Homeschooling
This index page provides links to data on homeschooling.
Summary
As at 1 July 2021, there were 7,749 homeschooled students. These students belong to 4,412 families and represent 0.9% of total school enrolments as at 1 July 2021.
Out of the 7,749 homeschoolers 64.6% were aged 12 or under, 70.7% had been home-schooled for less than 5 years, and only 3.8% had been home-schooled for 10 years or more.
European/Pākehā students are more likely to be homeschooled than any other ethnic group with 69.4% of all homeschoolers identifying as European/Pākehā compared to 46.5% of the total school population (this is based on prioritised ethnicity statistics). Only 12.9% of homeschoolers identify as Māori compared to 24.8% of the total school population, 2.8% of homeschoolers identify as Pacific compared to 9.8% of the total school population, and 2.9% of homeschoolers identify as Asian compared to 14.6% of the total school population. The ethnicity of 1.1% of homeschoolers is unknown.
Homeschooling Turnover
Between 1 July 2020 and 1 July 2021 there was an overall net increase of 557 students; 1,858 students entered into homeschooling and 1,301 students finished homeschooling.
The average age of the 1,858 students entering into homeschooling was 8 years old, 81.5% were aged 12 or under and 0.8% were age 16 or above. Of the students entering homeschooling during the year ending 1 July 2021, 64.1% identified as European/Pākehā, 17.8% identified as Māori, 3.1% identified as Pacific, 3.1% identified as Asian, and for 0.3% of homeschoolers ethnicity is unknown.
The average age of the 1,301 students finishing homeschooling was 13 years old, 45.6% were aged 12 or under, and 23.9% were 16-years old or above. Of the students finishing homeschooling during the year ending 1 July 2021, 30.4% had been in homeschooling less than a year, 40.0% had been in homeschooling for 1 – 5 years, and 11.3% had been in homeschooling for 10 years or more.
Time Series Data
The box below provides downloads relating to the number of students in homeschooling.
- Number of Students by Time Series 1998-2021[MS Excel 34kB]
- Homeschooling Turnover by Time Series 1998-2021[MS Excel 37kB]