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How much will homeschooling cost your family? I’ve got a comprehensive Guide for Homeschooling Parents
Are you considering homeschooling your child but worried about the potential costs involved? I’m going to share how much homeschooling costs and how you can make it fit your families budget, or even possibly free.
As a homeschool mom, I understand the importance of budgeting and making the right decisions for your child’s education.
We will explore the various aspects of homeschooling costs, from school supplies and curriculum to extracurricular activities and field trips, and compare that to the cost of public school.
Let’s dive in and find out how much homeschooling really costs!
How Much Does Homeschooling Cost
I was recently talking to a friend who had her kids in public school and although the “education” was free, I was blown away at how much she was spending on school lunches, school supplies, fees, clothes, and extra stuff.
I could have easily bought a year’s homeschool curriculum with what she was spending on public school supplies and lunches.
Before I explore all the things you will need to spend money on if you choose, it’s important to set a budget first. I’ll share my homeschool budget with you so you can have an example.
Like anything in life, there are endless things to spend money on if you choose.
My Homeschool Budget
We live pretty frugally and every year I budgeted $1000 for our homeschool curriculum for 4 kids. Not for each kid, but for all the kids in total.
I took the money from our tax refund every year and bought a curriculum with it.
Technically I could have spent less by using Free Curriculum resources but honestly, I didn’t want to do that.
We used My Father’s World curriculum for years, which is my favorite curriculum, and I have no regrets. The hands-on projects, read-alouds, and memories we made together are priceless.
In reality, I don’t think $1000 for a year’s worth of curriculum for all 4 kids is that much. On top of that, most homeschool curriculum can be reused or resold.
Now that I have graduated 2 of my children, I have 2 left in high school. Our budget is down to $500 for those 2 kids and is very doable.
Now that I shared my budget, let’s take a look at what it would cost for you to homeschool.
It is very possible to homeschool for free, but you will have fewer choices on curriculum or you might need to do a little more planning, but it’s very doable.
So what could you spend money on?
Homeschool Curriculum
Homeschool curriculum can range from free online resources and lesson plans or library books to pre-packaged sets or video curriculum costing hundreds of dollars.
While there are costs associated with purchasing a complete curriculum, remember that you can also find free resources online and utilize materials from your local library.
Homeschool curriculum will be one of your biggest expenses but it’s very customizable, meaning you could purchase a math curriculum and use free resources for science and history.
You can easily pick and choose what you use for free and where you spend your money.
This gives you the opportunity to plan a curriculum that aligns with your child’s interests and fosters a love of learning but also stays within your budget.
Many families choose a few subjects to purchase and choose ones to use for free.
Really you have the complete freedom to choose what you are spending your money on because curriculum costs are all over the place.
So many families locate used homeschooling curriculum or use online courses to cut the cost.
Co-ops and Field Trips
Homeschooling doesn’t mean staying confined to your home. Most homeschoolers are very busy families. Co-ops and field trips play a vital role in a well-rounded education.
Most co-ops offer educational classes which could reduce your curriculum cost as well.
Many of our co-ops have been full of extracurricular classes such as dance class, gym class, cake decorating, American Sign Language, Geography, debate team, STEM activities, and brain games.
In general, co-ops are so important to round out your child’s education, create lasting friendships, and meet other homeschool parents.
I think you will find that homeschool families form tight communities that depend on each other, share curriculum, and meet each other’s needs often.
The Cost of Homeschooling High School
Homeschooling high school students can cost a little more than elementary and middle school.
For subjects that may require specialized instruction such as higher-level math and science, you might consider online classes or video curriculum. You also might want to consider dual credit with a local college for some subjects, in many states this is free for homeschoolers.
We have chosen to use a video curriculum for high school math and science so my kids can learn these subjects from an instructor.
That doesn’t mean the video math or science is very expensive, it just means it’s not free. Although I can think of some high school math that is completely free.
Some families may hire a private tutor but I know public school families that do this as well.
Homeschooling Laws and the Home School Legal Defense Association
Before you begin homeschooling, research the state laws and regulations concerning home education. It’s important to understand what your state requires and it may influence the curriculum you purchase or choose to use.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) can be an excellent resource in understanding your legal rights and responsibilities.
While joining HSLDA might involve a membership fee, the legal support and peace of mind they offer can be invaluable. They also have so much help in choosing curriculum, creating templates for required paperwork or transcripts, or just emotional support when getting started in your first year homeschooling.
Homeschooling on a Tight Budget
Homeschooling can be cost-effective if you make use of free resources and creative ways of learning. Most homeschool families I know stay on a pretty strict budget. Here are a few ways to keep your homeschool costs low.
- Buy curriculum gently used (this is very common)
- Join a co-op for extracurricular activities
- Utilize your local library for books that are in the expensive curriculum packages instead of buying them.
- Use Free Homeschool Curriculum for most or all subjects
- Put together your own curriculum using Google Classroom
I think it’s important to keep your priorities in order. By skipping eating out a few times, I can use that money to purchase a science curriculum with experiments for the whole year.
Many families are spending money on eating out when it could have paid for a really nice curriculum or extracurricular activities.
Collaboration with other homeschool families for group activities and sharing expenses can significantly reduce the financial burden.
Additionally, taking advantage of local school district resources or local library clubs, like participating in sports or extracurriculars, might be an option in some areas.
The Cost of Homeschooling vs. Private School or Traditional School
When compared to private school tuition fees, homeschooling can easily save families a considerable amount of money. Private schools can cost thousands of dollars per year, making homeschooling an attractive and affordable alternative for many families.
Even with school districts, there are extra fees, expensive school lunches, and long supply lists. I was shocked to learn how much my friends were spending for their kids to go to the public school system.
While homeschooling expenses can vary depending on your approach and the resources you choose, the grand total cost can be significantly lower than that of private or traditional schools.
I know many homeschool moms who have work-from-home jobs and this seems to work well for a lot of families.
With careful planning, utilizing free resources, and getting involved in the homeschool community, homeschooling can be both a quality education and budget-friendly. Remember, your child’s education is an investment that pays off in the long run, regardless of the finances. So, keep perspective about your child’s curriculum and you will have a wonderful school year.
So how much does homeschooling cost? It costs however much you choose to budget for your family.
Let us know what comments, questions, or concerns you have about homeschooling so we can all learn together.
