Homeschooling is surging across New York as more parents choose to educate their children at home, with the number of homeschooled students in New York City rising by more than 200% over the past 15 years.

The latest 2025-2026 figures analyzed by The Post show that 53,905 children across New York State are now being homeschooled, more than triple the number recorded in the 2009-10 school year. In New York City alone, more than 14,000 children are being educated at home.

The growth has outpaced other forms of school enrollment. Since 2023, homeschooling has increased by nearly 8%, compared with 3.1% growth in charter-school attendance.

Why Are NYC Parents Choosing Homeschooling?
For many families, the decision is driven by frustration with traditional classrooms and concerns about the quality of education their children receive.

Parents interviewed by The Post cited overcrowded classrooms, academic performance and a desire for greater flexibility as major reasons for choosing homeschooling.

Adrienne Jensen, a 45-year-old Upper West Side mother of four, initially viewed homeschooling as an unusual choice. She eventually decided that educating her children herself would give the family greater control over their education.

Jensen currently homeschools three of her four children. Her family regularly uses museums, parks and other New York City institutions as part of their education, allowing the children to learn outside a traditional classroom.

For Jensen, the appeal eventually became less about academics and more about time, freedom and the ability to shape learning around each child’s interests.

Parents Point to Crowded Classrooms and Academic Concerns
Homeschooling advocates say traditional classrooms can make it difficult for teachers to meet the needs of every student.

Laurie Block Spigel, a longtime New York homeschooling advocate, said parents frequently approach her because their children are unhappy in large classroom environments.

A recent analysis cited by The Post found that in 906 of more than 1,500 NYC public schools, fewer than half of students passed state exams in math, reading or both last year. About one-third of those schools have appeared on state accountability lists since 2012.

Those numbers have fueled concerns among parents who believe their children may receive more individualized attention through homeschooling.

More Families Want Flexibility and Family Time
Academic concerns are not the only reason parents are making the switch.

A 2025 survey by the New York City Department of Education found that 21% of homeschooling parents believed their children could receive a more rigorous education at home than in public schools.

A separate 2019 National Center for Education Statistics survey found that 80.3% of homeschooling parents cited concerns about the school environment, while 72.6% pointed to dissatisfaction with academic instruction. More than half also said they wanted to spend more time together as a family.

For some parents, homeschooling has become a way to build education around their children’s interests rather than following a fixed school schedule.

Is Homeschooling Better for Children?
Research cited in the report suggests that homeschooled children can perform as well as or better than traditionally schooled students academically, with some studies also finding positive social and developmental outcomes.

But experts warn that homeschooling also comes with challenges.

Clinical psychologists emphasized that children’s social development involves more than simply interacting with other children. Traditional schools provide opportunities to work with different teachers, participate in group activities, resolve conflicts and develop relationships outside the family.

That means parents considering homeschooling must weigh both the potential benefits and what their children could lose by leaving a traditional school environment.

Homeschooling Comes With Strict Requirements
Although parents in New York do not need a teaching certificate or college degree to homeschool their children, they must still follow state requirements.

Families must notify their local school district, submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan, track attendance and provide four quarterly progress reports each year.

Children must receive the equivalent of 180 days of instruction each school year, with required instructional hours and subjects including English, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, art and music. Annual assessment requirements also apply.

Despite those requirements, some parents say the independence is precisely what makes homeschooling attractive.

For families such as Jensen’s, the biggest advantage is the ability to decide what their children study, how they learn and how their progress is measured.

NYC Homeschooling Trend Continues to Grow
The rapid rise in homeschooling reflects a broader shift in how some New York families view traditional education.

With more than 53,000 homeschooled children statewide and more than 14,000 in New York City, homeschooling has moved well beyond a niche educational choice.

For parents who feel their children are struggling in crowded classrooms or who want greater control over their education, learning at home is increasingly becoming an alternative they are willing to embrace.

Course: NY Post