Why Homeschool?
Simply put: BECAUSE IT WORKS!!
​
Below, you will find some facts based on decades of research of homeschooling. This includes the long-term affects on parents and children, the effectiveness of homeschool on psychological and mental health, and some of comparison of homeschool students to public and private school curriculum.
78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools (Ray, 2017).
Homeschool serves as a safer alternative education approach for immunocompromised children and children with physical and/or learning disabilities because of the ability to learn at their pace.
Adults who were educated at home participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population (e.g., Seiver & Pope, 2022),
Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not related to their children’s academic achievement.
Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
Choosing Homeschool
People choose homeschool for academic, medical, social, religious, and encironmental reasons just to name a few. Here are just a few facts relating to homeschooling and why so many have chosen to home-educate their children.
87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools (Ray, 2017).
The home-educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests. (The public school average is roughly the 50th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
The balance of research to date suggests that homeschool students may suffer less harm (e.g., abuse, neglect, fatalities) than conventional school students.
Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members. They are commonly involved in activities such as field trips, scouting, 4-H, political drives, church ministry, sports teams, and community volunteer work.
Comparing Public/Private School and Homeschool in Mississippi
Public / Private School
Homeschool
Mississippi diploma requirements
Mississippi districts decide their own paths to a diploma, but all students have a choice between a traditional path (24 credits) or a career path (21 credits).
Parents determine when their student has fulfilled graduation requirements and can issue their own homeschool diploma; students of private/online schools may receive diplomas from those institutions.
Mississippi high school testing requirements
The Subject-Area Testing Program (SATP) requires passing scores in four subject-area tests.
Homeschool students are not subject to testing requirements for graduation.
Mississippi high school transcripts
Created by and kept on file at individual schools.
Homeschool parents may create their own student transcripts, and may include any information they deem pertinent to colleges, military, and/or future workplace organizations.
Mississippi high school course credits
The High School equivalency exam is an alternate to an Mississippi high school diploma. Students of at least 18 years of age are eligible for the test.
The High School equivalency exam is available to homeschoolers, as well. Any IN student of at least 18 years of age is eligible to take the exam.