By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
One of the most extensive studies ever taken of homeschooled student achievement found that students schooled at home score, on average, 37 points higher than public school students on standardized achievement tests.
LifeSiteNews.com is reporting that the study, entitled Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics, was conducted by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and surveyed 11,739 students. The results of higher academic achievement levels by homeschoolers over their public school counterparts is consistent with the findings of previous studies.
“These results validate the dedication of hundreds of thousands of homeschool parents who are giving their children the best education possible,” said Michael Smith, president of HSLDA.
The study found that homeschooled boys (87th percentile) and girls (88th percentile) scored equally well and that the income level of their parents had little or no impact on their achievement levels. It also found that parent education levels had some impact, but even children schooled by parents who did not have a college degree scored in the 83rd percentile, which is well above the national average for public school students. Homeschooled children whose parents both had college degrees scored in the 90th percentile.
“Because of the one-on-one instruction homeschoolers receive, we are prepared academically to be productive and contributing members of today’s society,” said Smith.
The average public school spends nearly $10,000 per child per year whereas the Progress Report shows that the average homeschool parent spends about $500 per child per year.
“Homeschooling is a rapidly growing, thriving education movement that is challenging the conventional wisdom about the best way to raise and educate the next generation,” said Smith.
There are an estimated 2 million homeschooled children in the U.S. today, which is about four percent of the school-aged population, and homeschooling is growing at around seven percent per year.
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