The Eden Institute Biblical Herbalism Education

The Biggest Homeschool Worries: Socialization, Falling Behind and College

By Camila Johnson · October 29, 2026

Homeschooled kids can make real friends, earn a diploma, get into college and stay on track. None of it happens by accident, though, and the research on homeschooling is more limited than either side usually says. These are five of the biggest worries moms search for, with what the studies show and where they fall short.

What about socialization?

The research is reassuring, with limits. In a 2013 review, Richard Medlin of Stetson University found studies suggesting homeschooled children have “higher quality friendships and better relationships with their parents and other adults.” He concluded, “An alarmist view of homeschooling, therefore, is not supported by empirical research.”

He was honest about the weak spots, too. Many of the studies used small, non-random samples and relied on what parents and children said about themselves. A 2020 review by Robert Kunzman and Milton Gaither says socialization studies have “relied almost entirely on self-report of students or their parents.”

What I’ve seen is that community in a homeschool is something you build on purpose. My girls played baseball last season. Most of my friends are homeschool moms. And I’m 45 and just now really creating my tribe of women. So chase community as much as you can, because that’s where you find your tribe: church, sports, the library, park days, neighbors and grandparents.

What is a homeschool co-op, and how do I find one near me?

A co-op is a group of homeschool families who share the teaching. According to HSLDA, “Co-ops can be either formal or informal. Both types provide instruction through classes on various subjects and electives.” Informal co-ops often start when “a group of families decides to share the workload for a class or set of classes,” and they “generally range from 3–12 families.” Support groups are different: they’re more about discussion, events and field trips.

To find one near you, start with HSLDA’s free homeschool group search, then ask at church and your library. If your co-op wants to teach Eden’s Table together, there’s group pricing for co-ops.

Will my child fall behind?

Homeschooled kids can fall behind or get ahead, just like kids in school, and the research can’t promise you either one.

You may have seen claims that homeschoolers score far above public school kids. Kunzman and Gaither found that many of the largest and most widely cited studies “contain serious design flaws”: volunteer families, and self-reported scores from tests usually given by the parent at home. The author of the most widely cited one, a 1999 study of 20,760 students, wrote it himself: “This study does not demonstrate that home schooling is superior to public or private schools.”

Here’s what the better research suggests:

  • Once family background is taken into account, homeschooling “does not have that much of an effect on student achievement,” good or bad.
  • Watch math. Across three decades of studies, Kunzman and Gaither see a tentative pattern: homeschooling “tends to improve students’ verbal skills and weaken their math capacities.”
  • Behind can mean they came home behind. A national survey found homeschoolers 12 and up were “two to three times more likely” than public school kids to report being behind grade level. The authors note this “might, of course, have nothing to do with homeschooling itself but with the decisions of parents.” Some families bring a child home because they were already struggling.

How do I know if my child is on track?

Check on purpose, at least once a year.

  • Know your state’s rules. Some states require test scores or an evaluation. Pennsylvania requires a nationally normed standardized test in grades 3, 5 and 8, and the parent can’t give it. Georgia requires a test at least every three years, starting at the end of 3rd grade, and the results don’t have to be sent to public school officials.
  • Use a standardized test as a snapshot. HSLDA explains these tests are scored against children “following a traditional scope and sequence,” and that scores are “only snapshots of how your child was doing on a given day.” They’re still useful for spotting which skills need work.
  • Use a placement check for the basics. I use Khan Academy’s Course Challenge for math and language arts. If the gaps are big, drop back and fill them first. The Khan Academy guide shows how.

Can homeschoolers get a diploma and go to college?

Yes.

The diploma comes from you. HSLDA says, “Homeschool students receive their diplomas from their parents,” and “you should not expect the public school to issue a diploma to your child.” One or both parents generally sign it. A few states have graduation requirements for homeschoolers, so check yours.

So does the transcript. HSLDA recommends starting one when your student finishes 9th grade, and says “most admissions officers are familiar with homeschooling.”

College applications ask about it. The Common App asks homeschool-specific questions, like your “grading scale or other methods of evaluation,” and coursework outside your transcript. Its applicant support page says, “we may need to reach out to you to request additional information.”

Federal student aid is open to homeschoolers. Federal Student Aid lists “completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law” as one way to qualify. The Federal Student Aid Handbook says colleges may rely on a student’s self-certification that they finished high school in a homeschool setting.

