homeschooling vs 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

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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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IvyPanda. (2018, October 31). Home School Versus Public School. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-school-versus-public-school/

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1. IvyPanda . "Home School Versus Public School." October 31, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/home-school-versus-public-school/.

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Homeschooling vs Public School (Argumentative Essay)

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Public Schooling versus Homeschooling

Education is viewed as an essential commodity to the future of every child. Parents’ desire is to give their children the best education in a favorable environment. In an attempt to give their children the best education, parents have to choose the best schooling system they feel best considering the abilities of their children. Amongst the choices available are the public education and homeschooling. Homeschool are led and managed by the parents while public schools are governed by the government. Parents make their decisions depending on their social and economic beliefs and other factors depending on the experience they have had with schools. Some parents believe that homeschooling is better than public schooling and reverse is also true to some parents.

Public schooling is the oldest education system in the educational system. It has preferences to homeschooling by some parents. In public school apart from uniforms and other requirements the government pays most of the tuition fees. Payment of tuition fees by the government guarantees most children education, whether from rich or humble backgrounds. This is not the case with homeschooling as parents are forced to buy everything from books to teaching services in homeschooling.

In public school the level of socialization is high. Children meet and interact with other kids from different parts of the country. Children get to know how to communicate to various groups of people from different parts.

Public schools have enough funds to enable students to participate in extra-curricular activities like clubs, bands, and sports. These events make the child grow up physically healthy and with confidence.

Homeschools are gaining popularity due to their advantages over public schools. Many parents see the expenses of homeschool as less than that of public schools. In a homeschool, there are no uniform requirements, and this reduces its expenditures. Also, there are no mandatory fees in homeschooling.

In a homeschool, there is family togetherness. Every child grows up knowing their family values and cultural practices. The family does most of the chores together, which is viewed as an essential part of learning. Each child is given a chance to show his worth and role in the family; this makes children feel part of the household.

Academically, the quality is enhanced in homeschools. The parents choose what curriculum best fit their children depending on children’s ability. Most parents have had education in public schools, and they have their good and bad experience about the quality of academics in public schools. Also, in a homeschool teacher-student ratio is reduced and every student can be attended by a teacher at persona levels, unlike public schools.

In a homeschool the environment is safe, and parents feel their children are secured. The children are free from the danger of drugs, unwanted religion by the parents, bullying, etc., which might not be the case in a public school. With such threats out of mind, the students are safe.

Education quality is essential to the future of each country. Therefore, all efforts and funds should be directed towards quality education. The high quality of teaching in homeschooling makes it have an advantage over the public schools. This implies that the homeschooling should be encouraged and where possible its expenses subsidized by the government. Funding the costs alone may not be enough, but a combination of it and other activities like inter school sports will see homeschooling a great success and a better option.

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Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling: pros and cons

As a vast majority of the world went remote in early 2020 at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, students had to quickly adapt to remote learning from home. Due to this, many parents began to consider homeschooling for their child rather than return children to their traditional schooling methods. But what are the pros and cons of homeschooling versus traditional schooling?

Homeschooling: the pros

• No commute: Very often, students can only attend certain public schools if they reside in the right district. Alternatively, if they attend a private school further from home, the commute can be long during peak school run hours. As such, homeschooling saves time which can be spent doing further coursework, exploring personal interests, or spending more time with friends and family. 
• Tailor-made Curriculum: Although certain states/countries may have specific requirements on what it takes to graduate from high school if homeschooled, the option does give students and their parents the luxury of exploring personal interests, going at their own pace, and taking advanced courses where the student is able to. 
• Custom Schedule: The typical 8am-3pm does not have to hold true with homeschooling! While some legal requirements for a minimum number of hours may be present, students are able to have flexibility to pursue other goals such as competitive gymnastics, travel the world with their families, etc. 
• Higher performance: According to ThinkImpact, public school students received an average score of 21 out of 36 on the ACT, whereas homeschooled students received an average of 22.8. As for the SATs, homeschoolers scored a nationwide average of 72 points more than their traditional schooled counterparts in the United States in 2020. 
• Safety: The risks of COVID-19, school shootings, and other unfortunate situations are minimized at home. The extent of safety will also vary upon the neighborhood the school and home are located in. 

Homeschooling: the cons

• Social life restrictions: Students who are homeschooled do not have classmates with them daily. As such, they can be lonely unless a solid effort is made to interact with peers their age through other activities such as attending a church or place of worship, sports teams, community events, etc. 
• Pressure on parent’s time: Working a job and raising a child is already a huge time commitment for most adults. As such, being the child’s teacher is an additional burden on parents which not all are able to undertake. Furthermore, a parent will have to ensure that healthy boundaries are set between the parent and child now that the “teacher and student” dynamic is also present. 
• Cost: The cost of a homeschool curriculum can be a few thousand dollars, whereas public school is free. However, it should be noted that homeschool can be cheaper than private school, so it is up to a family to decide how to best use their educational budget here. 

Traditional Schooling: the pros

• Social life and development: At school, teens get to spend dozens of hours each week with peers their age, thus giving them a platform to develop their social skills.
• Professional instruction: Teachers at schools are qualified, trained professionals who have mastered their craft and in the later grades specialize in their area of instruction. 
• Structure:  Many children thrive on having a set routine and structure in their daily schedules, and schools are the greatest source of structure in a youngster’s life. 
• Extracurriculars: Schools, especially those with a larger student population, tend to offer extracurriculars which a student is not able to acquire at home. Be it being a part of the chess club, trying out for the football team, or running for student government, certain activities cannot be done in a home setting.
• School spirit: Being a member of a school helps develop a youngster’s identity, and students are able to obtain a sense of belonging (provided the school is a good fit for them, of course!). 
• Fostering independence: From keeping track of their own timetable (deadlines, bus schedules, etc), purchasing/bringing their lunch, and finding their way from classes, traditional schooling helps build valuable life skills which shall help students once they graduate. 

