How Much Does Homeschooling Cost, Really?

You'll definitely find that homeschooling entailsthrough public and private universities. Such
more expense than conventional public schooling,courses are relatively expensive, typically $100 to
but also that it will cost considerably less than the$300 per course; textbooks and other required
annual $2,000 to $10,000 per child that privatematerials may or may not be included in the
school tuition typically runs.course fee. For homeschoolers who desire formal
The least expensive option is a public schoolcredit in specialized topics, particularly in
program tailored to homeschoolers. Thosemathematics, sciences, and foreign languages,
programs that allow more flexibility in choosingsuch courses can be well worth the extra
materials are often a bit more expensive becauseexpense.
they may only provide or reimburse for certainLess structured private programs may offer per
"approved" texts and materials, or they mayfamily pricing rather than per child or per course.
established yearly budget limit for each student. IfThe Waldorf based Oak Meadow School offers
you choose to other texts than the programenrollment for an entire family at about $250 per
recommends, you may end up having to coveryear; curriculum packages (mainly storybooks,
the costs yourself. Some programs offernovels, and activity guides rather than formal
equipment, such as microscopes or computers,textbooks) range from $150 to $250 according to
for loan during school terms.grade level. Families can opt for teacher
Also often provided are "consumables" - items likeassistance for grading, record keeping, and general
paper, pens and pencils, workbooks, and so on -advice at $65 to $95 per quarter. Clonlara School
although, as well as the other materials, suppliesis extremely flexible with its services and
may be limited to specific amounts each schoolspecializes in helping unschooling families. Their
term.1996 to 1997 fees for record keeping and
Private homeschooling programs vary mainlycurriculum advice were $550 for one student,
accordingly to the services they provide. Some$575 for two or three students, and $600 for
programs, such as Calvert sell mainly completefour or more students per family. Books and
curriculum packages. In 1995, the average tuitionother supplies are additional and vary depending
for a complete Calvert curriculum for a singleon the type of program you and your family
grade was around $450, with their advisorychooses.
teaching service (grading, testing, recordCosts for unschooling families are almost
maintenance) costing an additional $220. Calvertimpossible to predict, but most families estimate
requires that textbooks and the teacher's guidethey spend somewhere between $300 and
be returned when the course is completed.$1,000 for the entire family. Many families buy lots
Other programs like A Beka Books (a popularof books, crafts, games, toys, and other "stuff"
Christian-based program), sell individual courseswithout keeping official track of whether it is
and books as well as complete packages. In 1995,"educational," and can count items such as
A Beka priced individual books from $.75 to $16computers as general family purchases it rather
and teacher curriculum guides at about $30. Likethan as specifically educational. (Some of us
Calvert, A Beka sells both curriculum-onlydeliberately avoid trying to calculate educational
packages ($ 120/year at elementary level) and fullexpenses, fearing to see the grand total.)
correspondence programs (around $450/year forEspecially with younger children, though, it's difficult
elementary grades, $590/year for high school).to say that such expenditures differ much from
Homeschoolers at the high school level often usethose for conventionally schooled children.
conventional correspondence courses available