| Homeschooling has become more and more popular | | | | understand, compared to 35 percent of U.S. adults. |
| with each passing year. With the current state of our | | | | Homeschooling continues to demonstrate strong |
| nations educational system, this comes as little | | | | academic achievement statistics as well. The South |
| surprise to many who have decided to educate their | | | | Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools |
| children on their own. Still, homeschooling is often | | | | revealed that the graduating class of 2006 scored |
| misunderstood and decried by both by parents of | | | | 137 points above the national average for SAT’s |
| non homeschooled children as well as the federal and | | | | and just under 200 points above the state average. |
| state regulatory agencies who govern it. | | | | But what about getting into college? Unfortunately, |
| The benefits of homeschooling are many while the | | | | some homeschooled students face institutional and |
| detriments are few, according to Dr. Brian Ray, | | | | governmental provision that make the college |
| author of “Homeschooling Grows Up,” a | | | | application process more involved than it is for |
| study analyzing the social implications of | | | | children with a public or private education. While some |
| homeschooling students. According to the study, | | | | are merely formalities, others can be a major |
| over 71 percent of homeschooled students | | | | obstacle to homeschooled graduates trying to get |
| participate in a voluntary capacity within a social or | | | | into the college of their choice. It can be especially |
| charitable organization, compared with only 37 | | | | difficult for homeschooled students who want to |
| percent of U.S. adults. Additionally, 76 percent of | | | | attend a college or university outside of their home |
| homeschooled graduates between the ages of 18 to | | | | state. Standardized testing helps with credentials, but |
| 24 voted in a national or state election in the past | | | | these measurements of college preparedness are |
| five years compared to only 29 percent of 18 to 24 | | | | rarely sufficient on their own. |
| year-old public school graduates. Perhaps even more | | | | Perhaps it’s time to take a look not only at the |
| telling of the social impact of homeschooling is that | | | | benefits of homeschooling, but why those benefits |
| only 4.2 percent of homeschooled graduates consider | | | | cannot be properly recognized within our current |
| our nation’s political process too complicated to | | | | educational system. |