Traditional Schooling: the cons

• More traditional curriculum: Instead of exploring their own interests, students are forced to study subjects at the same pace as their classmates and course selection is more limited.
• Peer pressure: Be it wearing the latest Nike shoes, fitting in with the cool crowd, or dealing with bullies, peer pressure plays a big part of a teenager’s life and is more present in traditional schooling environments.
• Overwhelmed teachers: Many teachers have dozens of students on their roster and getting each student’s individual needs met is not often accomplished. 
• Fitting in: Perhaps the school is simply not a good fit for who your child is – be it the type of curriculum offered, the crowd present, or the overall management of the school. 

While these are just a few of the pros and cons seen in traditional schooling vs homeschooling, I would like to remind you that there is no direct answer as to which option is better. A family needs to consider their own needs to make this decision, including their time, teaching capabilities, educational budget, location, future goals, and resources. Here at Crimson we are always happy to discuss these options and also work together to advise a hybrid model if necessary – where students may take some courses outside of school in addition to the courses in their regular schooling. The pandemic has made more families consider homeschooling after seeing how their child has been handling remote learning – but before you jump the gun, make sure to consider all the pros and cons thoroughly! 

Your friendly neighbourhood Rise blogger, 

Learn more about Crimson Rise’s strategic mentorship, academic support, and extracurricular coaching for young students, and request a free consultation on your child’s journey!

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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.

Teaching Truth in Your Homeschool Curriculum

How did we get here, seeing the truth for what it really is, it’s more than policy and laws, share this story, choose your platform, related posts.

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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

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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. Homeschool

Public school has traditionally been the collective option among most United States parents; however, homeschooling is gaining popularity in recent years, resulting in one of the leading debates on whether parents should send their children to public school or adopt homeschooled system learning. Homeschooling refers to the process of educating a child away from the typical school system, usually; it is a parent-directed education established at home. In contrast, public school outlines learning institution that allows all students to attend and acquire an education; these institutions are maintained and funded by the government using public funds collected using government-imposed taxes. Whereas public school and homeschooling have similarities, such as subjects taught to pupils, they are primarily different.  Therefore, this paper will discuss various features that present differences between these school systems, including; cost, socialization skills due to the social aspect of the learning atmosphere, learning and teaching environment, and individualization of instructions.

One of the main differences between sending children to public school and homeschooling them is the cost. Public schools are funded using public funds collected through government-imposed taxes; this guarantees their affordability to all children regardless of their financial status (Musaddiq ET AL., 2022). This provides a chance for all children to acquire an education despite their parents’ difficult financial backgrounds. On the flip side, parents cater for all costs incurred in the homeschooling education system; this reflects why homeschooling is more expensive than sending children to public school. For example, curriculum fees, textbooks, internet devices, and connectivity, besides other required supplies in homeschooling, are provided by parents. A single student under homeschooling requires about $1000 in a single session. Thus, the cost is one of the main features that reflect differences between sending children to public school and homeschooling them; as discussed, homeschooling is more expensive while public schools are considerably affordable regardless of parents’ financial status.

Socialization is one of the primary differences between attending public school and homeschooling. Socialization outlines how individuals learn rules of behavior, attitudes, norms, beliefs, and ideologies, allowing normal functioning to be effective in the community. Public schools enhance improved socialization by allowing children of different ages and backgrounds to interact and share the same interest, acquiring education. More so, this school setting exposes students to rules through various routines set with time consciousness to be followed during learning in public school. For instance, during communication and interaction with teachers, children must follow outlined rules, for example, raising their hands to answer a question (West and Robin, 2019). This exposure enables children in public to learn how to behave and cope with various challenges in life. On the contrary, homeschooled children lack the opportunity to socialize with other children, reflecting on the undermined socialization aspect in the Homeschool learning system as it limits the association or contact of homeschooled children with diverse persons. Thus, sending children to public school provides an opportunity and exposure to learn appropriate behavior and features necessary to be an influential member of society, such as effective communication and coping with societal challenges.

The learning environment is the other primary feature that portrays a critical difference between public school and homeschooling. Public school is characterized by a complex learning environment associated with various factors that influence effective learning. For instance, peer pressure, high diversity in children’s background and ethnicity, and other negative factors such as substance use and bullying describe the public school environment. However, this enables children to adapt and learn to cope with various societal challenges. On the contrary, a homeschool environment is characterized by a calm, comfortable, and safe learning environment that favors learning in the homeschool set-up but hinders students from coping with real-life life events and challenges. Homeschool offers the best learning environment, but challenges faced by students in public schools facilitate their learning and coping with various life challenges met in society.

Lastly, individualizing instructions to students outlines another primary difference between public school and homeschooling. Generally, the teacher-to-student ratio in public schools is significantly high; it ranges from 20 to 25 students per teacher; this means that a teacher has a massive responsibility for having a large number of pupils under the care of one teacher. This hinders the availability of an effective and smooth individualization of instructions to students in public schools, discouraging the success of those pupils in need of one-to-one teaching for their success. On the other side, individualization of instructions is enhanced in the homeschooling learning system; this is facilitated by a few students in the teacher ratio (Ray and Brian, 2015). In most cases, homeschooling has one or two students; this encourages one-to-one directive teaching by the teacher providing the required support to students in need. This reflects on homeschooling flexibility in finishing the curriculum as the teacher may choose to move on a high-level instruction or provide extra support and slow down depending on the student’s ability. Individualizing instruction promotes learning among children; thus, the homeschool system has an added advantage regarding this feature compared to the public school system.

