According to the Council for American Private Education, the average cost of private school enrollment was approximately $10,000 for the 2007-2008 school year. Elementary school tuition cost less than secondary, and institutions maintaining a religious affiliation were generally cheaper than secular academies. In contrast, depending on the level of parent involvement, home school costs can be minimal. If the family creates its own curriculum from available resources on the Internet or from a local library or free program, there is can be no cost at all. The Home School Legal Defense Association estimates even a detailed packaged curriculum averages just $1,000 per student per year.
A study conducted in 2009 by the Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, assessed 12,000 home school students across all 50 states, and determined that home educated test-takers performed in the 80-90th percentile across reading, language, math, science and social studies subject areas. Public school students scored in the 50th percentile on the same tests. Results from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that private school students also outperformed their public school peers. For example, among grade 8 students taking the reading exam, 90% of private school middle school students scored at least at the basic level, compared to just 75% of public school students.
The largest difference between home and private school may come in the form of socialization. Home school students may spend most of their day with only a parent and siblings, whereas at a private school children take part in a classroom of children their own age. Additionally, private school students are eligible for school sports teams and clubs, while home school students must take the extra step to join the same activities through community athletics or outside organizations. Many home school families choose to also join a local support group for peer interaction or educational trips and activities.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported an average classroom size of 18 students in private elementary schools in the 2007-2008 school year. While this remained smaller than the public school average of 20.3, it was still greater than the home school ratio which correlates one parent-teacher to number of school-age children at home. As such, home school students receive extensive one-on-one instruction, while private school students requiring additional help must seek special education resources or additional services outside the classroom. On the other hand, teachers in a private school dedicate all their classroom time to students, while home school instructors must be careful to focus on academics and not on other obligations.