Hi,
I stumbled upon this board through a random google search. I hope you don't mind a stranger (and homeschooler) jumping into your conversation!
If you'd like to see the numbers, here are the results of a (growing) number of studies that show hs'ers scoring well above their public school counterparts on standardized tests
HSLDA | Academic Statistics on Homeschooling
However, I don't think the numbers tell the whole story. For one thing, I don't think that standardized testing is necessarily a good measure of ability or knowledge. However, it's a jumping off point in the discussion. For another thing, not all hs'ers have their kids tested. It varies by state. Some states require it, other states (like my home state of Ohio) require
either a standardized test or an assessment by a certified teacher.
That said, I think that hs'ing is often a much better academic setting for children. You're not going to get many teachers to argue against a 2-1 student-teacher ration compared to 20-1. There is no way an institutionalized setting can provide the individualized learning plan and attention given to a child in a homeschool setting. The parent, unlike the teacher in a crowded classroom, always knows exactly how each student is progressing and whether or not they are grasping the material. If the child has a problem with multiplying fractions, you stop and work on it for as long as it takes to master it. If it comes easily, you move on, rather than having a gifted child who is bored out of his mind waiting for the other kids in the class to catch up. "Slow" kids are not singled out and placed in the "slow" reading group and doomed to a life of low expectations. And if a book or a program is not working, we throw it out, even if it's the middle of the year!
I believe that the high school years can better prepare a student for college than a traditional high school education. Most homeschooled high school students I know are, by that point in their lives, self-directed learners. The parents become facilitators more than teachers. They study, research, write, etc. without having every minute of their day planned by a teacher and responding like Pavlov's dogs to bells that tell them when to sit, when to stand, when they need to eat and when they need to eliminate
My 16-year-old is given his assignments for the week and it is up to him to decided how to budget his time in order to get his work done by Friday. There are some weeks he is efficient and paces himself, and other other weeks he's pulling an all-nighter on Thursday.
There are some challenges for high school, but there are creative ways to overcome them. Higher level math and science courses can be difficult for some families. However, as hs'ing has evolved, co-ops have formed for parents to pool their talents and expertise. Some parents hire tutors for such classes. Many private schools open their doors to hs'ers and allow them to take individual classes to help meet these needs. There are also many online options, satellite schools, even MIT Open Courseware if you really want to challenge your kids! Here's an article about college admissions for hs'ers
HSLDA | Homeschooled Students Excel in College
A little about our personal situation.....my two sons are 16 and 13 and have always been hs'ed. My older son is the gifted type - always tests off the charts on standardized tests (even on spelling, although he's NOT a good speller - thus my reluctance to trust standardized tests....some kids are just good at taking tests!). My younger son has ADD and some mild LD issues. It has been wonderful to be able to work with their individual needs. We could breeze through things my older son masters easily and he can spend free time on sports and conquering the intricacies of Linux. My younger son is still trying to master fractions. And we'll keep going over it until he gets it. In the meantime I'm trying to fascinate him with decimals by studying the baseball box scores. And encouraging his gift for writing and at the same time giving him ample time throughout the day to MOVE and wiggle.
We belong to a co-op that meets once a week for core classes (English, history, science). The kids turn in their assignments (which they complete at home during the week) and different parents teach the classes. Their work is graded and, from what I hear from public school parents, it is much more difficult than what is expected in a typical high school. The interesting thing about these classes is that they are not "age segregated", but rather, based on ability. I teach the World History I class, and last year I had kids from age 13-16 in the same class. The 13-year old was highly gifted and was doing 9th grade level work. The 16-year old has Asperger's and although he is a very gifted writer, struggles with following directions. Obviously, with Asperger's there are social issues, but the kids in this groups are incredibly accepting of him.
Just a comment to respond to the poster who felt a little socially isolated.....
I think that in the earlier years of hs'ing, when it wasn't so prevalent and there wasn't so much networking, there was perhaps more isolation. I think that as it has grown and evolved, the "social misfit" caricature of a hs'ers is more of an urban legend. Certainly there are some parents who isolate there kids, but they are few and far between. Most hs'ers I know are involved in many activities and actively involved in their communities. In fact, I think they are better prepared to enter the "real" world when they leave home, because they haven't been isolated in an "age segregated" world with kids exactly their age for 13 years. When does that happen in in the "real" world? My kids are comfortable being with people of all ages, whether they are 3 or 103!
Honestly, my only area of complaint would be high school athletics. It's the only problem we haven't been able to overcome. Some states (13?) allow homeschooled kids to play on the teams for their local high schools. If your state doesn't allow it, there are really no other options for competitive team sports, since the powerful high school athletic associations have a monopoly on high school sports) Ohio is not one of the states that allow it. My kids are both good athletes and it's a big part of their lives. When my older son hit 9th grade, he was booted off the soccer team he had played on since he was 7 years old (and the baseball team), because the community league he had played in was swallowed up by the high school team and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Just something to keep in mind when considering hs'ing. If I were to make the decision again, knowing that my kids would have to sacrifice sports, I would still choose hs'ing, but perhaps we would downplay sports a little more, so as not to have such a huge disappointment when they got to high school.
Hope that helps.
Carol