The main differences between public school and home school include cost, individualization of instruction, environment, and socialization. The public school is affordable for all parents to take their children in, regardless of their financial status, as the government funds it. It encourages socialization among students as children of different ages and backgrounds attend and interact in public schools. On the contrary, homeschooling is expensive and hinders socialization but encourages individualizing instructions to students; this reflects its flexibility in covering the curriculum. It is an ultimate decision for all parents to choose whether they should send their children to public school or homeschool them; in my perspective, I would choose the public school as it exposes the children to real-life situations shaping their behaviors, attitudes, and abilities to cope in society.

Works Cited

Hirsh, Aaron. “The Changing Landscape of Homeschooling in the United States.”  Centre on Reinventing Public Education  2019.

Musaddiq, Tareena, et al. “The pandemic’s effect on demand for public schools, homeschooling, and private schools.”  Journal of Public Economics  212 2022: 104710.

Ray, Brian D.  Research facts on homeschooling . ERIC Clearinghouse, 2015.

West, Robin L. “The harms of homeschooling.”  Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly  29.3/4 2009: 7–12.

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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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Homeschooling vs Public School: from a mom who has taught both

Are you feeling unmotivated and uninspired? Has homeschooling become a daily grind rather than an ongoing inspiration? Have you lost sight of why all this effort to homeschool is better than the alternative?

After all, your friends have over six hours to themselves every day, while you are nagging kids to do their schoolwork, refereeing sibling conflicts, preparing food and cleaning up messes ALL DAY LONG, and generally feeling like you are daily sacrificing your wants for everyone else’s needs.

It can be tough to remember the big picture.

I am here on iHN today to renew your motivation by reminding you of why you are keeping your kids at home rather than sending them off to the local school.

As a former public school teacher, I have inside info about how the school system really works. And as a veteran homeschool mom who has graduated four kids who stayed home K-12 (one left!), I am well aware of the struggles you are facing every day.

Let’s compare the two, shall we?

Homeschooling vs Public School Side by Side

Accountability.

As a homeschool mom, you feel like the bad guy, because you have to nag your kids to work without becoming distracted, to finish within a reasonable amount of time, to actually learn rather than just checking the box, and to move on to the next thing without wandering off. Sometimes it seems like you’ve spent the entire day just pushing your kid along. The public school teacher would do all of that for you, right?

Nope. At the school your child is one of many. The teacher does not have the time nor the mental resources to keep track of each one with much level of detail. While your kid is in their classroom, the teacher may try to have some input about work habits, but as soon as one class departs from their sight, they are focusing on the next group of crazy kids. Teachers HAVE to wipe the slate between classes or they will go crazy. And they have no desire to take that emotional baggage home with them — they do have lives and families of their own, after all — so they ignore it until class the next day.

Or, in the case of elementary school (although classes do change between subjects there now more than they used to), the teacher is only able to do so much. She doesn’t have just 3-5 kids to deal with all day long; she has 20-25. You tell me how she will do a better job of getting your child to get stuff done than you can.

Yes, there is outside accountability. Translated that means due dates and grades are a thing. But it will still be you, the mom, who is doing the nagging, keeping track of assignments and when they are due, pushing your kid to get their homework done, etc. And in some ways it’s harder, because you didn’t design the assignments, nor do you know how they were taught. Trying to figure out what was in the teacher’s head can be a challenging task.

So while it is difficult being the force behind your kid getting anything done all day every day, it’s easier (and more effective) than doing it as a reaction to someone else’s work load and expectations.

Related Reading: Homeschooling Teens Who are Easily Distracted

Educational gaps

You worry because it’s taking forever to complete the curriculum you’re using. You feel guilty for not getting through it all. Will your kid learn everything they are supposed to?  Are they experiencing gaps in their education? At the public school they are more on top of things like this, right?

Nope. I remember taking SIX WEEKS off of the regular curriculum (every year) to prepare for the standardized test the kids would be taking. Because if they scored well on the test, the school would get more funding. So forget about 7th grade math — let’s just focus on multiple-choice logic questions and learning how to read graphs — FOR SIX WEEKS.

Public schools have so many things that steal their productive classroom time. School assemblies, pep rallies, holiday celebrations, field trips, fire drills, that rowdy kid who pushes the teacher’s buttons every day, movie days, substitute teacher days — and the list goes on. I certainly never finished the curriculum in a given year — and I don’t know of a single teacher who did. Gaps in their education? You bet.

You are probably getting through more of the curriculum at home than they are at the public school. Truly.

Specialized programs

One of your kids struggles with learning in a big way. And/or one of your kids learns so fast it’s scary. It feels like you don’t have enough knowledge to really help them. The local school has resources and programs for kids like this, with teachers who specialize in these areas — surely your kid will get a better education there, right?

Listen, y’all: even those specialized teachers don’t know your child like you do. And they still have classroom timetables to keep and MANY students to deal with. Even in a smaller classroom situation, if that small class is filled with students who have special needs (in either direction), that teacher will still not be able to keep up with it all. More on this in a bit.

But for now, please remember that while you may not have as much knowledge as that teacher, you can still provide a COMPLETELY INDIVIDUALIZED education for your child. You can structure their day for how they work best. You can adapt to a bad day or a newfound interest. And guess what? The internet is a thing — you can research your child’s individual issues and find ways to meet them that are best for the child AND for your family. The resources out there are numerous these days, including iHomeschool Network bloggers who can come alongside you with encouragement and information. 

The public school, even with all its “resources,” will still groupify your very individual child. Just sayin’.

Related Reading: Opportunities My Teens are Missing Because We Homeschool High School

Personal Time

You feel like you are stuck home every day doing school rather than being able to go out and do things. If you just had some time to yourself, you could be so productive! Putting the kids in school will give you freedom!! You can have some peace and relaxation!

Not so. Unless you put your kids on the bus (which can be a sketchy proposition these days), you will have to get them up before dawn every morning, rush around to get ready — very likely nagging them to keep moving the whole time — and drive them to school. Then you get to do it all in reverse later in the day. This definitely cuts into your “me time,” hello.

