Does Georgia have the most homeschooled students in the nation? It's among top 10 states

Georgia is now among the top 10 U.S. states with the largest number of homeschooling students in 2025, according to a new report.

According to Brighterly, more 3.7 million children are being homeschooled (partially or fully) nationwide.

What homeschooling costs in Georgia

Jennifer Herold homeschools her three children. Her daughter, Isabelle, 7, works at the table in her family’s Palm Coast home, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.

Annual cost per student in Georgia ranges from about $500 to $2,500, depending on materials, curriculum, and extras.

Georgia’s legal homeschooling requirements

In order to homeschool in Georgia, here are a few legalities that follow:

Parents must submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to the Georgia Department of Education annually.
Homeschool programs must include minimum instruction in reading, language arts, math, science, social studies.
The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED.
The home study program must provide the equivalent of 180 days of education with each school day consisting of at least four and one-half school hours.
Write annual progress reports.
Tests every three years after third grade.

Why do people choose to homeschool?

Experts say the shift is driven by a few key reasons: a desire for personalized education, frustration with traditional school systems, and safety concerns.

Families say homeschooling allows:

Customizable lessons tailored to their child’s strengths
A more flexible daily schedule
Reduced exposure to bullying or peer pressure
A focus on learning only what’s necessary

What grades are homeschooled the most?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), grades 6 to 8 currently have the highest number of homeschooled students nationwide.