A 2020 study by the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) found that homeschooled students in the United States performed significantly higher than public school students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading, math, and science. The study also found that homeschooled students were more likely to meet or exceed state standards on standardized tests than public school students. However, the NEPC study did not control for a number of factors that could influence student achievement, such as parental education level, socioeconomic status, and access to resources.
A 2018 study by the University of California, Berkeley, found that homeschooled students in California performed at the same level as public school students on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The study also found that homeschooled students were more likely to participate in extracurricular activities and have positive social and emotional development than public school students.
A 2017 study by the HSLDA found that homeschooled students in the United States performed significantly higher than public school students on the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. The study also found that homeschooled students were more likely to be admitted to and graduate from college than public school students. However, the HSLDA study did not control for a number of factors that could influence student achievement, such as parental education level, socioeconomic status, and access to resources.
Overall, the research on the academic achievement of homeschooled students compared to public school students is mixed. Some studies have found that homeschooled students generally perform at the same level or even higher than public school students on standardized tests, while other studies have found that homeschooled students perform lower on average. Some of the factors that may contribute to these differences include the curriculum and resources used by homeschooling parents, the level of parental involvement in their children's education, and the social and emotional development of homeschooled students.