you to move at your own pace. Homeschooling makes it possible to adapt teaching methods to the best ways that individual children learn. Even when parents are using a K-12 online schooling option for their homeschooling needs, the teachers and administrators which work with the program can adapt to changing circumstances more quickly than public schools. If children need to spend extra time working on a challenging concept, then they can stay at that part of the curriculum until they have mastered the issue. This structure promotes a greater understanding of core issues that may impact the student later on in life.

4. Homeschooling provides students with greater safety. The stories of school shootings that flood the news cycle each year create a rightful worry for parents who send their children to public school. You may never know when a text or phone call comes in that says a lockdown incident occurred at the school where their child attends. When you make the decision to start homeschooling, then you can begin to provide an extra measure of safety for your family.

It is an opportunity to protect kids from more than just school violence. There are fewer issues with drug use, behavioral distractions, and other adverse events which can sometimes occur in a public school setting. As a parent, you won’t be dealing with lollipops in the hair or gum being thrown at someone because another child thought it was funny.

5. Homeschool allows parents to discuss controversial topics with discretion. One of the most critical elements of parenthood today is to teach children your family’s culture and perspectives on life. Even though kids may disagree with the perspective of the parent, the discussions on controversial topics can lead to more information and knowledge about the subject matter. This structure may not always be available in public schools. Whether the topic involves sexual education, spirituality, or the potential problems with common core math, the extra level of control that is available outside of public schools allows for a greater depth of individual learning.

6. Homeschool students often score higher on standardized tests. Homeschooled students average more than 70 points higher on their SAT scores when compared to kids to attend their local public school. The average score on the ACT for homeschooled students is 22.8, while it is 21 for the general population. Although critics may point out issues with demographics and sampling, both boys and girls who receive homeschooling score in the 85th percentile or above on average – even when household incomes are below $35,000 per year.

7. Homeschooling allows for more play learning opportunities. Public schools often stick to a specific schedule for play opportunities by incorporating recesses of 15-20 minutes a couple of times per day. Although there are in-classroom play opportunities growing in some districts, homeschooling provides this option whenever you want to have them. Even if you don’t get outside to play all of the time, there are STEM toys that can become part of your lesson plan.

8. Homeschooling provides more opportunities to learn how to schedule priorities. When students attend a public school, their schedule is often dictated for them. That includes any extracurricular activities which they may wish to pursue through their district. Because homeschooling encourages more independent learning, it creates a situation where a student and their family must become cognizant of their educational priorities. You must learn how to identify essential tasks, and then manage your time in such a way that it becomes possible to complete them.

List of the Similarities Between Public School vs Homeschool

1. Both groups can take vacations during the school year. In the past 20 years, the regulations that require students to attend public schools have eased considerably. As long as parents provide enough notice to their school district about a vacation or trip that they need to take during the school year, they have the same advantage as homeschooling parents do when it comes to schedule flexibility. Public school teachers provide assignments for students on vacation during the school year just as homeschool parents would offer to their children.

2. Both groups have access to multiple teaching opportunities. Many states have encouraged their public school districts to identify students who would benefit from learning opportunities that fall outside of the definition of “normal.” You will find gifted and talented programs creating different classroom environments for students today. Teachers and administrators are creating pods in schools that get students away from their desks. There are gardening and farming program opportunities available to students as well.

3. Both groups can eliminate homework from the learning equation. More public schools today are embracing the idea of removing homework from a student’s routine than ever before. Homeschooling doesn’t really have homework either because you are completing lesson plans based on the schedule that works with your family. Although there are exceptions to this similarity on both sides, many kids have their evenings free to pursue other activities.

4. Both groups can pursue curriculum choices that are interesting to the student. Both educational groups have the opportunity to provide input on the curriculum choices that they pursue at school. Although homeschooling families have it easier with this similarity because they can choose specific courses based on their local requirements and resources, public school students are finding more choices available to them as well. The number of districts that are requiring study halls or filler classes to complete the school day are diminishing rapidly.

5. Both groups can still encounter bullying. Although homeschooling will typically create a family environment where bullying does not occur, it does not eliminate this issue entirely. It is not uncommon for kids to encounter this issue at homeschool co-ops, at church, or even by other families in their neighborhood. It may be less prevalent than at public school, but bullying happens everywhere. Parents in both groups must teach their children how to recognize a toxic environment and how to respond to that situation to help protect their kids.

6. Both groups provide opportunities for children of any age. You can choose to attend public school through the 12th grade in the United States, which is also an opportunity that homeschooling families can access.

A Final Thought About Public Schools vs Homeschooling

The pros and cons of public schools vs homeschooling must be taken from an individual perspective. There is no right or wrong answer that is specific to everyone when comparing these two educational options. Some families are more comfortable with the idea of sending their child to a local school. Others prefer to provide educational opportunities within the structure of their family environment.

What matters most is that each kiddo gets an opportunity to maximize their potential. Choose the option that will do that for your family, and you will have a successful experience either way.