Homeschooling as at 1 July 2005

Statistics on homeschooling

At 1 July 2005 there were 6,428 homeschoolers recorded on the Ministry of Education’s homeschooling database, which represents less than 1 percent of total school enrolments at July 2005. These students belonged to 3,415 families.

Homeschooling 1995-2005*

From 1995 to 2004, the number of homeschoolers in New Zealand has shown a gradual increase but has dropped slightly in 2005.

• In 1995 there was a total of 4,882 homeschoolers; in 2005 there were 6,428 - an increase of 32 percent.
• Between 1 July 2004 and 1 July 2005 the number of homeschoolers dropped by 78 students - a decrease of 1.2 percent.

^* During the period 1 July 1997 to 1 July 1998 a more regular and more systematic updating of Ministry records was introduced. This means that figures for previous years will be over-stated to some extent relative to the 1998 figures.

Number Commencing Homeschooling

For the 12 months ending 30 June 2005 , 1,412 students commenced homeschooling - an increase of 3.9 percent compared with the number starting during the previous year.

Of those starting in the 12 months ending 30 June 2005 :

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

Number Finishing Homeschooling

For the 12 months ending 30 June 2005 , 1,490 students finished homeschooling. Of these:

• 186 (12 percent) finished their homeschooling within a year of starting
• 1008 (68 percent) finished within four years
• 476 (32 percent) had been homeschooled for 5 or more years.

Age Distribution of Homeschoolers

Of those being homeschooled, 67 percent were in the primary-school age range (5-12 years).

Homeschoolers by Region

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

Ethnicity of Homeschoolers

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

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