Homeschooling as at 1 July 2006

Statistics on homeschooling

At 1 July 2006 there were 6,298 homeschoolers recorded on the Ministry of Education’s homeschooling database, which represents less than 1 percent of total school enrolments at July 2006. These students belonged to 3,272 families.

Homeschooling 1998-2006

From 1998 to 2004, the number of homeschoolers in New Zealand showed a gradual increase but has been decreasing since 2004.

• In 1998 there was a total of 5,274 homeschoolers; in 2006 there were 6,298 - an increase of 19 percent.
• Between 1 July 2005 and 1 July 2006 the number of homeschoolers dropped by 130 students - a decrease of 2 percent.

Number Commencing Homeschooling

For the year ending 30 June 2006 , 1,203 students commenced homeschooling - a decrease of 14.8 percent compared with the number starting during the previous year.

Of those starting in the 12 months ending 30 June 2006 :

• 41 percent were aged six years old
• 82 percent were aged within the primary school age range (5-12 years)

Number Finishing Homeschooling

For the year ending 30 June 2006 , 1,333 students finished homeschooling. Of these:

• 190 (14 percent) finished their homeschooling within a year of starting
• 892 (67 percent) finished within four years
• 435 (33 percent) had been homeschooled for 5 or more years.

Age Distribution of Homeschoolers

Of those being homeschooled, 66 percent were in the primary-school age range (5-12 years).

Homeschoolers by Region

• 76 percent of homeschoolers reside in the North Island
• 24 percent live in Auckland
• Northland, West Coast, Nelson-Marlborough and the Manawatu-Wanganui regions had the highest proportions of homeschoolers compared to the total school populations in those regions
• Gisborne, Wellington , Otago and Hawkes Bay had the lowest proportions of homeschoolers in relation to their total school populations

Ethnicity of Homeschoolers

Eighty-Nine percent of homeschoolers reported their ethnicity. Of these:

• 84 percent identified as European/Pakeha
• 10 percent identified as Māori
• A lower proportion of homeschoolers identified as being Māori, Asian or Pacific Islands compared to students attending regular schools.