Every parent wants what’s best for their kiddo, but when it comes to education, the big question is: stick with a public school or take the homeschool route?
Many families are not impressed with the education system today. About two-thirds of all US parents say they're not satisfied with the school their child attends. Around 3.7 million kids — roughly 6.4% of all K–12 students — are currently homeschooled in the US. In the UK, home education is at its highest level since the pandemic, with an increasing number of families citing mental health as a reason to keep their children out of the traditional school system.
Despite an overall discontent, the majority still head off to public schools, lunchboxes in tow. Whether it’s the social perks of spending the day with other kids or uncertainty over how to manage education at home, most children today are still a part of their country’s public school system.
But which is better? Does homeschooling give kids an edge, or is traditional school the way to go? What if neither pathway is the right fit for your family — is there another option?
We break it down here — no sugarcoating, just the facts on homeschool vs. public school. We also share what going to school at bina is like, so you can see that there are other at-home education options that you and your kiddo can get excited about.
Before you ask the question, “Is homeschooling better?” take a look at what each educational setup involves.
Homeschooling is a parent-led education approach at home. Parents or other caregivers can create their curriculum, set the schedule, and tailor the learning to suit their child’s needs.
These days, many families are turning to online schooling instead. Kids still learn from home but follow a structured online programme with virtual teachers. While homeschooling and online school often get lumped together because they both involve learning at home, they’re not the same thing. One is parent-led, and the other is a digital classroom led by certified teachers.
Public school is the more ‘traditional’ route. It’s government-funded, with a set curriculum and state-certified teachers. Kids follow a strict daily schedule and learn in large classes, which can make individual attention hard to come by.
The teaching style is often standardised, which means lessons may move too fast or too slow depending on the student. While public school provides social interaction and extracurricular activities, it can also come with distractions, overcrowded classrooms, and limited flexibility.
Public schools look different all over the world and even from state to state. Curriculum standards, class sizes, school funding, teaching quality, and available resources can vary widely depending on the country, region, or even the neighbourhood.
Every child and family is different, so it’s important to think about what works best for you. Here are some key things to consider:
Does your family live life on the move? Maybe you're constantly hopping between cities and time zones. Homeschooling and online schooling offer flexibility that public schools can’t match. You can plan learning around your life, not the other way around.
Public schools typically require strict attendance, and in some places, missing school can have real consequences. For example, in the UK, parents can be fined £80 for unauthorised absences, rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days. That’s per parent, and the fines can stack up fast.
Do you have the time, patience, and ability to take on the role of an educator?
Homeschooling sounds great in theory until you realise it means being a teacher, planner, motivator, snack supplier, and occasional IT support. Not everyone has that bandwidth, and that’s okay.
More importantly, the quality of education will depend heavily on your own teaching ability. And your child’s education isn’t something you want to leave to chance.
If bullying, school violence, or peer pressure are keeping you up at night, homeschooling might feel like a safer, more controlled option. You get to curate the social environment, rather than hoping your kid finds “their people” in a sea of 30 classmates and hallway drama.
That said, at-home learners need time to develop social skills too. You’ll want to build in clubs, sports, or other activities to keep things balanced.
Public schools follow a set curriculum that’s standardised, structured, and often built around testing benchmarks. That works for some kids, but for others, it’s a struggle.
Big class sizes mean teachers are stretched thin, and there’s limited room for adapting lessons to individual learning needs. Homeschooling, on the other hand, offers custom everything: pace, content, teaching style, and even break times.
But — and it’s a big but — quality depends heavily on who’s teaching. If a parent is not confident or consistent, the learning can suffer. Some parents outsource to tutors, but that can get pricey.
One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is the ability to tailor lessons to your child’s pace and interests. One-on-one attention is the gold standard in education, but it’s rare in public schools where teachers juggle dozens of students daily.
Homeschooling naturally allows for more focused time, fewer distractions, and quicker feedback loops. If your kid thrives when they get undivided attention, this could be a game-changer.
How does your child learn best? Some learners are hands-on, some are visual, some love structure, and others need room to explore.
Homeschooling allows you to customise the educational experience to fit your child’s strengths, interests, and learning pace. Public schools try to cater to different learners, but with set lesson plans and time constraints, there’s only so much flexibility public school teachers can offer.
The big question: If you take the homeschooling route, will your child be ready for the “real world”? That depends more on how you homeschool than if you homeschool.
