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| 2021 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 206.10. | Number and percentage of homeschooled students ages 5 through 17 with a grade equivalent of kindergarten through 12th grade, by selected child, parent, and household characteristics: Selected years, 1999 through 2019 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected child, parent, or household characteristic | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2012 | 2016 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number home-schooled (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled | Number home-schooled (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled | Number home-schooled (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled | Number home-schooled1 (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled1 | Number home-schooled (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled | Number home-schooled (in thousands) | Percent home-schooled | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 850 | (71.1) | 1.7 | (0.14) | 1,096 | (92.3) | 2.2 | (0.18) | 1,520 | (118.0) | 3.0 | (0.23) | 1,773 | 115.7 | 3.4 | (0.23) | 1,690 | (118.4) | 3.3 | (0.23) | 1,457 | (91.6) | 2.8 | (0.18) | ||||||||||||||
Sex of child |
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| Male | 417 | (43.9) | 1.6 | (0.17) | 569 | (61.9) | 2.2 | (0.24) | 639 | (75.1) | 2.4 | (0.28) | 875 | (73.7) | 3.3 | (0.28) | 807 | (79.2) | 3.0 | (0.30) | 725 | (61.6) | 2.7 | (0.23) | ||||||||||||||
| Female | 434 | (46.1) | 1.8 | (0.19) | 527 | (58.2) | 2.1 | (0.23) | 881 | (97.4) | 3.5 | (0.39) | 898 | (80.3) | 3.6 | (0.32) | 882 | (74.8) | 3.5 | (0.29) | 732 | (59.8) | 2.9 | (0.25) | ||||||||||||||
Race/ethnicity of child |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 640 | (62.3) | 2.0 | (0.19) | 843 | (77.5) | 2.7 | (0.25) | 1,171 | (102.2) | 3.9 | (0.34) | 1,205 | (95.7) | 4.5 | (0.35) | 998 | (92.6) | 3.8 | (0.35) | 1,014 | (69.9) | 4.0 | (0.28) | ||||||||||||||
| Black | 84 | (24.8) | 1.0 | (0.31) | 103 | ! | (33.9) | 1.3 | ! | (0.42) | 61 | ! | (21.2) | 0.8 | ! | (0.28) | 140 | (37.1) | 2.0 | (0.52) | 132 | (27.6) | 1.9 | (0.39) | 84 | (24.7) | 1.2 | (0.36) | ||||||||||
| Hispanic | 77 | (17.7) | 1.1 | (0.25) | 59 | ! | (21.1) | 0.7 | (0.26) | 147 | (27.5) | 1.5 | (0.29) | 265 | (41.1) | 2.3 | (0.35) | 444 | (62.2) | 3.5 | (0.50) | 250 | (41.5) | 1.9 | (0.32) | |||||||||||||
| Asian/Pacific Islander | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 73 | ! | (21.9) | 2.8 | ! | (0.9) | 44 | (12.6) | 1.4 | (0.40) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||
| Asian | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 42 | (12.0) | 1.4 | (0.40) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||||
| American Indian/Alaska Native | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||||
| Other2 | 16 | ! | (6.4) | 1.6 | ! | (0.62) | 59 | ! | (26.9) | 4.9 | ! | (2.13) | 111 | (29.5) | 4.8 | (1.30) | 82 | (16.3) | 3.2 | (0.61) | 69 | (15.2) | 2.7 | (0.62) | 83 | (18.4) | 2.7 | (0.62) | ||||||||||
