As the landscape of education evolves, one of the most remarkable trends is the rise of homeschooling, as it has been estimated to be growing from 2-8% per year.[1] This personalized approach to learning has garnered significant attention, as some parents feel it has helped prepare their children for college and a career better than public school may have. One such parent is Julie Smith, who homeschooled her five children and participated in the Classical Conversations program before they started at Grand Canyon University.
1. Independent Learning and Self-Motivation
Unlike traditional schooling, homeschooling can require students to take a more active role in their education, planning their schedules and setting their own academic goals. Julie Smith noted that this self-directed school planning started early on, as her kids knew they had to meter their time accordingly and were able to self-direct how much school they needed to complete each day. This strong work can also be seen in homeschooled students’ ACT scores, which have been higher on average than public school students and have been improving from 2001 to 2019.[2]
2. Customized and In-Depth Learning
One of the hallmarks of homeschooling is the ability to tailor the curriculum to the student’s interests and strengths. Classical Conversations, for example, emphasizes a classical education model that integrates grammar, logic and rhetoric into the learning process. Homeschooling can allow parents to assess their child’s strengths and weaknesses and help build lessons around their needs.[3]
3. Effective Communication Skills
The Classical Conversations model places a significant emphasis on developing communication skills through regular presentations and discussions. Whether participating in college class discussions, presenting research or collaborating on group projects, research shows that the parental involvement students receive improves their socialization.[1]
4. Community and Support Networks
Despite the individualized nature of homeschooling, students often benefit from strong community ties and support networks. The Classical Conversations model, for instance, creates a community of learners who meet regularly for group lessons and activities. Research has even shown that homeschool students participate in community service more often than the general population.[1] Julie Smith noted that through the flexibility of homeschooling, her students had the time for major involvement in community service projects and organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She says her children learned what community is and that “they’re not just a member of a community. They can be an active participant and organizer.”
5. College Readiness and Dual Enrollment Opportunities
Many homeschool programs, including those aligned with Classical Conversations, offer dual enrollment opportunities that allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. Grand Canyon University offers affordable dual enrollment courses that homeschool students can transfer directly into their program at GCU or potentially transfer to another university, giving them an opportunity to reduce the time they spend in college and possibly begin their careers sooner.
6. Building a Foundation of Faith
Homeschooling structures such as that of Classical Conversations can help build up their Christian faith and carry it with them into college. In Julie Smith’s home, faith learning began as early as kindergarten for each of her five kids, as she has weekly Bible studies with each of her children. “Often our homeschooling curriculum, especially in Classical Conversations, prompts God-centered questions,” she says. “The literature homeschooling has allowed us to be exposed to has been deep, rich and God-honoring. I feel that homeschool curriculum guides them to think about how to grow in their character as the Christians and humans they want to be.”
7. Strong Work Ethic and Perseverance
Julie Smith has seen her kids find success in college classes due to their homeschooling experience, through which they learned how to buckle down and complete hard work. “Even through college,” she says, “they’re excited to be in a lecture. They’re not bored with school. Time is not wasted. When they are there, they are there to learn and when they leave the classroom, they’re there to do the next assignment.” She notes that this attentiveness and work ethic is what has helped all of her children earn 4.0 GPAs throughout college.
Homeschooling’s Impact on College Readiness
Homeschooling can inspire independence and self-motivation, can provide customized learning experiences, create a strong sense of community, provide college readiness and dual enrollment opportunities and may also help students build a strong work ethic.
At Grand Canyon University, we are proud to support and nurture these students and recognize the exceptional qualities they bring to our academic community.
For more information on our homeschool programs and how we support homeschool students at GCU, please visit GCU’s Homeschool Students page.
References:
- Ray, B. D. (2024, May 29). Research facts on homeschooling. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ on July 30, 2024.
- Payne, J. S., & Allen, J. (2020). ACT Composite Scores Among Homeschooled Students Trended Up from 2001 to 2019. ACT Research & Policy.
- Classical Conversations. (2024, July 22). Homeschool vs Public School. Retrieved from https://classicalconversations.com/blog/homeschool-vs-public-school/ on Sept. 6, 2024.
