National Homeschool Trends

About 790,000 children between ages 6 and 17 were being taught at home in 1999, according to a working paper on homeschooling published in August 2001 by the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau. Because homeschools have not been studied previously, the growth rate is unknown. The Census caps its growth estimate at 15 percent a year.
In the study, author Kurt J. Bauman says children educated at home were slightly more likely to be female and living in a two-parent family with one parent not in the workforce. Both parents were likely to have moderate- to high-education levels, and the family's income also was likely to be moderate to high. The data come from three studies: the 1994 Current Population Survey and 1996 and 1999 studies by the National Household Education Survey. 
Bauman's paper also notes that home educators give different reasons for teaching their children at home. Half of those surveyed say home education is better quality. Of other reasons given, 33 percent cited religion; 30 percent said the child's regular school had a poor learning environment; 14 percent objected to what the school taught; 11 percent said their children were not being challenged; and 9 percent cited morality.