But wait! Today is a half-day, so you have just barely dropped them off before you need to turn around and go back. Oh, and Johnny has sports practice after school, so you pick up his siblings at the regular time and then have to return to get him a couple of hours later. Tonight is the choir concert, and tomorrow is your day to volunteer in class, and yikes, you forgot about that parent-teacher meeting; Suzy is supposed to be bringing cookies to celebrate some miscellaneous holiday, and Betsey left her essay on the printer, so you have to take it to her before third period…

Freedom? No, instead you are tied to a schedule that is not of your own making. You are the servant of everyone else’s plans for your child and family.

This means that your teen cannot sleep in and get that extra rest they so desperately need during these years of crazy physical and emotional growth. Your 7-year-old takes forever to get over that stupid cold they caught from the kid at the next desk, because they can’t take a nap when they need one. And you are actually MORE stressed from all the running around.

If you value your time, then homeschooling is actually less stressful, because you indeed have more choice about how that time is spent.

Mom vs professional

You feel like you are always uptight and overwhelmed. You don’t like that your kids are exposed to that all day; certainly a professional teacher will provide a calmer, more emotionally-safe atmosphere. Calgon, take me away!

Here’s a truth bomb: teachers in general are a stressed-out lot. They are usually not given the resources and help they need to teach effectively and happily; instead, they are often under the gun of administrative bureaucracy. Criticism from parents can be a frequent thing, not to mention the handful of highly disrespectful students who seem to take the most time and energy and leave little for the rest.

Many teachers are not knights in shining armor but ordinary, flawed people who don’t necessarily even enjoy being there. Conversations around the teacher’s lunch table can be rife with complaints about so. many. things. Though a teacher may have started out with high ideals and the desire to help little minds grow, their mindset often degenerates to the goal of just getting through the day and leaving it all behind when they go home.

Teachers yell, too, did you know that? And they get impatient. And sometimes they wish they could just go hide. Don’t ask me how I know.

(And don’t forget all the other stress your kids would be subjected to at the public school that is absent at home: peer pressure, the bully in second period, keeping up with the Jones’s clothing or toy or electronics choices, not understanding fractions but the class has moved on, conversations about all that stuff you’d rather tell them yourself…)

Related Reading: What to Do when You are Overwhelmed by All You Have to Do

When thinking about homeschooling vs public school, we can tend to focus on our day-to-day homeschooling difficulties yet use rose-colored glasses to imagine the public school lifestyle. Let’s not.

The fact is that each choice has its pros and cons. But with homeschooling, you can know that your kids are in the hands of the people who know them best and love them most — their parents. This can make some of the difficulties feel more endurable, and it can also remind us that the supposed advantages of the public school may not really be all that great.

If you still feel like quitting — and we’ve all been there, sometimes many times, lol — iHN has a wonderful book that will encourage you to stay the course. It’s written by many of the iHN bloggers, each one with words of inspiration about many of the doubts we all struggle with. Homeschooling: What to do When You Want to Quit is definitely a resource to have on your shelf and consult over and over again! You can read more about it in my review here: When You Feel Like You Want to Quit Homeschooling . And there are other ideas in that article for when you are at the end of your homeschooling rope! So be sure to check it out!

You can also head straight to the shop and purchase it by clicking here (referral link): Purchase Homeschooling: What to do When You Want to Quit.

If you want a paperback copy rather than digital, you can get it from Amazon by clicking here (referral link): Get Homeschooling: What to do When You Want to Quit from Amazon.

I could go on about the advantages of homeschooling vs public school, but I hope you are inspired enough to keep going by now. Homeschooling is a long-haul gig; there will be ups and downs, seasons of plenty and seasons of drought — but in the long run, you will be glad you stuck it out. Trust me on that one, from a mom who has lived to tell the tale!

About the author

Ann has been homeschooling for 18+ years and has graduated four children (one more to go). She believes that EVERY mom can CONFIDENTLY, COMPETENTLY -- and even CONTENTEDLY -- provide the COMPLETE high school education that her teen needs. She and her family, including two dogs and three cats, live in rural Missouri.

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So many good points here! Sharing this!

You’re awesome, Mary! Thanks! 🙂

Needed this today. Appreciate you laying out each argument. Thank you!

Feel free to come back and re-read when you need it again, lol! 🙂

Haveing homeschooled for 20+ years graduating 2 with one more to go this article is spot on. I think if parents volunteered at their child’s school on a regular basis for a year most parents would see the negatives of ps and realize they can homeschool.

That is a great point!

Thank you so much for writing this. I am brand new to homeschooling and though I know it is the right thing to do for my children, I have allowed doubt and guilt to creep in several times. I am still trying to find a work from home job that will allow me to continue with this but I am trusting God for that. This was the encouragement I needed for today.

That is exactly what happened to me. My daughter’s kindergarten class went from 23 to 31 kids and only 4 parents volunteer in the class. I was going to sign my husband up to volunteer too, but why should I? 31 kids and only 4 parents care. I am not even helping MY daughter, I am spending my time helping someone else’s kid. I still work with her for about an hour after school everyday because she doesn’t get her work done in class.

I loved the thoughts on each point. Thank you for sharing.

You’re welcome! 🙂

Thank you so much for this encouragement. This time each year I start to feel a little overwhelmed. With what I feel like our son should have learned by now. I just discovered that he is dyslexic and knowing that has answered a lot of questions as to why he hasn’t learned as much in Reading and Math as I think he should have by now. My husband also has dyslexia so he will be able to help me in many ways, figuring out how to teach our son. But if there are any resources that you can think of that may help in this please let me know.