A solid, internationally accredited virtual school like bina can prep your kiddo just as well, if not better, than a traditional classroom, especially if you're looking at international standards. bina is focused on helping Generation Alpha prepare for the future by helping them develop tech skills, communication skills, and a growth mindset. We also use project-based learning so our kiddos learn by doing, which encourages them to be inquisitive, creative, and engaged.
If your child needs extra support, whether it’s a learning disability, sensory challenges, or they’re simply ahead of the curve, homeschooling is often the clear winner. It allows for a customised pace and focused attention that’s hard to find in a traditional classroom. Gifted children, in particular, can move ahead without being held back and dive deeper into subjects that interest them.
Some public schools offer support services, but what’s available can vary widely depending on where you live. And unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for kids to be overlooked in a busy system.
Homeschooling has exploded in recent years, and not just in one corner of the world. In Australia alone, the number of homeschooled students has jumped by 108% since 2019. More families across the globe are choosing to keep their kids at home, whether that means traditional parent-led homeschooling or structured online school programmes.
A few things are driving this big shift.
A lot of parents are simply unhappy with what public schools are offering and feel the system isn’t working for their kids. A BBC report found that more parents in the UK are taking their kids out of school because they're worried about mental health, not getting enough support, and schools being too narrow-minded in how they teach.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), one in four homeschool parents in the US say concerns about the school environment were a major factor in their decision. Things like bullying, drugs, or too many distractions played a big role in their decision.
Every child’s learning needs are different. And public schools, with all their structure and standardisation, can’t always adapt to those differences.
Homeschooling gives parents the power to design an education that fits their child’s needs, personality, and learning style. Some families want their children’s education to reflect their values or beliefs more closely, something that’s harder to do in a public school setting.
Technology has made homeschooling much more accessible than it used to be. A report by Tyton Partners highlights this shift, noting that today’s at-home learning setup is nothing like it was a generation ago.
There are now plenty of online programmes, virtual classrooms, and interactive tools that help parents teach or take the teaching off their plate entirely. Families are turning to virtual schools like bina as an alternative to traditional school.
bina is a fully accredited online school for kids aged four to 12 that offers small class sizes and personalised support. It’s one of the only international online primary schools that offers all live classes. Experienced teachers help kids stay engaged and connected, no matter where they are in the world.
But is homeschooling really effective? And is homeschooling better?
These are some of the biggest questions parents ask, and the research says yes. Academically, homeschooled students often outperform their peers in public school.
Studies show that homeschoolers score 15 to 25 percentile points higher on standardised tests. While public school students average around the 50th percentile, homeschoolers typically land between the 65th and 80th percentile.
Homeschooled students don’t just outperform on tests but also have a higher college acceptance rate (87%) compared to 68% for public school grads, and they tend to stay enrolled and succeed once admitted. Many universities actively welcome homeschooled applicants, especially those with strong portfolios and well-rounded academic records.
So, what if you like the idea of your child having a personalised, exciting learning experience, but you don’t have the time to teach them yourself?
Online schooling offers the best of both worlds, combining the social engagement and structure of traditional classrooms with the flexibility and personalisation of homeschooling. It’s a great option for parents who want a more hands-off role while keeping their child in a home-based learning environment.
bina addresses common frustrations parents have with public schools, like overcrowded classrooms, outdated teaching styles, and not enough individual support. Here’s how:
It’s school — but reimagined for today’s families.
At the end of the day, every family wants what’s best for their child’s future, and online schooling can offer just that. With bina, you're not just choosing convenience. You’re choosing high-quality, engaging, and forward-thinking education designed for today’s world.
Our teachers offer a vibrant, rigorous learning experience that truly speaks to the needs of Gen Alpha. It’s more than just lessons on a screen; it’s a global, mobile, whole-child approach to education for kids aged four to 12. Whether your family’s on the move or simply looking for a better fit, bina goes where you go and grows with your child.
If you want to hear more about why bina is a smart investment in your child’s learning journey, book a call with us and let’s chat.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your child’s needs, your lifestyle, and how much time you can commit. But when it comes to homeschool vs. public school, homeschooling offers more flexibility, personal attention, and customisation, things traditional schools struggle to provide.
Research shows they often do. Academically, homeschooled children tend to score higher on standardised tests and have better college acceptance rates. That said, success really depends on how the homeschooling is done, not just the fact that it’s homeschooling.
There can be, but not always. It can feel isolating for kids or time-consuming for parents, especially with traditional homeschooling. But many online programmes now offer live, interactive classes with teachers and peers, plus ready-made curriculums that take the pressure off parents.