Homeschooling rises sharply in U.S. – Census Bureau

Homeschooling households have increased in proportion to the population in response to coronavirus lockdowns and show little sign of reversing.

Homeschooling rises across the board

The Census Bureau reported last year that homeschooling saw rapid growth from 1999 to 2012. Since then, rates held steady, with little sign of further growth – or decline. But when lockdowns became the rule, “virtual learning” replaced classroom instruction. Shortly after “virtual learning” began, homeschooling rose again and is still higher than before.

The data come from a new Household Pulse Survey that measured new options parents were now taking. Toward the end of the spring term, homeschooling had already risen from 3.3 percent to 5.4 percent. And by fall, participation had soared to 11.2 percent. By then the survey had added a clarification. Homeschooling, in this context, means that the parent(s) direct the instruction, not the school through any teleconference hookup.

Furthermore the increases came in all races and ethnic groups. Remarkably, rates nearly tripled among blacks, the largest race- or ethnic-specific increase of all.

Of all the States, only one – Kentucky – saw a decline. Half the States saw significant increases. Most of these were States where interest started low, and then jumped.

Finally, half the fifteen Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the survey saw significant increases, and none saw a decline.

About the images

All three images in this article appear courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.