Hi Susan, sounds like you are on the right track. As you keep learning more about how to teach him, you will feel better and better about the whole thing. As far as resources, my guess is this blog has many articles about dyslexia — and there are several iHomeschoolNetwork bloggers who write about it, also. In fact, our own Marianne Sunderland writes a blog called Homeschooling with Dyslexia, which you can go to here: https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/ . Hope this helps!

Year 15 for us! This article is so AWESOME! Thanks for sharing! Our journey has had so many twists and turns and highs and lows. It’s been AMAZING! I wouldn’t change a single one!

Yay for year 15! It is a crazy-wonderful journey, isn’t it? Thanks for the comment; I’m glad you liked the article! 🙂

Thank you so much for this!! My mind races through all of these thoughts on a semi-regular basis lately; mostly because I am afraid that I am inadequate to teach and that she will get a sub-par education! This article was truly a blessing for me today! <3

What a well written and factual article. Thank you. Went to a meeting at the school this am and the principal spent 15min on attendance. He said that if your child is a little sick send them to school anyway. He can send them home if they are truly too sick to be there. School is a business and my kid is the inventory.

Thank you so much for this. We have had a disrupted start to the school year with a house move and then sickness. I feel I have not had time to plan projects or do anything much beyond the basics. It’s so easy to think that school would provide more whereas in fact we would have just missed a whole week. With homeschool we can recommit at any time. I believe a key problem with public school is that the class moves on even if none of the students have mastered a topic. Sal Khan has a good TED talk about individualized learning for mastery of a subject.

Yes my daughter is homeschooled she gets that one on one. but things public school are having problems now are bullying and mental abuse to students and my experience teachers aren’t caring anymore and scared of the children. Where I live it’s been the last two years it’s been 85% parents took they’re child out of school cause it isn’t the children’s safe place anymore.

An the school was supposed to be they’re safe place when their not home.

Hope this don’t offend anyone. It’s what I experienced. My daughter had a mental breakdown at the public school.

Each of these comparisons is spot on! I know because I grew up in the school system and sent three of my kids there before we started homeschooling. Even on those days where it didn’t seem like we accomplished much in our homeschool, I have no doubt we accomplished more than they would have in school, and in a much more meaningful way.

Thanks for this encouragement, my daughter is in the middle of our 3rd grade curriculum and is really getting upset by all the things she thinks she’s missing out on in public school like having president’s day off or spring break when the other kids have it off or a locker…she’s in two different dance classes at two different schools and girl scouts as well as church so she’s constantly comparing her schedule to others. She get emotional about from time to time and it really makes me doubt sometimes, but i know I’m doing the right thing for her.

I clicked on this thinking I was going to read something that would offer a balanced view. Instead but I got is someone trying to justify the choice they made by putting down public school as if they are all the same. Homeschool is not for everybody yet repeatedly homeschool moms bash schools. I’m not sure if homeschool is right for my children but I know this does not help me to make that decision.

I do homeschool but am considering enrolling my two oldest (4th and 2nd grades) in the public school this year. It’s a tough decision. I’ve cried over both sides many times and yes, I was looking for a balanced view as well. It was never HOMESCHOOL against PUBLIC SCHOOL for us. Homeschooling worked for a few years and now that it doesn’t really work I’m really struggling with it.

My kid loves to homeschool. His birthday usually fall during examination week while attending regular school. This year, we took a three day off to celebrate his big day. No pressure..no absences.. And on a daily basis…he can sleep straight 10hours, do 30min exercise daily, has enough devotional time, plays guitar during break time, bakes and cooks, do chores, more play time, can mingle with friends from different age group, read more books on topics he is interested in, able to spend vacation any time of the year, etc. Hes just 10 but he can do oral reporting…explain a topic without staring from notes or books. He makes his own visual aids and draws illustration to support his ideas. Seeing him improve each day is a fulfillment and reward in itself. Intentional parenting is beyond compare. No public school can replace that magical bond between you and your children…witnessing up close..their growth, including their struggles and victories is such wonderful experience. Its tough at times but still worth it. Thank you Ms Ann for sharing your sincere thoughts about homeschooling.

My son was in public school and struggling in reading. He went to a special reading group outside of his class. When he “graduated” from the program I told his special reading teacher that my son was reading just as poorly as he was before he started the 12 week program. Her reply? “Well, he finished the workbook we have so there’s nothing more I can do.”. That’s when we realized we would be better off homeschooling.

I needed this today. I’m glad I find this while scrolling Pinterest wishing I could ship these kids off. Thank you for the encouragement and resource recommendation!

Love this so much! Thanks for sharing the perspective from someone who has taught in a public school classroom. That is so helpful to me. We are going into our second year of homeschooling and I doubt myself a lot!

I also thought I was going to get a more balanced view. There are some big gaps in this article. For example, Her first argument misses the point, in that the teacher can’t nag everyone so mom will be doing all of the reminding either way. No, the child learns to take responsibility for their own work (public or homeschool). The goal of a parent-educator (many public school parents actively take part in their kids educations) is to teach your child not to depend on mom or teachers in the way she is describing. When you consider this, you realize that her very first argument really has some gaps. This is especially interesting given that she seems to be referring to children who are presumably in grades where they are rotating classrooms (ie middle and high school) and should really taking responsibility for their own work. When this ex-teacher lists daily interruptions that impede learning, she is right, there are interruptions. However one must consider that some times these “interruptions” are art, music, computers, library as well as guest speakers and community outreach events, all entertwined into the “8-3” day. Those “bad” kids that cause interruptions sometimes have heartbreaking stories that we can talk to our kids about, and teach them about loving others who are different than us and understanding that not all kids have the same home lives as they do. Maybe the “interruption” is that your child has a student with Severe autism in their class and they learn how to interact with people with mental disabilities. (In CA some special needs kiddos are integrated into the “typical” classes with a 1-1 adult aide ratio) Some “interruptions” can’t be measured by means of curriculum covered in a day. While I agree that homeschooling is absolutely amazing for some, others find a fantastic, well rounded education in the public schools. We really are blessed to have all these options for our kids, homeschool, private, public, charter…Families who choose public or homeschool, are both looking for the best way to nurture their child’s hearts. We are both hoping to foster an enriching education based on our children’s unique social, emotional and mental needs, and it’s helpful to keep that in mind when researching what is best for your family.

