New Study Finds Homeschoolers Far Exceed Expectations

By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent

The first generation of homeschooled Americans are coming of age. A new study shows that they are not only as successful as their traditionally schooled counterparts, but they far exceed them in many areas like civic involvement, job satisfaction, personal happiness and financial satisfaction.
The study was conducted by Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), and was based on the responses of 7,300 adults who had been homeschooled. Of this number, 5,000 had been home-educated for at least seven years.
This first-ever study puts to rest the greatest concern about homeschooled Americans — that they will lack the necessary social skills to succeed in life. The study does not support that hypothesis. In fact, homeschooled adults actually fared higher in several areas of social activity than their non-homeschooled peers.
For instance, 71 percent of the adults surveyed say they participate in an ongoing community service activity, such as volunteer work. Only 37 percent of adults non-homeschooled said the same. Homeschool grads were also more inclined to join organizations in their community, church, union or professional life.
They were also twice as likely to have voted in an election within the last five years than their counterparts in the general U.S. population. After age 25, the percentage of active voters among homeschoolers never falls below 95 percent, versus only 53 percent among traditionally schooled Americans in the same age bracket.
Homeschooled adults also reveal a surprising interest in politics in general. “Seventy-six percent of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18 and 24 voted within the last five years, compared to only 29 percent of the relevant U.S. population,” the report states. “The numbers of homeschool graduates who vote are even greater in the older age brackets, with voting levels not falling below 95 percent compared to a high of 53 percent for the corresponding U.S. populace.”
Another surprising result is the education levels achieved by homeschooled versus non-homeschooled adults. More than 74 percent of the home-educated between the ages of 18 and 24 have taken college-level courses, compared to 46 percent of the general U.S. population. Almost half of the respondents in this study said they were full-time students at the time of the survey.
Perhaps the most significant difference between those homeschooled and those who attended traditional schools is their level of enjoyment of life. More than 58 percent of adults educated at home said they were very happy with their life, compared to only 27 percent of traditionally educated adults. Homeschooled adults are almost twice as likely to be happy with their jobs and to consider life exciting. More than 48 percent say they are “pretty well satisfied” rather than “more or less satisfied” with their financial situation. Only 23 percent of non-homeschooled adults reported the same level of satisfaction, with the majority reporting that they are “more or less satisfied” with their income levels.
Parents who might be wondering if they’re doing the right thing in homeschooling their children will be gratified to hear that 95 percent of homeschool grads say they are glad to have been educated at home, with 66 percent saying they feel it has given them an advantage in life.
Perhaps the best testimony of all is seen in the number of homeschooled adults who chose to homeschool their own kids — a whopping 74 percent.
“The results of Dr. Ray’s cutting-edge research defuse long-held false criticisms of homeschool and seem to indicate that homeschooling produces successful adults who are actively involved in their communities and who continue to value education for themselves and their children.”

To order a copy of the report, visit www.hslda.org or call the Home School Legal Defense Association at (540) 338-5600.