Do Homeschoolers Typically Have a Higher GPA?

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In the 2020-2021 school year, an estimated 3.7 million K-12 students participated in homeschooling. And as significant potential policy changes push forward in many public and private schools, we can likely expect to see more and more homeschoolers as the years go by. When considering the benefits of homeschooling compared to traditional schooling, comparing academic achievement can be helpful.

Homeschoolers typically have a higher college GPA and standardized test scores compared to public school students. Several varying factors restrict reliable comparisons to traditional school students at the high school level, but studies suggest homeschoolers perform better academically, overall.

This article will discuss how homeschoolers perform academically in high school and college compared to their traditionally schooled peers. In addition, I’ll explore factors that contribute to a homeschooler’s success and other notable homeschool statistics.

Academic Performance of Homeschoolers in High School

When viewing research about the academic performance of homeschoolers in high school, it’s apparent they have significant success. But before diving into that aspect, it’s helpful to understand the requirements for homeschool students.

Requirements for Homeschoolers

The requirements for homeschoolers vary from state to state. To find information about the requirements at a specific state, it’s best to do an online search of “your state + homeschool requirements.”

One particularly helpful website with quality information on homeschool requirements is HSLDA.org (Home School Legal Defense Association). For instance, a search of Texas on the website shows the following information at first glance:

Options for Homeschooling:	One
School Required for Ages:	6 – 18
Notification Required:	No
Teacher Qualifications:	No
State Mandated Subjects:	Yes
Assessment requirements:	No
Immunization requirements:	No

It’s important to note, regardless of what state a homeschooler resides in, high school students must maintain grades for a transcript. The transcript details student achievement across coursework.

If applying to colleges, the transcript is a requirement. However, various additional situations encompass needing a high school transcript. Job applications, the military, and discounts are a few examples.

Homeschoolers’ GPAs in High School

High school students in traditional public and private schools have GPAs, as do most high school homeschoolers. GPAs for homeschoolers are included on their transcripts, should they wish to enroll in a traditional school, apply to college, or need a transcript for another reason.

The homeschool guidance counselor, (an adult in charge of the homeschool learning), must determine how to record the grades while following the state’s regulations, whether they be weighted vs. unweighted, cumulative vs. end of the year, or otherwise.

Here’s a 10 minute YouTube video to provide further guidance on how to calculate a homeschool GPA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYN8761JW8o

How to Calculate Homeschool GPA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYN8761JW8o)

High school GPA comparisons between homeschool and traditional school are largely unavailable due to variables across states, GPA types, and school types. While this means of comparison doesn’t provide much information, many other components of educational achievement can still be compared.

Homeschoolers’ Scores on Standardized Tests

Standardized tests provide a useful comparison point. Because all who take the test are assessed by the same standards, it gives a clearer picture of achievement across different areas. While helpful, it’s essential to note that standardized tests aren’t the ‘end all be all’ of academics. Nonetheless, they do provide a valuable snapshot.

According to ACT.org, ACT scores for homeschooled students were higher than those for public school students. The scores are trending towards a wider gap with time. The difference was 1.4 score points in 2007 to 2.2 score points in 2014. It’s also worth mentioning that ACT scores for private school students were the highest.
Homeschooled students also score higher on the SAT. A study by Dr. Brian Ray found homeschool students’ SAT scores were 0.61 standard deviations higher in reading, 0.26 standard deviations higher in mathematics, and 0.42 standard deviations higher in writing compared to all college-bound students taking the SAT.

As evidenced, homeschoolers perform well on standardized tests in high school. Indeed, with hard work, resources, and a solid support system, the possibilities are endless for our students.

You may wonder if this academic success translates to the college environment. The following section will explore aspects of college success and how homeschooled students do.

Academic Performance of Homeschoolers in College

The success of a typical homeschooler’s academic career continues into the collegiate level. This is witnessed through college acceptance rates and college GPAs.

