Homeschooling as at 1 July 2010

Statistics on homeschooling

At 1 July 2010 there were 6,782 home schooled students recorded on the Ministry of Education’s homeschooling database, which represents less than one per cent of total school enrolments at 1 July 2010. These students belonged to 3,609 families.

Homeschooling 1998-2010

• In 1998 there was a total of 5,274 homeschoolers; in 2010 there were 6,782 - an increase of 28.6 per cent.
• Between 1 July 2009 and 1 July 2010 the number of homeschoolers decreased by five students - a decrease of less than one per cent.
  
  

Figure 1: Number of Homeschooling students 1998-2010

Number of students commencing homeschooling

Between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, 1,249 students commenced homeschooling – a decrease of 8.8 per cent compared with the number starting during the previous year.

Of those starting in the 12 months ending 30 June 2010:

• 41.5 % were aged six years old
• 82.4 % were aged within the primary school age range (5-12 years)
  
  

Figure 2: Number of Homeschoolers commencing between July 2009 and July 2010

Number of students finishing homeschooling

Between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, 1,254 students finished homeschooling. Of these:

• 184 students (14.8 %) finished their homeschooling within a year of starting
  
• 710 students (56.6 %) finished within four years
• 544 students (43.4 %) had been homeschooled for 5 or more years.
  
  

Figure 3: Duration of Homeschoolers finishing between July 2009 and July 2010

Age Distribution of Homeschoolers

Of those being homeschooled, 63.0 per cent were in the primary school age range (5-12 years).

Homeschoolers by Region

• West Coast, Northland and Nelson regions had the highest proportions of homeschoolers compared to the total school populations in those regions.
• Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Otago had the lowest proportions of homeschoolers in relation to their total school populations
• The majority of homeschoolers (73.9 per cent) reside in the North Island with 24.7 per cent in Auckland.

Figure 4: Percentage of Homeschoolers by Region at 1 July 2010

Ethnicity of Homeschoolers

Almost all (98.2 per cent) of homeschoolers reported their ethnicity. Of these:

• 81.3 per cent identified as NZ European/Pākehā
  
• 10.8 per cent identified as Māori
  
• A lower proportion of homeschoolers identified as being Māori, Asian or Pacific Islands compared to students attending regular schools.

Figure 5: Comparison of School Students and Homeschoolers by Ethnic Group at 1 July 2010