Grade equivalent3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kindergarten through grade 5 | 428 | (48.1) | 1.8 | (0.20) | 472 | (55.3) | 1.9 | (0.23) | 717 | (83.8) | 3.0 | (0.36) | 833 | (84.8) | 3.2 | (0.33) | 767 | (74.4) | 3.0 | (0.29) | 703 | (58.6) | 2.8 | (0.24) | ||||||||||||||
| Kindergarten | 92 | (19.7) | 2.4 | (0.52) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 212 | (47.3) | 4.0 | (0.9) | 181 | (40.7) | 3.5 | (0.80) | 115 | (27.3) | 2.6 | (0.61) | ||||||||||||||
| Grades 1 through 3 | 199 | (36.7) | 1.6 | (0.29) | 214 | (33.3) | 1.8 | (0.28) | 406 | (64.5) | 3.4 | (0.54) | 353 | (50.9) | 2.9 | (0.42) | 300 | (34.1) | 2.4 | (0.28) | 322 | (34.8) | 2.7 | (0.30) | ||||||||||||||
| Grades 4 and 5 | 136 | (22.5) | 1.7 | (0.28) | 160 | (30.1) | 1.9 | (0.35) | 197 | (41.4) | 2.5 | (0.52) | 268 | (44.2) | 3.2 | (0.52) | 287 | (51.8) | 3.4 | (0.62) | 267 | (35.0) | 3.2 | (0.43) | ||||||||||||||
| Grades 6 through 8 | 186 | (28.0) | 1.6 | (0.24) | 302 | (44.9) | 2.4 | (0.36) | 371 | (65.3) | 3.0 | (0.53) | 424 | (49.0) | 3.5 | (0.41) | 398 | (49.1) | 3.3 | (0.41) | 429 | (55.2) | 3.4 | (0.43) | ||||||||||||||
| Grades 9 through 12 | 235 | (33.3) | 1.7 | (0.24) | 315 | (47.0) | 2.3 | (0.33) | 422 | (58.2) | 2.8 | (0.38) | 516 | (53.6) | 3.8 | (0.39) | 525 | (55.9) | 3.8 | (0.40) | 325 | (36.3) | 2.3 | (0.26) | ||||||||||||||
Number of children in the household |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One child | 132 | (18.0) | 1.3 | (0.17) | 110 | (22.3) | 1.4 | (0.27) | 197 | (32.5) | 2.3 | (0.38) | 418 | (29.6) | 3.4 | (0.23) | 338 | (35.5) | 2.7 | (0.27) | 276 | (29.7) | 2.2 | (0.24) | ||||||||||||||
| Two children | 248 | (28.4) | 1.3 | (0.15) | 306 | (45.1) | 1.5 | (0.22) | 414 | (67.2) | 2.0 | (0.32) | 493 | (51.5) | 2.5 | (0.26) | 475 | (55.3) | 2.3 | (0.27) | 475 | (50.1) | 2.3 | (0.24) | ||||||||||||||
| Three or more children | 470 | (63.9) | 2.3 | (0.31) | 679 | (80.2) | 3.1 | (0.36) | 909 | (102.4) | 4.1 | (0.46) | 862 | (88.4) | 4.5 | (0.47) | 877 | (84.8) | 4.7 | (0.45) | 706 | (65.0) | 3.9 | (0.37) | ||||||||||||||
Number of parents in the household |
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| Two parents | 683 | (68.3) | 2.1 | (0.21) | 886 | (82.7) | 2.5 | (0.23) | 1,357 | (111.5) | 3.6 | (0.30) | 1,354 | (104.2) | 3.8 | (0.29) | 1358 | (103.7) | 3.7 | (0.28) | 1,214 | (82.6) | 3.3 | (0.22) | ||||||||||||||
| One parent | 142 | (25.0) | 0.9 | (0.16) | 196 | (42.6) | 1.5 | (0.32) | 118 | (28.4) | 1.0 | (0.24) | 342 | (51.6) | 2.5 | (0.37) | 293 | (38.4) | 2.3 | (0.30) | 206 | (34.7) | 1.6 | (0.27) | ||||||||||||||
| Nonparental guardians | 25 | ! | (14.4) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 77 | ! | (31.9) | 4.0 | ! | (1.6) | 38 | (9.9) | 2.0 | (0.54) | 37 | ! | (11.9) | 2.1 | ! | (0.68) | |||||||||
Parent/guardian participation in the labor force |
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| Two parents/guardians--both in labor force |
237 | (39.8) | 1.0 | (0.17) | 274 | (44.1) | 1.1 | (0.18) | 518 | (76.2) | 2.0 | (0.29) | 588 | (63.5) | 2.5 | (0.27) | 427 | (56.5) | 1.7 | (0.23) | 399 | (47.3) | 1.6 | (0.18) | ||||||||||||||
| Two parents/guardians--one in labor force |
444 | (53.9) | 4.6 | (0.55) | 594 | (73.7) | 5.6 | (0.67) | 808 | (94.3) | 7.5 | (0.82) | 719 | (76.3) | 6.2 | (0.65) | 935 | (87.8) | 7.2 | (0.68) | 839 | (69.2) | 6.6 | (0.57) | ||||||||||||||
