Homeschooling has always been stigmatized by the general public. People hear the word “homeschool” and automatically imagine awkward, naïve children and teens who have been given a sub-par education and have no social life.

While this may be the case for a few unfortunate children, the vast majority of students who have been homeschooled are just as well, if not better educated and adjusted as any student who attended a public or private school. 

According to an article by the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooling has been growing in popularity over the past years. These students typically perform 15 to 30 points higher on standardized tests than students who attended public school. Additionally, they usually score above average on SAT and ACT tests, measure above average on emotional, social and psychological development tests and are generally more politically tolerant, the article states.

Personally, I was homeschooled from preschool through high school. Learning from home allowed for a greater level of flexibility in everyday life, so I was able to play on several sports teams, participate in theatrical shows and perform in musical rehearsals.

During most of my high school years, I studied on my own and taught myself most of the material I needed to graduate. Having an individualized curriculum allowed me to go at my own pace and study topics not considered mainstream. For my high school sciences, for instance, I studied zoology and astronomy instead of physical science. I was even able to skip a grade by studying over the summer, which allowed me to attend college a year early. Every student and family situation is vastly different. For some, attending public school is the best option available. However, if a child seems like they would excel better in a home environment, do not be afraid to take advantage of that option.