Texas Students Continue to Withdraw from Public Schools, Move to Homeschool Education

Many families withdraw to homeschool in grade 6 or below, but TEA does not track those numbers

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Despite predictions that the exodus from public schools to homeschool environments would slow after COVID-19, some recently released figures indicate the rate of transfers are continuing at a substantial rate across Texas.

According to the most recent data released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in an open records request from the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), Texas experienced 29,765 withdrawals from public school to homeschool between grade 7-12 during the 2021-2022 school year. 

This high has previously only been matched during the COVID-19 peak in the 2020–2021 school year, when the number was 29,845.

Before COVID-19, 20,000-25,000 students in grades 7-12 withdrew to homeschool each year. Since Covid, that number has reached nearly 30,000 and appears to be staying there. 

Withdrawal rates for the 2022-2023 school year will not be available until 2024.

Many families withdraw to homeschool in grade 6 or below, but the TEA does not track these numbers. The TEA only tracks withdrawals to homeschool between grade 7-12.

The Texas Home School Coalition says the moves continue to be driven most by concerns about safety, frequent resistance to parental involvement, and the overall safety in the public school environment as the most important reasons that parents cite when they chose to homeschool.

And, homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities.

About 41% of homeschool families are non-white/non-Hispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo) according to the National Home Education Research Institute. 

Based on averages from other states, as well as Texas’ status as one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country, the Texas Home School Coalition estimates that between 8-10% of students in Texas are now currently being educated in a homeschool setting.

THSC said it remains ready to serve and be a resource for all Texas prospective, new, and veteran homeschoolers, as it has been since 1986.