More Virginia Parents Opt for Homeschooling, Data Reveals
Rising Trend in Homeschooling Across Virginia and Beyond
Recent data highlights a growing trend in homeschooling across the United States, with significant increases reported in several states. In Virginia, the number of students being homeschooled saw a slight but notable rise of over 4% during the last school year. According to analysis by 7News using data from the Virginia Department of Education, more than 53,000 students were homeschooled in the 2023-24 academic year. This number increased to over 56,000 in the following year.
Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President and Senior Research Scientist at the Educational Policy Institute, explained that homeschooling has been on the rise for decades. However, the practice experienced a significant boost during the pandemic, and the numbers continue to climb. He noted that parents choose homeschooling for various reasons, including safety concerns, religious beliefs, and dissatisfaction with the quality of traditional schools.
Johns Hopkins researchers have also observed a growth in homeschooling, reporting an increase of more than 5% in the 2024-25 school year. To gain a broader perspective, 7News reviewed data from the Maryland State Department of Education, which showed that the state had over 40,000 homeschooled students in 2024. This number rose to more than 42,000 in the following year.
Interestingly, Washington, D.C., is one of only four areas in the country where homeschooling numbers decreased during the 2024-25 school year, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Education.
Challenges and Success Stories
Tameka Green, a parent from Southeast D.C., shared her experience of homeschooling her granddaughter for several years. She highlighted one of the main challenges she faced: a lack of community support. Finding other homeschooling families in the area proved difficult, but she found that adjusting her approach made a big difference.
Green emphasized that shifting her mindset from teaching like a professional educator to teaching more like a parent helped improve the learning experience for her granddaughter. “After I released the burden on myself to teach like a professional teacher but teach more like a parent teaching her child, it went really well. Things got better. She and I were able to communicate on what was working for her and what wasn’t working,” she said.
This school year, Green’s granddaughter, Ali, enrolled in a public school in D.C. and is thriving. Her success story illustrates how homeschooling can be a viable option for some families, even if they eventually transition back to traditional schooling.
Understanding the Factors Behind the Growth
The increase in homeschooling reflects a broader shift in educational preferences among parents. While some choose homeschooling for religious or philosophical reasons, others are motivated by concerns about school safety, curriculum quality, or the need for a more personalized learning environment.
Experts suggest that the pandemic played a crucial role in normalizing homeschooling as an alternative to traditional education. As schools adapted to remote learning, many parents became more involved in their children’s education, leading to a greater appreciation for the flexibility and control that homeschooling offers.
Despite the overall upward trend, some regions have seen a decline in homeschooling. Washington, D.C., is one such example, raising questions about the factors influencing these changes. Researchers are continuing to monitor these trends to better understand the long-term impact on education systems across the country.
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