State testing and standardized testing can raise a lot of questions for people new to (or considering) homeschooling. We’ve gathered a list of frequently asked questions here:
Are homeschoolers required to take standardized achievement tests? If so, which?
The answer varies by state. However, Kansas and Missouri do not require state testing for homeschoolers unless they are using a virtual school or other publicly funded school.
In that case, they’re not technically considered homeschools, but offshoots of the public school system.
However, we recommend that area homeschoolers take advantage of standardized testing opportunities available just for them!
One opportunity is the Classic Learning Test (CLT) exams, where we offer a discount through a partnership with the organization.
For example, we offer opportunities for homeschoolers to take the PSAT/NMSQT test in their high school years (it can help qualify them for national merit scholarships).
Afterward, homeschoolers who want to continue to college can take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (also called SAT) and/or American College Test (ACT).
What are some reasons I should consider state testing?
It helps give you a yardstick for your child’s academic performance. Because public and private schools require these tests, this can serve as an independent, third-party assurance that your students are doing well academically.
These tests can also help reassure your extended family that your kids are doing well on a nationwide level.
Remember that the results are based on peer comparisons, not academic requirements per se.
While we often think standardized tests indicate how our child compares by grade level, they actually indicate how our child compares academically to other grade-level children taking the same test at that time. (Here’s a helpful intro guide from the HSLDA.)
Even if your child ranks less than average in a subject area, you may just need to concentrate more on that topic. Students often rebound in a subject once they’ve identified the problem and targeted it for improvement.
How do homeschooled students typically perform on standardized tests?
We’re so glad you asked! Historically, homeschooled students have outperformed their public-school counterparts when taking standardized testing and state testing opportunities.
Some quotes from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI):
- The home-educated typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2010, 2015, 2017; Ray & Hoelzle, 2024). (The public school average is roughly the 50th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
- 78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools (Ray, 2017).
- Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
- Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not notably related to their children’s academic achievement.
- Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
- Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
- Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.
My child has special needs. Should I register for state testing with a large group, or explore other options?
We recommend exploring other options depending on your child’s specific situation. You can also contact us with specific questions.
This blog post was originally published in September 2015. We have updated it for timeliness and detail.
2 Comments