What Does the Research Actually Show About Homeschooling?
Major New Homeschool Research Review Released
For many homeschooling parents, especially moms, there’s a familiar tension that can quietly linger in the background of everyday life:
Am I doing enough?
Are my kids really learning what they need?
What about socialization?
Will homeschooling truly prepare them for adulthood?
These questions are understandable—especially as homeschooling continues to receive growing public attention and scrutiny. Friends, relatives, neighbors, and even complete strangers often have opinions about homeschooling. Sometimes those opinions can leave moms feeling defensive, uncertain, or pressured to “prove” that homeschooling works.
That’s why a major new peer-reviewed meta study of homeschool research by NHERI is worth paying attention to.
Recently published in the Peabody Journal of Education, the study titled “A Systematic Review of the Empirical Research on Selected Aspects of Homeschooling: Updated 2017–2026” examines 45 years of homeschool research and is the largest updated review of its kind published in nearly a decade.
The review looked at research related to:
academic achievement
social and emotional development
adult outcomes
family and demographic factors
In other words, it explored many of the very questions homeschool parents have been asking for years.
Homeschooling Research Continues to Show Positive Outcomes
One of the encouraging takeaways from the review is that the body of homeschool research continues to grow—and much of it points toward positive outcomes for homeschooled students.
Over the years, studies have frequently shown that homeschool students tend to perform academically as well as—or often better than—their peers in conventional schools. The review also examined research related to social and emotional development, an area where homeschool families are often unfairly criticized.
While every family and every homeschool experience is different, the research overall paints a far more positive and nuanced picture than many stereotypes suggest.
That matters because homeschooling is not a fringe movement anymore. Millions of families now homeschool for a wide variety of reasons, including academic concerns, safety, flexibility, family relationships, discipleship, and a desire to provide a Christ-centered education.
More Than Test Scores
As Christian homeschoolers, we know education is about far more than academics alone.
We want our children to love God, grow in wisdom, develop strong character, and learn to think biblically about the world around them. We want to cultivate close family relationships and disciple our children intentionally during the short years we have with them at home.
A simple, faith-centered roadmap to help you start homeschooling with confidence
Feeling overwhelmed about how to begin homeschooling? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
A Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling is a free, one-page printable designed to walk new homeschool families through the most important first steps, with clarity, encouragement, and biblical perspective.
This quick-reference guide covers:
Praying for wisdom and direction
Understanding homeschool laws in your state
Protecting your family legally
Finding local support and community
De-schooling after traditional education
Attending homeschool conventions
Choosing curriculum without stress
Whether you’re just starting to explore homeschooling or preparing to take the leap, this guide will help you move forward with confidence—one step at a time.
Perfect for:
New homeschool parents
Families transitioning out of public or private school
Moms looking for a clear, biblical starting point
Download this free printable and take your next step toward a joyful, confident homeschool journey.
Research can be helpful and encouraging—but ultimately, many homeschool parents choose this path because they believe God has called them to it.
Still, it’s reassuring to know that the growing body of evidence continues to support what many homeschool families have experienced firsthand for decades: homeschooling can provide an excellent educational environment for children academically, socially, and emotionally.
Encouragement for Weary Moms
If you’re in a difficult season of homeschooling right now, take heart.
You do not need to create a perfect classroom atmosphere, replicate public school at home, or have every moment perfectly organized in order for your children to thrive.
Faithful homeschooling often looks ordinary:
reading aloud on the couch
working through math lessons at the kitchen table
having meaningful conversations during errands
discipling your children through everyday life
The fruit of homeschooling is usually built slowly over time through consistency, relationship, and faithfulness.
Studies and statistics can certainly be useful, but your daily investment into your children matters more than any headline or criticism from outsiders.
Read the Full Research Review
If you’d like to explore the research for yourself, you can read the full peer-reviewed review here:
A Systematic Review of the Empirical Research on Selected Aspects of Homeschooling: Updated 2017–2026, by Brian D. Ray, Braden Hoelzle, and Douglas Pietersma
We encourage you to share this resource with homeschool friends, co-ops, and groups who may find it helpful
Learn More About Homeschooling
Ready to explore homeschooling for yourself? Watch Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution and get free homeschooling resources, including our Homeschool Survival Kit here.
Find more homeschooling research and statistics at NHERI.org.
