The Abridged version:
- Homeschooling has grown in popularity in the Sacramento region, echoing state and national trends, according to limited data and firsthand accounts from families.
- Some say it’s because the pandemic and school closures abruptly introduced parents to having their children at home learning. And as homeschooling became more popular, resources and communities expanded to match.
- Homeschooling parents say their reasons include a customizable education, being able to spend more time together as a family and a better social environment for their children.
When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools and pushed some parents to rethink their children’s education, common assumptions were that a surge in homeschooling would be as temporary as lockdown itself.
Years later, that popularity is holding strong.
The uptick in homeschooling for the Sacramento region, like much of the country, appeared to simmer down slightly after its peak in the 2020-21 school year. But what numbers are available show homeschool student counts have stayed well above pre-pandemic levels.
Homeschooling families and advocates also say they have continued to see booming, lively, local communities.
“It’s getting more and more popular to homeschool,” said Sarah Bailey, a Loomis mom whose three children, now adults, spent the majority of their education outside a traditional public school.
“And with all the support now for homeschooling,” she added, “it’s a lot easier to do than back in the day.”
More mainstream
Homeschooling was long regarded as the fringe option befitting socially awkward and isolated children.
“My husband and I both had thought that homeschool kids were really weird,” Bailey said.
Lately, though, it’s become more mainstream.
Some of that was the result of the pandemic, during which parents were abruptly exposed to having their children at home learning.
“I think they saw some benefits of spending time together,” said Alicia Carter, principal at PACT Academy, a Natomas charter for homeschool families, and a mom of three homeschooled daughters.
“I think they saw, especially for kids who struggle in a traditional system, maybe there’s a different way to do it.”
Statewide numbers stay high
Precise homeschooling numbers are tough to come by.
The California Department of Education does not keep exact counts of these students. Families educating at home fill out a private school affidavit, the same form that brick-and-mortar private schools must file to operate.
Nowhere on the form do filers explicitly note whether they are an operating business or a residential homeschool.
The best indicator, a spokesperson for the education department said, is enrollment. If a registrant notes a student count of five or fewer, that often — but not always — signifies a homeschool.
Statewide, enrollment in private schools with fewer than six students jumped from 38,532 in 2019-20 to 59,275 the next year. That number fell somewhat in ensuing years but remained at 51,276 in 2024-25.
‘Not even an issue’
Despite the growing public familiarity with homeschooling, Amy Brock said she still fields some scrutinizing questions.
“‘Aren’t you worried about socializing your kids?’” the Lincoln mother of four said people ask her.
“Because it’s so popular, that’s just not even an issue anymore,” Brock added.
Communities for homeschooled children are abundant, according to Brock and other parents.
There are co-ops, where families rotate responsibilities for teaching a small group of students. In charter schools, like Carter’s Natomas facility, families come for extracurriculars like dance, drama or music. Students there attend middle school socials or go on field trips, just like their public school peers.
A variety of Facebook groups promote park playdates, sports leagues, online meet-ups or solo students looking to make friends.
‘It’s brought a lot of joy’
Brock said her husband was the one who first brought up the idea of homeschooling.
“I wasn’t quite interested myself,” said Brock, a former public school teacher.
But as she talked with other parents who had made the move, the possibility seemed less daunting and more doable.
The reasons Brock now says she loves homeschooling include the customization. With her kids, ages 3 to 10, learning at home, Brock said she can focus on individual curiosities and tailor schedules or projects to different learning styles.
And, she said, being outside of a traditional school environment means less social pressure to grow up sooner.
“They get to kind of stay innocent and extend their childhood a little bit longer,” Brock said.
One of her main motivations was just being able to spend more time together as a family. Brock is the main educator in their home, though her husband will assist in his days off from work.
“We enjoy being with them,” Brock said. “It’s brought a lot of joy to our family.”
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged by PBS KVIE team and contribute to a crucial local news source.