Homeschoolers described in new report from NCES

The number of homeschooled students in the United States more than doubled between 1999 and 2012, according to estimates released in a new report. In 2012, there were an estimated 1.8 million homeschooled students in the U.S, up from 850,000 in 1999, when the figures were first reported.

The National Center for Education Statistics released Homeschooling in the United States: 2012 today (November 1), which is based on data collected as part of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). The NHES collects nationally representative data that can be used to estimate the number of homeschoolers in the U.S. and describe certain characteristics of homeschooled students, including demographics, sources of curriculum, online course taking, and participation in math and science subject areas.

Among the findings in the report:

• 91 percent of homeschooled students had parents who said their concern about the environment at schools was an important reason for homeschooling their child;
• 77 percent of homeschooled students had parents who reported using a homeschooling catalog, publisher, or individual who specializes in homeschooling materials as a source of curriculum in 2012; and
• Among the mathematics subjects, 88 percent of high-school aged homeschooled students were taught basic algebra, 35 percent were taught advanced algebra, 54 percent were taught geometry, 10 percent were taught calculus, and 14 percent were taught probability.