How do they do in college? Most studies are small “convenience samples taken from the researcher’s own university.” Several found higher grades for homeschoolers and some found no difference, and studies of who stays in college and graduates have found no difference.

My take as a mom: college is not for everyone, and you don’t have to pick something just because it makes a lot of money. What I want at the end of the day is to raise kids that don’t stop asking questions.

What are the downsides of homeschooling?

There are real ones, and it’s better to go in with your eyes open.

It takes a parent’s time. In the latest federal survey (2022-23), 8.8% of children in two-parent families were homeschooled when one parent worked full time and the other stayed home, compared with 1.1% when both worked full time. It can be done while you work. The homeschool day guide shows how.

The load mostly lands on mom. Mothers handle most of the teaching in 78% of homeschool families, according to the 2016 federal survey, as cited by Kunzman and Gaither. They also point to research finding homeschool mothers “experience intense role strain, which can lead to emotional burnout.” What homeschool moms really struggle with is overwhelm. Am I ticking all the boxes? Am I doing all the things? Keep it simple, find your people and take care of you. It’s a tough job, but it’s such a rewarding job.

You own the gaps and the paperwork. No one else is checking. That’s why the yearly check above matters, along with the records your state asks for.

Should I homeschool?

You’d be far from alone. About 3.4% of American students, about 1,765,000 kids, were homeschooled in 2022-23, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These are the reasons parents most often called important:

ReasonCalled it importantCalled it the most important
Concern about the environment of other schools, “such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure”83%28%
A desire to provide moral instruction75%6%
An emphasis on family life together72%8%
Dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools72%17%
A desire to provide religious instruction53%11%

For me, it was seeing that our kids weren’t designed by our Creator to sit still for eight hours under fluorescent lights. Round one was my boys, and they went to school. Round two was my girls, ten years later, and by then I knew we needed to do something a little bit differently, which is why I chose to homeschool. It showed me how much I missed out by not doing it sooner. I wish I would have done it with the boys.

If you’re on the fence, ask yourself:

  1. Why do I want to? Write it down. You’ll need it on the hard days.
  2. What does my child need? Start with your child, not a curriculum.
  3. Who will teach, and when? Be honest about your work and your energy.
  4. What does my state require? The laws and paperwork guide covers it.
  5. Can I try it first? A summer, one subject or one week is a low-risk way to find out.

And if you’re worried you can’t do it: you’re qualified by your DNA, because that’s your child. The Lord trusted you with your child. Here’s why I let my own teaching certificate lapse.

Try one week first

You don’t have to decide forever today. Teach one real week and see how it feels. Week 1 of Eden’s Table is free for Sprouts (K-2) or Seedlings (3-5): five lessons on one plant, at the table and outside.

Sources

Questions families ask

Are homeschooled kids socialized?

They can be, and research is reassuring but limited. A 2013 review by Richard Medlin found studies suggesting homeschooled children have higher quality friendships and better relationships with parents and other adults, though many of those studies used small, non-random samples. Community is something homeschool families build on purpose, through church, sports, co-ops and friends.

What is a homeschool co-op?

A co-op is a group of homeschool families who share teaching. HSLDA says co-ops can be formal or informal, both offer classes, and informal co-ops generally range from 3 to 12 families. HSLDA has a free search tool for finding a homeschool group near you.

Do homeschoolers get a high school diploma?

Yes. HSLDA says homeschool students receive their diplomas from their parents, and a few states have graduation requirements for homeschoolers. Parents also make the transcript, and HSLDA recommends starting it when your student finishes 9th grade.

Can homeschoolers go to college and get financial aid?

Yes. Homeschoolers apply to college like other students, and the Common App asks homeschool-specific questions. Federal Student Aid lists completing high school in a homeschool setting approved under state law as one way to qualify for federal aid.

Do homeschooled kids fall behind?

Some do and some get ahead, just like kids in school. Many famous studies showing high homeschool scores have serious design flaws, and once family background is controlled, homeschooling has little effect on achievement either way. Checking progress with a yearly test or a placement test helps you catch gaps early.

Why do parents choose to homeschool?

In the latest federal survey (2022-23), the reasons parents most often rated important were concern about the environment of other schools (83%), moral instruction (75%), family life together (72%), dissatisfaction with academic instruction (72%) and religious instruction (53%).