I came across your article while Googling “former homeschool moms that go back into public school” to see how anyone survives it. I taught in public schools 20 years ago and my husband and I knew then that we would not subject our children to what I saw one a daily basis. We homeschooled our two children all the way through high school. Once they graduated, I needed a job to help with college expenses and retirement (hopefully, one day). I kept my teaching certicfate current, so I started back teaching in public school this August. To say that it has been challenging would be a gross understatement. I have only been teaching 9 weeks and am already wanting to quit. Any advice on how to make it in an environment that is so contrary to everything I believe about education?

Thoughts on homeschooling a 9th grader. He is a complete introvert. He hates school but does get As and Bs. Is it hard to get into a trade school after homeschooling. Also, I’ve never homeschooled. I would have to quit my job. How hard is it to get started.

This article does well to promote your products you can sell to online traffic and desperate parents during this covid-19 pandemic.

My wife is really interested in homeschooling our children (3 and 1) when they get older, but I still have doubts. We have NOT been teaching PS for decades like you or other posters, but I’m not too worried about if it’s possible. I’m worried about giving my children the following that I believe you can get from PS over HS: 1. How to interact with peers in a public environment, how to interact with superiors and within a system of those with authority and being accountable to it in the child’s school work, not just a mom. As of now, I don’t believe you can get the same experience to prepare for real life (work, deadlines, consequences from a system, not a timeout from mom) if you’re being HS. 2. Social interaction and comradery that comes with school classes, school sports, plays, extracurricular activities. (Yes, I know you said you lose time as a parent to participate in that, but I don’t think the loss of time is a negative if you’re helping them with these things.) They can obviously do some of this while HS, but they can also get the full social experience with school and they’re peers. I made tons and tons of friends that I never would’ve met otherwise. I was able to date a lot more people when in high school that I never would’ve met otherwise. I felt accomplished with a team that I spent time with that gave me the best memories growing up (family memories were the best too, but it was a different best). Yes there are potential bullying experiences and that may persuade me to HS, but I never would have made as many friends being HS and going to some social things. I need convincing about how HS will not be LONELY.

Since you have the experience, I’m asking for your professional opinion on these concerns. Thank you for reading this.

Thank you!! Everything I needed to hear!

Thanks for this. I’ve really been needing this encouragement.

This is a disheartening read. I was a homeschooled child, I'm homeschooling two children while teaching at a private school, virtually. I've worked in 2 states, for school districts and private education. I not only have 2 degrees, I'm in post grad work. At not point have I EVER come across teachers (urban or rural) that sit in the teachers lounge and complain about children and families. At not point in my 15 year career (I'm also a mom of 3) did I ever have colleagues or co-teachers that left their work until the next day. I just got off the phone with my classroom assistant as we prepped our slides for tomorrow. We made several individualized activities for students who she will pull out for one on one. If anything teachers (urban, rural, suburban, virtual, in person, hybrid, public, private, religious. Federal or Tribal) all go above and beyond for their students. I've been keeping track of my hours and I average 60 with my students, and that doesn't include the work I do with my children at home. Teachers become teachers because they care, it's not an easy job and it's not taken lightly. Everyone deserves a break, including homeschool parents and yes, even licensed teachers. I was looking for strategies on how to balance teaching my own children's workload with my school students, not negative and genralized opinions against school teachers inadequacies. This absolutely turned me off toward looking for resources for my family through a network.

Hello I am a mom of 3, ages 2,4 and 6. I have been homeschooled my daughter from preschool to kindergarten and now she’s attending a private Christian school for first grade. I’m currently homeschooling my 4 year old. My desire was always to homeschool but last year we had some family trials that led me to put her in school because I felt I had too much on my plate. During that trial I felt the need to get my bachelors in elementary education so I can pursue a teaching career. But now that things have gotten calmer in the home, I feel the need to return to my desire of homeschooling. I just feel like such a sell out to teach other kids but not teach my own. To be a teacher to other kids and not my own. I also thought being a school teacher would probably be easier then homeschooling but I’m starting to think that’s not true. Can you share some insight or advice?

I like your Christian school tips. I need to get my kids into a good private school. I'll have to do some research on the schools in my neighborhood.

This really made public school teachers sound awful. Most actually do care. Yes teachers, are stressed, and are allowed to vent, as I assume most parents are as well, (this article seems to be a response to precisely that) in any case, public school teachers do care about your children- many have literally given their lives for your children. Just get it had to be said. 🙏🏽💕

This is great. Thank you! Many times, I just wanted to give up and put my kids back to public school, but it's been two years almost and we are still homeschooling!

I really needed this post thank you. Just when I felt like I was failing them because they weren’t understanding the work and had to repeat it . I’m only on year 3 and doing what’s best for them and what works best. I feel my kids get angry when they don’t get it and get discouraged and that’s when it gets difficult. I appreciate this post so much.

