Homeschooling can cost between $50-$500 per child per school year. The costs depend on the homeschool curriculum, accessories, tools and furniture, and field trips throughout the year.
In this article, we listed possible expenses and tips on how to get started.
Definite Cost
There is no way to give an exact cost to homeschool. It is all about preferences, and resources, and it depends on how much you want to spend.
The first year will be the most expensive as big purchases may need to be made, such as curriculum, computer, printer, devices, setting up homeschool space, and more. After the first year, the cost will decrease, but there is no fixed cost depending on preferences.
The cheapest approach could cost from $50-$100 per student per year, a moderate cost could be $200-$300, and the most expensive plans could cost anywhere from $500 or more.
- Curriculum (USD 300.00- USD 600.00 per year)
- Homeschool Accessories and Planners (USD 100.00 – USD 250.00 per year)
- Fieldtrips (USD 200.00 per year)
If the home is going from a two-income family to a one-income family, then taking that income lost into consideration is essential as well. So, all in all, the cost of homeschooling solely relies on how much you want to spend.
Expenses
Numerous expenses come with homeschooling, such as increased utilities, internet usage, and grocery bills. However, these expenses can be categorized into four main categories.
These main categories include curriculum, materials, homeschool field trips, and extracurricular activities.
1. Curriculum
The curriculum is what the Student will be learning throughout his/her schooling. What will be taught to the Student? Can the curriculum be taught in two ways? The first is online, and the second is offline.
There is a number of online homeschool curriculum options and advice on implementing the online homeschool curriculum. An online curriculum generally is taught by a teacher or computer. The parent is there to give advice and help.
With an offline curriculum, the parent is more involved. An offline curriculum could virtually be free if the parent creates the lesson plans, and the scope of sequence, and delivers the lessons. This will take time to plan. Worksheets and other resources can be printed on the internet, and students can learn directly from their parent.
Both online and offline curriculums have their advantages and can be tailored to fit the child’s learning style and the family’s schedule. Those interested in a more structured and child-centered approach can learn about montessori homeschool curriculum, which emphasizes hands-on learning and self-directed activity. Incorporating a well-rounded curriculum that resonates with the child’s interests can make homeschooling a fulfilling and enriching experience for both the student and the parent.
Another approach is to purchase an offline curriculum. There are also numerous workbooks available for students to work through in every subject to learn, such as homeschool curriculum bundles for grades 1–6.
The offline curriculum generally takes more time to implement because the parent does the planning. It would help if you also considered looking into STEM homeschool curriculums as an addition.
On average, a homeschooling curriculum can cost between $300-$600 per child. With many different avenues in obtaining a curriculum, the cost can not be definite. However, what is fixed, is that the curriculum will be the most significant expense in homeschooling, especially to getting started. Much like the expense of materials, the older the student gets, the more costly the curriculum will increase.
2. Materials
Purchasing materials, such as supplies and equipment can become pricey. The best way to give an exact cost on materials is to set a budget. Spend only as much as can be afforded. After the initial cost of beginning homeschooling, create a budget and stick with it. Some of the standard supplies to purchase are a computer/laptop, printer, paper, pencil and pencil sharpeners, crayons, science equipment, science lab materials, books, materials to set up a homeschooling space, and more. Keep in mind that the older a student gets, the more expensive the materials get.
Setting up a homeschooling space other than the dining room or couch is more conducive to learning. This space should be ample and open with little traffic. Adding a desk, tables, and bookshelves will be great for comfort and storage.
Planners
Don’t forget the teacher supplies as well. The teacher will need a planner. There are several choices. The first choice is a planner that will work for every child and every subject, similar to a teacher planner a public school teacher would use.
Homeschool Planner For One Student
Another type of planbook is one for each Student. Homeschool Planners offer an attendance tracker, have daily entries for lesson planning, and even report cards for the end of each quarter.
Homeschool Tracker
Another resource the teacher might want is a way to track homeschooling activities. This could be an online resource like HomeschoolTracker, or he/she could use their planner. The teacher may want specific writing utensils for lesson planning, a space of his/her own within the homeschooling space, a whiteboard or chalkboard, or an interactive whiteboard. Keep this in mind when purchasing supplies.
After the initial set-up of homeschooling, setting a budget is the best way to purchase materials. In general, homeschool parents pay between $100-$250 per child a year on supplies. Adding in any teacher supplies and resources will make this number increase.
3. Field Trips
Another expense of homeschooling is field trips. There is great flexibility with the cost of field trips because this expense could be as low as the gas money to get somewhere to as high as $100 a trip. Most of the virtual field trips are even for free.
The first aspect to think about when taking field trips when homeschooling includes a homeschooling coop. Many homeschooling coops make field trips together, encouraging socialization amongst the students and often incorporating a group discount. However, being part of a coop will cost money. Fees for coops can run from $25/per child to $200/per family depending on the coop. There are other benefits for coops besides just field trips. For example, sharing curriculum and teachers are significant benefits of joining a coop.
The other aspect of taking field trips is not going with a coop. It can drastically change the amount of money because you are not paying for the coop, and you have choices of different places to visit, including free locations. Many cities offer free museum tours, historical sites, and government buildings.
An excellent resource for planning inexpensive field trips is Homeschool Adventures: Learning Through the Power of Field Trips.
Not only does this resource give ideas of field trips but also how to make the most effective. Having a purpose behind the field trip will make learning happen.
One of the great benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility to take field trips. During the school day, there are many events, such as reading time at the local library or open art class at the local art museum, that children miss because they are in school. However, homeschooling gives the flexibility to attend these events. Field trips are another expense that should be budgeted for each year. The average amount spent on field trips each year is $200.
