An Overview of Research on Homeschool Students’ Academic Achievement and Test Scores: And How to Think About Claims by Authors Such as Bartholet, Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), Dwyer & Peters, and Kunzman & Gaither
Summary – Homeschool Academic Achievement: Key Facts and Points for Discussion
Big
Picture on Homeschool Research
- Across over 30 years, 62% (15 of 24) peer-reviewed and/or representative-sample studies show homeschool students outperforming institutional school peers on academic tests; a studies few have mixed or negative results.
- Neither scholars nor advocates claim homeschoolers always excel or that research proves causation—focus is on consistent positive trends.
- Homeschooling prioritizes family values, morals, religion, and holistic
development over test scores.
- Standardized tests are limited, designed for institutional schools, and may not validly measure homeschool goals; homeschoolers aren’t required to teach to them.
- Other indicators of success and lifelong learning may matter more than test scores.
- Critics like Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) (2025, 2026), Bartholet (2020), Dwyer & Peters (2019), Kunzman (2009), West (2009), Fineman & Shepherd (2016), Ross (2010), and
Yuracko (2008) overemphasize tests, to push government control (regulation) or bans of homeschooling, but their analyses often lack rigor, balance, or peer review.
- No evidence shows that increased government control improves homeschool outcomes or society more than parental freedom in choices for children’s education.
. . . . .
The full article can be viewed online: click here.
The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) is a one-of-a-kind research think tank. It has been conducting, reviewing, and archiving studies, data, and statistics for 35 years. NHERI serves scholars, parents, policymakers, the media, and courts.
Be a part of the action. Be a
friend of NHERI. Please consider supporting NHERI today.
Thank you,
Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.
President, National Home Education Research Institute (www.nheri.org)
