Public School vs Homeschool – What You Need To Know

Over the past decade, the debate about public school vs homeschool has become more heated than ever. And I want to preface this article by saying that I harbor no bias about either option! I think the best course of action is whatever works best for you.

I also have personal experience with both public and homeschool, because I went to public school as a child but chose to homeschool my kiddos. So I’m going to try and talk about the pros and cons of both sides, in order to give you a list of things to consider if you’re in the middle of making this decision for your family.

Public School – Pros & Cons

Public schools, which are not to be confused with charter schools or private schools, was once considered the “default” when it came to K-12 education. But recently, public school enrollments have been dropping quite a bit. To be exact, data shows they went from about 90.7% in 2012 to 87% in 2022.

I’ll obviously go into the reasons for that drop in a moment, but first I’d like to talk about the pros of public school…

Pros –

• It’s free! One of the main reasons why people choose public schools (especially over private ones) is because it’s the most cost efficient option. Seeing as public schools are funded by the government, and are therefore free to attend.
• It gives parents time to work. Kids are away at school for about six to seven hours every day (for about one-hundred and eighty days out of the year). And that’s not even including potential after school activities, or transportation back and forth if they take the bus. All this time gives both parents the opportunity to work, which is a necessity for many families in this economy.
• It provides kids with social skills. Aside from alternatives like private or charter schools, when you’re talking strictly about public school vs homeschool… One of the main talking points is that children are exposed to more socialization in public school. Meaning they may be less likely to have social anxiety later on, and they may have more confidence in social situations.

Cons –

• The quality of the education may vary, based on the area. Since public schools are funded by the government, if the school district is smaller (or in a poorer area), they might not have access to as many high-quality materials. Which means that sometimes students can struggle academically as a result.
• Safety is a concern. Particularly in the United States, there are many reasons why parents no longer feel safe sending their kids to public school. Tragic school shootings are at the top of the list for many. But aside from violence, the Covid-19 outbreak also affected public school sign ups. And some parents are just generally uncomfortable with their kids’ safety being left up to others. For instance, in my case, a huge factor for why I homeschooled my girls was my youngest daughter’s peanut allergy.
• There’s less personalized teaching. Different kids learn in different ways, but when you’re dealing with large classroom sizes, it’s impossible to tailor each child’s experience to optimize their learning. So, particularly if your child has learning disabilities or strong preferences, adjusting to public school curriculums could be hard.

Homeschool – Pros & Cons

Next up, we have homeschool. Which is a style of education that some people love and some people strongly disagree with. For reasons that I’ll get into soon!

But I want to start this section off by saying that I fully believe homeschooling can be beneficial for children, if done correctly. Just as I believe that public school can be beneficial for kids! So I hope taking a look at the following pros and cons list can help break down the stigmas that surround homeschooling, even if you ultimately decide it’s not for you.

Pros –

• It allows for a flexible schedule. Although public schooling allows parents more time to work while their kids are away, homeschooling results in a bit more flexibility for families who don’t have or need typical 9-5s. Both for themselves, and for their kids. Because obviously this flexibility means they can format the school day in a way that works best for them and their kids.
• It results in a safer environment. One of the biggest upsides to homeschooling is the fact that you may feel safer with your child at home. Since there isn’t a risk of gun violence, bullying, etc…
• It allows you to customize your child’s curriculum. Personally, one of my favorite things about homeschooling my kids was the ability to make their school days extra special. And ensure they had time to learn about things that interested them. Plus, you know your child the best. And homeschooling allows you to take advantage of that! If your child is a visual learner, you can create lesson plans that capitalize on that. If they’re an auditory learner, you can cater to that instead! Etc…

Cons –

• Socialization might be harder. Although there are lots of ways to socialize your child outside of public school, it can be a lot tougher (especially depending on where you live). And some kids may slip into their shell as a result of not being around kids their own age daily.
• Kids may feel left out or regret not having certain experiences. Even if you ensure that your child socializes regularly, they may still grow to regret the fact that they didn’t go to school with their peers. Things like prom, homecoming, and field trips are all special experiences your child may miss out on. Which is why it’s important to take your child’s input on their education into account, especially as they get older.
• It’s a big investment for parents. Both in the context of time and money, homeschooling can be a big investment for parents! It’s such a large time commitment that it can take away from the ability to work (depending on your career) and you have to purchase everything yourself. Including curriculum and courses if you’re not creating the lesson plans yourself. And being solely responsible for your kids can even weigh on your mental health.

Final Comparison – Public School vs Homeschool

I feel like I’ve now talked about most of the main points that people discuss when comparing public school to homeschool. So I’d like to leave with some advice, from one mom to another.

Every decision in life has pros and cons to it! And with contrasting options such as this, it’s normal for one choice’s cons to be another’s pros. So, while it may be true that it’s easier to socialize kids in public school, it’s also true that homeschooling allows for a more personalized experience.

And it’s also true that there is no wrong decision. Only ones that are right for you!