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Homeschooling — Why Homeschooling is Better than Public Schools

Why Homeschooling is Better than Public Schools

• Categories: Homeschooling Public School

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Words: 1308 |

Published: Oct 2, 2020

Words: 1308 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Works Cited

• Clemmitt, M. (2014). Homeschooling. CQ Researcher, 24(42), 1005-1028.
• Liu, F., & Shrum, L. J. (2002). What is interactivity and is it always such a good thing? Implications of definition, person, and situation for the influence of interactivity on advertising effectiveness. Journal of Advertising, 31(4), 53-64.
• Online, blended and distance education in schools. (2015). Routledge.
• Ray, B. D. (2017). Research facts on homeschooling. National Home Education Research Institute.
• Riley, K. J. (2015). The costs of homeschooling. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(3), 54-58.
• Smedley, T. C. (2018). Advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. Nova Science Publishers.
• Thomas, J. B. (2016). Homeschooling: Advantages and disadvantages. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: E Economics, 16(6).
• Wichers, M. (2001). Qualitative research on homeschooling. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(3), 1-17.
• Wizner, S. (2016). Homeschooling: Back to the future? Educational Leadership, 74(7), 60-64.
• Wurzel, J. S. (2017). Homeschooling in the United States: An exploratory study. Journal of School Choice, 11(1), 23-42.

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Homeschooling vs. Public School: An Epic Compare & Contrast Essay Writing Sample

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Plunge into an insightful comparison between homeschooling and public schooling. This model essay delves into the pros and cons of both educational approaches, presenting arguments in a balanced and engaging manner.

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Educators can use this essay as a dynamic teaching tool, showcasing how to effectively compare and contrast two subjects. It’s a perfect example for teaching structure, argument development and critical thinking.

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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.

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Public Schools vs Homeschooling: Which Is Better?

By Eric Eng

In today’s rapidly changing society, the necessity for a quality education that equips our children to face the challenges of the future confidently can’t be overstated. It’s crucial to find the right learning environment for your child, a place where they can flourish both academically and socially.

The traditional institution of public schools and the more flexible solution of homeschooling are both viable options in this regard. Which one, though, is a better fit for your child? This article offers an in-depth comparison of public schools vs homeschooling, aiming to provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the two educational approaches.

Understanding Public Schools

Public schools are the cultural norm for child education in many regions of the world and have a structured system. These institutions function under a system that is often regulated by local and federal government bodies. Let’s examine the structure of public education and what it entails for the students.

When we delve into the structure of public education, we find a fascinating web of interconnected elements that shape the learning experience for students. Public schools follow a standardized curriculum designed to accommodate all students, irrespective of their individual skills or future prospects. This approach ensures that every child has access to a well-rounded education that prepares them for the challenges of the future.

Usually, the curriculum is divided into core subjects, such as Maths, Science, and English, along with optional electives based on the grade of the student. This diverse range of subjects allows students to explore their interests and develop a broad knowledge base. From learning about the laws of physics to analyzing the works of Shakespeare, public schools provide a rich tapestry of academic opportunities.

Assessments and exams are also regularly conducted to measure a student’s progress and understanding of the material. These evaluations can often be high-stakes, affecting a student’s future opportunities for higher education. However, they also serve as a valuable tool for self-reflection and growth, allowing students to identify areas for improvement and celebrate their achievements.

Benefits of Public Schooling

Public schools serve as a melting pot of diverse cultures, races, and socio-economic backgrounds, thereby fostering social development among students. In the hallways and classrooms of these institutions, students learn to communicate, collaborate, and interact with a multitude of peers, promoting a broader perspective on life. The friendships formed in public schools often transcend boundaries, creating lifelong bonds that celebrate the beauty of diversity.

Additionally, many schools offer resources such as a variety of clubs , extracurricular activities, and opportunities for community involvement that can enhance a child’s overall development.

From joining a robotics club to participating in a school play, these extracurricular activities provide students a platform to explore their passions, develop new skills, and build a sense of belonging. This aspect becomes particularly significant when considering the advantages of public schools vs homeschooling.

Public schools also offer a structured and standardized curriculum. They provide students with the chance to measure their skills against a recognized standard and potentially prepare them for university and employment applications. The clear guidelines and expectations set by the curriculum enable students to set goals, track their progress, and strive for excellence.

Challenges in Public Schools

Public schools , however, are not without their issues. One of the most significant disadvantages is the high student-to-teacher ratio, which often reduces the individual attention a child receives. In a classroom filled with eager minds, it can be challenging for teachers to provide personalized guidance to every student.

Efforts are being made to address this issue, with innovative teaching methods and support systems being implemented to ensure that every child receives the attention they deserve.

Furthermore, the uniform curriculum might not cater to every student’s learning style or pace. Each child is unique, with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some may excel in mathematics while struggling with language arts, while others may thrive in creative pursuits but find science challenging.

Recognizing and accommodating these differences is a constant challenge for public schools as they strive to provide an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all.

Bullying, peer pressure, and other social issues are also prevalent in public school settings, which can affect a child’s mental health and overall well-being. According to several studies, these problems can negatively influence an adolescent’s academic and personal growth.

Schools are working tirelessly to create safe and nurturing environments, implementing anti-bullying programs, fostering a culture of empathy and respect, and providing counseling services to support students through their emotional journeys.

As we explore the world of public schools, it becomes evident that these institutions are more than just buildings filled with classrooms. They are vibrant communities where children learn, grow, and discover their potential. While challenges exist, the dedication and passion of educators, parents, and students continue to shape public education and pave the way for a brighter future.

Unpacking Homeschooling

Homeschooling, which involves teaching children at home, usually by parents or tutors, is steadily gaining popularity worldwide. So, let’s unpack homeschooling and explore how it functions, its benefits, and potential drawbacks.

Homeschooling is not a new concept; in fact, it has been practiced for centuries. Before the establishment of formal schooling systems, parents were the primary educators of their children. Today, homeschooling has evolved into a well-structured and organized educational approach that provides numerous advantages for both parents and students.

The Homeschooling Approach

Homeschooling undertakes a precise, flexible, and personalized approach to learning. The curriculum can be tailored to suit a child’s individual needs, learning style, and pace of learning. Given its one-on-one nature, homeschooling ensures the child gets their tutor’s full attention during their learning sessions.

Unlike traditional classrooms, homeschooling allows for a more hands-on and experiential learning experience. Students have the freedom to explore their interests in-depth, conduct experiments, and engage in real-life applications of the subjects they are studying. This approach fosters a love for learning and encourages critical thinking skills.

