Twelve percent of military-connected families are now homeschooling their children, a rate double that of civilian families, as they seek academic stability amidst the frequent disruptions of service life.
This growing preference among active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve members is largely driven by the flexibility and academic performance that the homeschooling model provides.
The choice offers significant educational advantages, with homeschooled learners scoring 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public-schooled students on standardized achievement tests. Furthermore, homeschooled students often achieve higher scores on SAT and ACT college admission exams, a trend that remains consistent regardless of the parents’ own educational backgrounds.
For 1.6 million children in the military community, homeschooling provides a vital sense of curriculum continuity. Military families relocate on average every two to three years, and these Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, along with deployments, often disrupt traditional schooling.
By homeschooling, parents can maintain a stable learning environment and exercise direct accountability over the learning process, ensuring that a child’s education is not interrupted by a change in zip code.
Support for this educational path has recently reached the highest levels of government. On May 15, 2025, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed the Homeschooling Support for Military-Connected Families memorandum to expand educational freedom and review existing support structures. This directive aims to address gaps in resources and support individualized learning approaches tailored to the unique military lifestyle.
While the Department of War continues to evaluate future benefits—such as potential stipends or federalized funding—families are currently utilizing resources from organizations like the Military Homeschoolers Association and the Military Child Education Coalition.
These groups provide essential toolkits and training to help families navigate transitions. Additionally, many parents emphasize the importance of peer networks, which offer a sense of community and shared experience for those educating their children at home while stationed across the globe.