Once upon a time, no one would have believed that single parents could successfully homeschool their children, and certainly not through high school. However, as the saying goes, “Times, they are a-changin’!” Back in 2008, Dr. Brian D. Ray, President of the National Homeschool Education Research Institute (NHERI), estimated that there were 185,000 single-parent homeschoolers in the United States. Recently, I reached out to Dr. Ray for updated statistics, and based on his calculations, there are now between 216,000 and 264,000 single-parent families homeschooling, and between 465,000 and 512,000 homeschooled children in single-parent families.
As the number of single parents who have opted out of the traditional educational system continues to rise, the reasons for this move into parent-directed learning mirror those for dual-parent households. According to a February 2025 analysis by the Pew Research Center focusing on homeschooling in the US, top reasons why parents choose to take charge of their children’s education include: concerns over the school environment, particularly surrounding the emotional and physical safety of students while in the school setting; dissatisfaction with academic instruction; difficulties obtaining individualized support for students for whom the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work; and deeply held personal beliefs that may conflict with curriculum and teaching methodology. While single parents represent a minority within the homeschooling community, their children and their stories are a welcome addition to the changing narrative of those in the unconventional learning space. Their success stories further support the truth that homeschooled children can and do thrive outside of the traditional classroom.
On my new show Kym’s Corner, here at the Education Entrepreneurship Lab, I had the opportunity to sit down with several single parents who homeschool to discuss their experiences. I asked them to offer advice on how to succeed in homeschooling as a single parent. These women would be the first to tell you that it’s not an easy road; yet they would also share that every sacrifice made to provide the education their students need is worth it.
An educator by trade, Danita’s transition into homeschooling happened during the pandemic when she was effectively forced to homeschool her child. As she deciphered assignments that were being sent home, it became clear that homeschooling was her best choice. “I’d rather have the autonomy. I’ll do it myself,” she said.
Joy, a homeschooler who graduated her child last year, began as a homeschool skeptic and was thrust into homeschooling due to the pandemic. Approached by another friend whose experiences shattered the myths she believed about homeschooling, Joy began seriously investigating homeschooling. She spoke to other homeschoolers who shared their success stories; some had successfully graduated their students from high school and had received significant scholarships and awards to go to college; others had students in master’s and Ph.D. programs; still others had students who had successfully gone into the trades. This led her and others in a small group to take the leap into homeschooling.
When Amber went through a divorce, the desire not to miss out on life with her kids solidified her decision to continue homeschooling.
As a single parent homeschooler, the support structure built around you and your child is essential to long-term success. Even Danita, who began with no support in place, relying solely on her background as an educator, eventually leaned into a tutorial—what we in Maryland call academic part-time homeschool programs—when her role shifted to include not only single-parent homeschooling, but also caring for her adult parents. For Amber and the other ladies, the support of the homeschooling community made it possible to homeschool long term. All three found support through a tutorial, which is similar to a co-op, to help provide the needed core classes. All three leaned on fellow homeschoolers for emotional support, as they needed it during different times in their journey.
On a very practical note, if you are a single parent looking to homeschool, please reach out to fellow homeschoolers in your community. I have witnessed firsthand fellow homeschoolers who have offered and provided rides to classes and events, who have welcomed other children into their homes on non-tutorial days to do homework, who have provided needed breaks allowing single parents to “take a minute and breathe,” and who have even gone so far as to cover the costs of books and classes. Please ask, as there is help waiting for you in your community.
Of course, if you have family and friends you can lean on who can be part of your homeschool scaffolding, do set that up as well. In our community at eXtend, we have seen aunties, grandparents, cousins, and close family friends come alongside single homeschoolers to help them successfully homeschool. We even have a single father who homeschools, and for the longest time, we thought the other person supporting him was his former spouse. We were amazed to find out that his sister was providing the extra set of hands to help him successfully homeschool.
These days, there are many supports for homeschoolers who are single parents. Many state homeschooling organizations have resources and local support specifically geared toward single parents, and Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has a list of organizations for each state as well as the District of Columbia. Additionally, Facebook groups and websites dedicated to single parents who homeschool their children are a quick Google search away.
In the eXtend graduating class of 2024, three of our graduates were homeschooled by single parents, and all three went on to college with academic scholarships. This most recent class of 2025 included a student from a single-parent home, and that student is also headed to college with academic scholarships. If you are a single parent, know that it is absolutely possible to homeschool your student, and know that support is available from a variety of sources. Allow the stories of my Kym’s Corner guests and those of countless single-parent homeschoolers around the country to encourage you as you educate your children.