4. Extracurricular Activities
One of the most significant concerns people have when starting homeschooling is making sure their child has the opportunity to socialize with children their age and that the child doesn’t feel isolated. Generally, this is done through extracurricular activities. Most of these activities will come with a cost, and like many expenses on this list, creating a budget for what is affordable for the family is the first step.
There are some free extracurricular activities like Sunday School groups, clubs, and community service/volunteering. Some extracurricular activities cost money, for example, sports, music lessons, scouting, and visual arts lessons. One way to get involved in extracurricular activities is through a homeschooling coop. As mentioned before, the coop will have membership fees in addition to the cost of the activity.
There are six questions to answer to determine what extracurricular activities to pursue and how much to spend on them.
First, will the Student be in a supportive environment for the values you consider essential? Second, will the student succeed in the activity because it supports the Student’s desires, abilities, talents, and interests? What are the long and short-term goals for the activity when it comes to the child? These last three questions deal with linguistics and cost. First question, how much does it cost? Next, will the activity disrupt family time, and what are the time requirements/responsibilities? Finally, how far will you have to drive to get the child to the activity?
After answering these six questions, set a budget for the extracurricular expense. On average, homeschool parents spend $215 on extracurricular activities per child per year.
Estimation of Cost
As we already determined, homeschooling is impossible at a fixed cost, especially when first beginning to homeschool students. Curriculum, materials, field trips, and extracurricular activities all contribute to the overall cost. The cost of homeschooling depends on how much is willing to be spent and how much time you will prepare lessons.
- Overall, the curriculum, on average, costs $300-$600.
- Materials average cost between $100-$250 a year.
- Field trips will have an average cost of $200 a year,
- and extracurricular activities will cost about $215 a year.
These costs are averages and per child for each school year. So, on average, homeschooling can cost anywhere from $815-$1265. Keep in mind, depending on the budget. These costs can be lower or higher. Other factors that affect costs are location, availability, and choice.
Ways to Save
Curriculum
There are many ways to save money on curriculum, materials, field trips, and extracurricular activities when homeschooling or beginning to homeschool. With curriculum being the largest expense in homeschooling, looking for the greatest savings is ideal.
One way to save money is to keep the curriculum used by one child for a younger child to use as they grow older, much like hand-me-down clothes. Another way is to buy a used curriculum or rent the curriculum. Some websites offer these services.
Joining a homeschooling coop will open opportunities for sharing the curriculum, and splitting the expense with a friend who also homeschools will save money. A great free resource is the local public library. They will have resources in terms of curriculum for homeschooling families as well. Books, DVDs, periodicals, and more can be checked out for a short time for no charge. With a little bit of research, there are multiple ways to save on the curriculum for homeschooling.
Materials
Saving on materials can be quite simple. However, it would be easy to overspend, so it is important to set a budget and stick to it. Shopping sales at local grocery stores, especially around back-to-school shopping time, will help save money on materials. Finding stores and websites with rewards programs will help you save as well.
Like saving on the curriculum, you can split the cost with a friend for more expensive materials, like science materials. You could also buy used materials, especially when setting up your homeschooling space. Look at local thrift stores, school surplus sales, and online marketplaces for materials that are needed. Buying and sticking within a budget are great ways to save money on materials for the school year.
Field Trips
Much like the expense of materials, the expense of field trips should be given a budget. It is easy to spiral out of control spending when taking field trips. The best way to save money on field trips is to find free field trips. When finding free field trips, the only cost is the gas it takes to get there.
Researching local free field trips on the web is the first step. Some places to check are libraries, museums, community centers, and chambers of commerce offices. The chamber of commerce office should have a visitation guide to the city/town you live in, which will give you more ideas for free field trips to take. Many businesses will offer a discount if you purchase tickets online in advance.
Also, going to homeschooling groups or with a coop could give you a group discount. Not spending money on extras such as concession stand food or in the gift shop will also help save money. The flexibility of homeschooling is great for taking field trips. It is essential to look at all the ways to save money and stay within the budget when taking these field trips.
Extracurricular Activities
Like the other three expenses, there are multiple ways to save money when locating a homeschooled child’s extracurricular activities. Creating a budget is the first step. After pinpointing an amount to spend, find the activity. As mentioned before, there are free extracurricular activities.
Checking local community calendars is a source of information for not only free but inexpensive activities as well. Many communities have community and recreation centers, YMCAs, and other organizations that offer cheap sports, classes, and lessons.
Another way to save money is to register early, and there are no late fees when you register early. Also, ask about scholarships and sponsorships. Another way to save on extracurricular activities is to volunteer. Organizations will often reduce tuition costs and fees if parents volunteer to coach, teach, or work events. Dedicating some of your time to an extracurricular activity your child is involved in could save money and allow you to spend more time with him/her.
Summary
Also, numerous blogs have articles about homeschooling. Although a definite answer to the question “How much does it cost to homeschool?” is impossible to give, we can roughly estimate an amount.
Homeschooling is going to cost as much as you put into it. After researching, creating a budget, and talking with your family should be the next steps before purchasing anything. When talking with your family, be sure to figure out the goals, desires, and necessities for homeschooling. This will allow you not to overspend and have an idea of an amount that is workable for your family.
Know that other expenses will arise because of homeschooling. For example, the grocery bill, utilities, and even gas for the car could increase due to being home more and traveling for homeschooling coop activities, extracurricular activities, and field trips.
Please take all of these expenses into account, as they all affect how much homeschooling will cost.