| One parent/guardian--in labor force | 98 | (21.8) | 0.7 | (0.16) | 174 | (39.8) | 1.4 | (0.33) | 127 | (29.5) | 1.3 | (0.30) | 247 | (40.9) | 2.2 | (0.36) | 189 | (29.6) | 1.8 | (0.29) | 127 | (20.4) | 1.2 | (0.20) | ||||||||||||||
| No parent/guardian participation in labor force |
71 | (18.8) | 1.9 | (0.48) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 130 | (31.9) | 4.8 | (1.15) | 139 | (23.9) | 4.0 | (0.72) | 93 | (27.6) | 3.1 | (0.92) | ||||||||||||||
Highest education level of parents/guardians |
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| High school diploma or less | 160 | (26.5) | 0.9 | (0.15) | 269 | (51.6) | 1.7 | (0.32) | 208 | (35.5) | 1.5 | (0.24) | 560 | (81.7) | 3.4 | (0.50) | 510 | (66.1) | 3.3 | (0.43) | 330 | (48.3) | 2.2 | (0.32) | ||||||||||||||
| Vocational/technical, associate's degree, or some college |
287 | (37.3) | 1.9 | (0.24) | 338 | (57.7) | 2.1 | (0.36) | 559 | (77.5) | 3.8 | (0.52) | 525 | (45.6) | 3.4 | (0.29) | 418 | (49.2) | 3.1 | (0.36) | 376 | (38.7) | 2.9 | (0.30) | ||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's degree/some graduate school | 213 | (36.2) | 2.6 | (0.42) | 309 | (48.5) | 2.8 | (0.45) | 444 | (64.7) | 3.9 | (0.57) | 434 | (51.4) | 3.7 | (0.43) | 501 | (64.0) | 3.6 | (0.45) | 449 | (43.3) | 3.3 | (0.32) | ||||||||||||||
| Graduate/professional degree | 190 | (39.8) | 2.3 | (0.46) | 180 | (41.6) | 2.3 | (0.55) | 309 | (50.0) | 2.9 | (0.46) | 255 | (27.3) | 3.3 | (0.36) | 260 | (30.7) | 3.0 | (0.35) | 302 | (33.8) | 3.1 | (0.34) | ||||||||||||||
Household income (in current dollars)4 |
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| $20,000 or less | 184 | (35.2) | 1.5 | (0.28) | 164 | (38.9) | 1.8 | (0.43) | 186 | (42.1) | 2.2 | (0.50) | 219 | (41.8) | 2.9 | (0.56) | 184 | (29.0) | 2.9 | (0.46) | 150 | (33.5) | 3.0 | (0.67) | ||||||||||||||
| $20,001 to $50,000 | 356 | (42.9) | 1.8 | (0.22) | 430 | (60.3) | 2.6 | (0.36) | 420 | (59.8) | 3.1 | (0.42) | 528 | (65.5) | 3.8 | (0.47) | 483 | (59.4) | 3.7 | (0.46) | 292 | (34.9) | 2.5 | (0.30) | ||||||||||||||
| $50,001 to $75,000 | 162 | (25.5) | 1.9 | (0.30) | 264 | (51.1) | 2.4 | (0.46) | 414 | (58.8) | 4.0 | (0.57) | 370 | (48.9) | 3.9 | (0.53) | 435 | (58.6) | 4.8 | (0.65) | 302 | (43.1) | 3.6 | (0.52) | ||||||||||||||
| $75,001 to $100,000 | 148 | 5 | (26.5) | 1.5 | 5 | (0.28) | 169 | (42.9) | 2.6 | (0.66) | 264 | (57.2) | 3.8 | (0.83) | 288 | (47.3) | 4.2 | (0.69) | 268 | (38.4) | 3.8 | (0.55) | 223 | (25.2) | 3.2 | (0.37) | ||||||||||||
| Over $100,000 | --- | 5 | (†) | --- | 5 | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 236 | (57.5) | 2.0 | (0.49) | 367 | (42.8) | 2.7 | (0.31) | 319 | (39.0) | 1.9 | (0.24) | 490 | (45.3) | 2.5 | (0.23) | ||||||||||||
Locale |
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| City | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 327 | (40.4) | 2.0 | (0.26) | 493 | (59.5) | 3.3 | (0.40) | 493 | (56.0) | 3.0 | (0.33) | 399 | (46.6) | 2.5 | (0.29) | ||||||||||||||
| Suburban | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 503 | (78.8) | 2.6 | (0.41) | 601 | (66.8) | 3.1 | (0.34) | 651 | (76.2) | 2.9 | (0.33) | 532 | (56.2) | 2.4 | (0.26) | ||||||||||||||
