Washington DC:

COVID-19 ushered in the most rapid rise in homeschooling the US has ever seen. However, three years later, even after schools reopened, many parents have chosen to continue directing their children’s education themselves. According to the latest report by The Washington Post, many parents across the US continue homeschooling. 

The analysis was based on data gathered from nearly 7,000 school districts between the beginning of the pandemic and the end of the previous spring academic year. In the Post's investigation, data from 32 states and Washington, D.C. were gathered, accounting for almost 60% of school-age children in the country. However, the newspaper’s data is incomplete, as few states do not have accurate statistics on the number of homeschooled students. 

The statistics from New York City, a progressive mainstay where one might not anticipate seeing a homeschool boom, are arguably the most intriguing. The Post's analysis revealed that it is the region with the fastest-growing population of homeschoolers. Of the 33 school districts in the city, 24 have witnessed a 200% growth in homeschoolers in the last six years. 

Meanwhile, the report states that Florida has the highest percentage of homeschoolers. According to The Post, the Sunshine State has about 154,000 homeschoolers, and Hillsborough County is the ‘capital of American homeschooling.’ 

“In states with comparable enrollment figures, the number of home-schooled students increased 51 per cent over the past six years, far outpacing the seven percent growth in private school enrollment. Public school enrollment dropped four percent in those states over the same period, a decline partly attributable to home schooling”, reads the report.

It further said, “Home schooling’s surging popularity crosses every measurable line of politics, geography and demographics. In 390 districts included in The Post’s analysis, there was at least one home-schooled child for every 10 in public schools during the 2021-2022 academic year.”

According to a survey conducted in April of this year, younger American parents are preferring homeschooling over enrolling their kids in public schools to provide them a ‘safer environment’ and to shield them from ‘toxic socialization.’