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New Study Shows Homeschoolers Excel Academically
8/12/2009
LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)
Homeschoolers, on average, scored 37% above public school students on standardized achievement tests.
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.
PURCELLVILLE, Virginia (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has released a new study: the Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics, conducted by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute, which surveyed 11,739 homeschooled students for the 2007-08 academic school year.
The results were consistent with previous studies on homeschool academic achievement and showed that homeschoolers, on average, scored 37 percentile points above public school students on standardized achievement tests.
"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 Progress Report drew homeschoolers from 15 independent testing services and is the most comprehensive study of homeschool academic achievement ever completed.
While the academic results are impressive, the study also showed that the achievement gaps common to public schools were not found in the homeschool community.
Homeschooled boys (87th percentile) and girls (88th percentile) scored equally well; the income level of parents did not appreciably affect the results (household income under $35,000: 85th percentile - household income over $70,000: 89th percentile); and while parent education level did have some impact, even children whose parents did not have college degrees 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 4% of the school-aged population, and homeschooling is growing at around 7% per year.
The results were consistent with previous studies on homeschool academic achievement and showed that homeschoolers, on average, scored 37 percentile points above public school students on standardized achievement tests.
"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 Progress Report drew homeschoolers from 15 independent testing services and is the most comprehensive study of homeschool academic achievement ever completed.
While the academic results are impressive, the study also showed that the achievement gaps common to public schools were not found in the homeschool community.
Homeschooled boys (87th percentile) and girls (88th percentile) scored equally well; the income level of parents did not appreciably affect the results (household income under $35,000: 85th percentile - household income over $70,000: 89th percentile); and while parent education level did have some impact, even children whose parents did not have college degrees 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 4% of the school-aged population, and homeschooling is growing at around 7% per year.
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LifeSiteNews.com is a non-profit Internet service dedicated to issues of culture, life, and family. It was launched in September 1997. LifeSiteNews Daily News reports and information pages are used by numerous organizations and publications, educators, professionals and political, religious and life and family organization leaders and grassroots people across North America and internationally.
Comments
Scott's comment has me puzzled: It sounded in his opening line as though he was going to oppose the superiority of home schooling, but in doing so he practically makes a complete defense of it (unless I missed something).
For example: He acknowledges the drastic financial inefficiency of public schooling; he acknowledges the intellectual superiority of homeschooling parents; he make an irrelevant observation that homeschooled families tend to be larger; he acknowledges that homeschooling families are more affluent; etc.
My question is: What is there to criticize? Sounds to me like we need to mandate abolition of public schools for the better of all!
For example: He acknowledges the drastic financial inefficiency of public schooling; he acknowledges the intellectual superiority of homeschooling parents; he make an irrelevant observation that homeschooled families tend to be larger; he acknowledges that homeschooling families are more affluent; etc.
My question is: What is there to criticize? Sounds to me like we need to mandate abolition of public schools for the better of all!
Sean | 9/17/2009
Scott, sounds like your a member of ACORN.
George | 9/17/2009
Sounds like your from ACORN, Scott!!
George | 9/17/2009
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