| Town | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 168 | (37.1) | 3.0 | (0.65) | 127 | (30.8) | 2.6 | (0.63) | 177 | (30.0) | 4.3 | (0.70) | 102 | (16.5) | 2.2 | (0.39) | ||||||||||||||
| Rural | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 523 | (75.9) | 4.9 | (0.71) | 552 | (68.2) | 4.5 | (0.55) | 368 | (45.1) | 4.4 | (0.54) | 423 | (48.5) | 4.7 | (0.54) | ||||||||||||||
| ---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 The National Center for Education Statistics uses a statistical adjustment for estimates of homeschoolers in 2012. For more information about this adjustment, please see Homeschooling in the United States: 2012 (NCES 2016-096REV). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Includes Two or more races and race/ethnicity not reported. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Students whose grade equivalent was "ungraded" were excluded from the grade analysis. The percentage of students with an "ungraded" grade equivalent was 0.03 percent in 1999 and 0.02 percent in 2003 and 2007. There were no students with an "ungraded" grade equivalent in 2012, 2016, and 2019. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Current dollars have not been adjusted to compensate for inflation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 For 1999, estimates combine the "$75,001 to $100,000" and "Over $100,000" categories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data in 2019 exclude students who were enrolled in school for more than 24 hours a week, while data prior to 2019 exclude students who were enrolled in school for more than 25 hours a week. Caution should be used when comparing the 2019 homeschooling estimates with those of earlier years. Data for all years also exclude students who were homeschooled only due to a temporary illness. National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) administrations prior to 2012 were administered via telephone with an interviewer. NHES:2012 used self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires that were mailed to respondents. For NHES:2016, initial contact with all respondents was by mail, and the majority of respondents received paper-and-pencil questionnaires. However, as an experiment with web use, a small sample of NHES:2016 respondents received mailed invitations to complete the survey online. For NHES:2019, the majority of data were collected using a web-based survey instrument that respondents accessed with credentials they received in a mailed invitation. Paper surveys were used for nonresponse follow-up and for a small experiment. Before 2007, NHES requested that the parent most knowledgeable about the sampled child answer the survey. Responding parents reported on their own activities and the activities of their spouse/other adults in the household. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and suppression of estimates that did not meet reporting standards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Parent Survey and Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program (Parent-NHES:1999 and PFI-NHES:2003, 2007, 2012, 2016, and 2019). (This table was prepared December 2021.) |
