Home school vs. public school - which is right for you

www,aperfectworld.org

Homeschooling on the rise
The home schooling community is growing by leaps and bounds across the nation, and the stats in Charlotte and across the state of North Carolina show no exception. WNCPulse, published by the Institute for the Economy and the Future at Western Carolina University, estimates that by 2020 homeschoolers will make up 12.7 percent of the school age population. Many Mecklenburg county residents have chosen this path, making the county the largest in the state in terms of the numbers of homeschooled pupils.
 

Turn the magnifying glass inward
Advocates for both sides will passionately argue over which type of schooling is better. Before hearing both sides or rushing to judgment, it is important to reflect on your child, yourself, and your situation to determine some truths.
 

Know your child
Evaluate if your child has special needs. These needs can present themselves as physical, academic, socially and even emotionally.

Know yourself
If the answer to any of these is yes, ask yourself if you and/or public schooling is capable and qualified to meet these needs.

Know your situation
Do you have the space and the environment you feel is necessary to instruct your child from home? Does the public school have the right environment?

Once this has been considered, it is time to weigh the pros and cons as presented by advocates of each educational system as summarized in EducationBug.org:
 

Public Schooling
The quality and effectiveness of your child’s public school education varies greatly from school to school, and is highly dependent on teachers, administrators as well as the student body. Get school specific details around state test scores, teacher-student rations, etc., via school systems websites or check out greatschools.net to get grade by grade breakdowns, student body diversity ratios and even teacher experience information.

Pros
• Chance to learn in a group setting
• Extra-curricular activity availability
• More curriculum opportunities
• Diverse social education

Cons
• High student-teacher ratio
• Less independence or scheduled learning
• Little influence over curriculum and choice of peers

Home Schooling
 

Pros
• Curriculum and scheduling freedom
• Small teacher to student ratio
• Opportunities for independent learning

Cons
• Costs are higher than sending child to public school
• Teachers not always qualified to teach all subjects
• Challenges in providing opportunities to socialize
• Admission policies may be stricter for homeschooled students

Learn more about your options
While a lot is known about public school education, the idea of homeschooling may be new to some. Do your own reseearch -- Nheri's (National Home Educators Research Institute) website is a great place to uncover details about past research and studies. Homeschooling communities across the country are popping up with the goal of creating a fulfilling experience for home schoolers and their families.