2024 Homeschool Stats in U.S. : Which States Top the Charts?
Mia Watanabe
October 20, 2024
Most homeschool students are in California and Texas, while Alaska has the highest percentage.
despite these numbers, Homeschoolers are hidden in plain sight.
We don’t walk around with tags on our shirts saying,
Happy Homeschool Mom
Hey, I’m a homeschool family!
So, people often give us puzzled looks when they find out we’re homeschoolers, unsure of what to think.
Let’s explore U.S. 2024 Census statistics. The data was collected from July to August, 2024 There are 4.6 million homeschool students in the U.S. Homeschoolers aren’t rare like panda bears; We are more like rabbits—quietly growing in numbers and a lot more common than you’d expect.
Overview of Homeschool Students in the U.S. (2024 Stats)
According to the 2024 Census, there are 4.6 million K-12 homeschool students in the U.S.. It is making up 5.2% of all students.
That's down from the peak of 11% during COVID, but still higher than the pre-COVID rate of 3.3% according to John Hopkins Homeschool Hub
Many students and parents decided not to return to traditional schools after COVID. Instead, they chose to stick with homeschooling.
As a result, homeschooling is now the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., while public school enrollment continues to decline, according to Hamilton Project. Then, which state has the most homeschool students?
States with the Most Homeschool Students
States with the Most Homeschool Students
It’s no surprise that California and Texas have the most homeschool students with their big populations.
But less obvious are North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
North Carolina actually has almost as many homeschoolers as California. Pennsylvania is close to Texas in numbers.
States with the Highest Percentage of Homeschoolers
States with the Highest Percentage of Homeschool Students
Alaska takes the top spot for homeschooling. After peaking at 27.5% during COVID, 15% of students are still homeschooled in 2024, up from 10% in 2023.
With Alaska’s spread-out population, it makes sense. Plus, the government’s generous homeschool support fund helps.
Other states with over 10% of students homeschooling include Delaware (DE), North Carolina (NC), Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), and Montana (MT).
In these states, Homeschooling is close to hitting a critical threshold! Here’s the Google Doc where you can check out the full data.
Now, let’s take a look at the states where homeschooling isn’t as popular.
States with the Fewest Homeschool Students
States with the Fewest Homeschool Students
D.C. has just 253 homeschool students.
Are homeschoolers being put on a bus and sent to Delaware!? If you know why D.C. has so few homeschoolers, let me know!
Second and third place go to New Hampshire and Wyoming. They’re just not big states. But their homeschool percentages aren’t bad—3.66% and 6.02%.
How about the percentage of homeschool students?
States with the Lowest Percentage of Homeschool Students
States with the Lowest Percentage of Homeschool Students
D.C. has the lowest percentage of homeschoolers—just 0.22%. I seriously wonder if they’re all hopping on a bus to Delaware!
Next up is New York at 1.74%. Homeschooling there is tough. The paperwork and regulations make it one of the hardest places to homeschool.
Then there’s Illinois. This one makes me question the census data. Homeschooling isn’t that strict there, and freedu.us has tons of users from Illinois. The numbers seem off. Maybe the data’s missing something!
Factors Driving Homeschool Growth in Homeschool
A Washington Post study points out why homeschooling is booming. It’s no longer just for religious families—parents are opting in for all kinds of reasons. Some are frustrated with public schools, citing safety, overcrowding, or the quality of education. Homeschooling gives them the freedom to teach their kids their way.
States like Arizona and Alaska make it even easier by offering solid support. Plus, online learning has opened up a world of resources.
Strong homeschool communities are also helping. In cities, you’ll find co-ops, learning centers, micro-schools, and Facebook groups. It’s easy for homeschool families to find their tribe.
Founder of Free Homeschool Transcript Maker.
Started homeschooling after my son came home from school in tears every day. Homeschooled for 10 years, learning as I went.
Built a free homeschool transcript service when I couldn’t find one.
Now helping over 100 families at https://freedu.us/
Founder of Free Homeschool Transcript Maker.
Started homeschooling after my son came home from school in tears every day. Homeschooled for 10 years, learning as I went.
Built a free homeschool transcript service when I couldn’t find one.
Now helping over 100 families at https://freedu.us/