College Acceptance of Homeschoolers

More and more homeschoolers are attending college. The growing number of homeschoolers and their high test scores contribute to this increase.

The National Home Education Research Institute states that homeschoolers go to and succeed in college at an equal or higher rate compared to their traditionally schooled peers.

In addition, anecdotal evidence from many homeschooling guidance counselors supports favorable conditions for homeschoolers in college. This NBC News article shares the experiences of homeschool guidance counselors and homeschool students while applying to college. One dean of admission and financial aid commented that homeschool applicants stand out in a positive way due to their unique learning experiences.

Homeschoolers generally participate in the same college application process as traditionally schooled students. Some colleges may request more details from a homeschooler to supplement the standard application, and some colleges have admissions staff specifically there to support homeschool applicants.

Collecting learning artifacts, exploring interests, and participating in clubs throughout teenage years are crucial for building a homeschooler’s portfolio for college admissions.

Homeschoolers’ GPAs in College

Comparing high school GPAs between homeschooled students and those who aren’t is difficult, but you can do it easily for college GPAs. As with other data points, the results are favorable for those with a homeschooling background.

The study published by the National Home Education Research Institute tracked the college GPAs of both students from a homeschooled and non-homeschooled background. The results found the average GPA of a traditional school student was 2.69, and the average GPA of a homeschooled student was 3.45. The difference of .76 is significant!

Another study tracked the GPA of college students from freshman year to senior year. This interesting perspective demonstrates the longevity of differences in scores. Students who had homeschooled earned an average GPA of 3.37 at the end of freshman year, while the average GPA of other students was 3.08. The study assessed the average GPA of the same groups of students at the end of their senior year – 3.41 for homeschooled and 3.16 for others.

Therefore, it’s evident that homeschooled students are prepared to take on the challenges of a college education.

Factors That Contribute to a Homeschooler’s Success

The academic success of homeschoolers in different environments is evident. What factors contribute to this success? As with all complex topics, there isn’t one specific answer. Instead, many aspects result in successful homeschool education.

Factors that attribute to homeschool success include:

Individualized instruction. The student to adult (serving as a guidance counselor) ratio is extremely low with homeschooling. Due to the favorable ratio, there’s a higher likelihood of the student receiving instruction in the way that best suits them. Individualizing instruction appeals to different learning styles.
Freedom to explore interests. The homeschooling schedule isn’t confined to a traditional school day. Therefore, the homeschooled student has more time and opportunity to discover and excel in passions.
Content is paced to ability levels. While the curriculum of a traditional-paced environment is often at a class or group level, homeschooling allows each student to work at their own pace. Both students who master concepts quickly and students who may need more time to practice a concept benefit from this aspect of homeschooling.
Involvement in the community or educational programs. Opportunities to take part in homeschool co-ops, dual credit courses, and even public school programs (depending on the state) are provided to homeschool students. Variety in educational offerings provides students with differing viewpoints and learning experiences.

Other Notable Homeschool Statistics

Not all advantages of homeschooling are encompassed by standardized test results and grades. A few additional homeschool statistics that demonstrate academic achievement include:

1/4 of homeschooled students have enrolled a grade above their age level placement.
67% of homeschoolers are college graduates.
98% of homeschooled students participate in an average of 5 extracurricular activities.

This data supports the breadth of educational benefits of homeschooling. Homeschooling doesn’t only assist with academic achievement. It also provides benefits outside of coursework. After all, education encompasses the whole student and not simply mastering standards.

Final Thoughts

In the U.S., the education options available include public school and homeschool. Many may wonder how the quality of education between the two compares. As evidenced by multiple studies and anecdotal support, homeschooled students achieve high academic success with high school grades, standardized testing, and collegiate education.

While it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact answer as to why homeschoolers are such high achievers, notable factors include the personalization of education and the freedom to invest in individual passions. For parents considering changing to homeschool education, rest assured that academics typically trend comparable to, if not superior to, public school counterparts.