The assessment methods in homeschooling are usually project-based or portfolio-based, focusing less on grades and more on a child’s comprehension of the material. This approach allows students to showcase their understanding through creative projects, presentations, and practical demonstrations, which sets it apart in the public schools vs homeschooling discussion.

Advantages of Homeschooling

The most significant advantage of homeschooling is the provision of a highly customized academic approach. It enables children to learn at their own pace, delve deeper into their interests, and bypass formalities that might not be necessarily enriching. This flexibility allows students to excel in areas they are passionate about and spend more time on challenging subjects.

Furthermore, homeschooling facilitates a strong bond between the child and parent, nurturing an environment of trust and mutual respect. The close relationship between the student and their primary educator fosters open communication, personalized guidance, and a deep understanding of the child’s strengths and weaknesses.

Additional benefits include the ability to avoid negative school environments, such as bullying and peer pressure. Homeschooled students can focus on their studies without distractions and develop a positive self-image. Moreover, homeschooling offers flexibility in shaping the child’s schedule. Students can pursue extracurricular activities, hobbies, and community service without compromising their education.

Potential Drawbacks of Homeschooling

However, homeschooling comes with its set of challenges. The most apparent disadvantage is the social development aspect. The absence of daily interaction with a diverse group of students – a natural environment for social skill development – may not be readily available.

To counter this, homeschooling families often participate in co-op programs, sports teams, and community activities to provide socialization opportunities for their children.

Another significant drawback includes parental demands; as parents are responsible for educating their children, they must make a substantial time commitment that is not always feasible due to full-time jobs, other children, household duties, and so on. Despite the challenges, many parents find creative ways to balance their responsibilities and provide a quality education for their children.

Additionally, the parent must also be capable of teaching the complete curriculum, which can be daunting. However, with the abundance of educational resources available today, including online courses, textbooks, and educational software, parents can access the necessary tools to support their teaching efforts and ensure a well-rounded education for their children.

Key Differences: Public Schools vs Homeschooling

Having immersed ourselves in the basics of both methods, let’s now focus on some of the primary differences.

Curriculum Comparison

When it comes to curriculum, public schools offer a structured and standardized approach. They follow a set curriculum that is designed to cater to all students equally. This ensures that all students receive the same level of education and have access to the same resources and opportunities.

On the other hand, homeschooling provides a tailored curriculum that is specifically designed to cater to individual learning styles, interests, and speeds. Homeschooling parents have the flexibility to choose and create their own curriculum, allowing them to customize their child’s education. This personalized approach can be beneficial for students who have unique learning needs or who excel in certain subjects.

For example, if a child is particularly interested in science, homeschooling allows them to delve deeper into the subject and explore advanced concepts at an earlier age. Similarly, if a child is struggling with a particular subject, homeschooling allows for more focused attention and additional support to help them overcome their challenges.

Socialization Differences

One of the main concerns often raised about homeschooling is the lack of socialization opportunities. Public schools provide a plethora of opportunities for social interactions among peers, which is essential for social growth and development.

However, it is important to note that homeschooling does not mean complete isolation. There are various ways in which homeschooled children can socialize and interact with others. Homeschooling communities often organize group activities, field trips, and co-op classes where children can meet and socialize with other homeschoolers. Additionally, extracurricular activities such as sports, music lessons, and art classes can also provide opportunities for socialization.

Moreover, homeschooling allows children to interact with people of different ages and backgrounds, as they are not limited to interacting only with their peers. This can foster a more diverse and inclusive social environment where children learn to communicate and interact with people of all ages, including adults.

Flexibility and Personalization

Public schools operate on a strict schedule, with set timings for classes, breaks, and other activities. This structure can be beneficial for some students, as it teaches them discipline and time management skills. However, it can also be limiting for those who thrive in a more flexible learning environment.

Homeschooling offers flexibility in terms of study timings and methods. Parents can choose the best time of day for their child to study, taking into consideration their individual preferences and energy levels. This flexibility allows children to learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their learning style.

Moreover, personalization is inherent in homeschooling. With one-on-one instruction, homeschooling parents can tailor their teaching methods to match their child’s unique learning needs. They can adapt the curriculum, use different teaching techniques, and provide additional support or challenges as needed. This personalized approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the material and a more enjoyable learning experience.

In contrast, public schools have a more rigid structure, with a standardized curriculum and teaching methods that may not cater to the individual needs and preferences of every student. While this approach ensures consistency and equal access to education, it may not be the best fit for every child.

Factors to Consider: Public Schools vs Homeschooling

When deciding the best education method for your child, it’s crucial to consider several factors.

Assessing Your Child’s Needs

Firstly, a child’s needs, learning style, and abilities are vital factors. If they are quick learners, display self-motivation, or have specific academic interests, homeschooling might be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if your child thrives in a structured environment with a competitive spirit, public schools may be the better option.

Evaluating Your Family’s Lifestyle

Your family’s lifestyle and commitments are also crucial deciding factors. Remember, homeschooling requires a substantial commitment of time and effort from parents. If your family can’t invest the necessary time and energy or if you value the convenience of a public school’s structured timings, public schools may be best.

Considering Long-Term Implications

Lastly, think about the long-term implications of your choice. Public schools provide a recognized diploma, which can be advantageous for university applications or certain jobs. Homeschooling, while offering flexibility, may require more effort to prove the quality of education for similar applications.

To sum up, both public schools and homeschooling have their strengths and weaknesses. The choosing factor, ultimately, depends on your child’s needs, your family’s resources, and your long-term educational goals for your child.

Having all the necessary information is important before choosing any course of action. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully navigating the challenging admissions process.

Consult with AdmissionSight and find out what we can do to help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are sufficiently aware and well-prepared for the application process.

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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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