Reflections on Homeschooling Teens
By Erin Sands, Homeschool New York / LEAH’s Long Island Regional Representative
September 20, 2025
Our co-op gathered outside for the first time this year, and, as I looked around, my heart was full. We took a group photo of 36 teenagers! I’ve been on this journey for a long time, and it struck me just how far we’ve come. When I first started homeschooling, we had plenty of elementary-age children in our co-ops. But, by the time those children reached high school, the numbers would thin out. Families often put their teens back into the public schools, mostly because they lacked confidence in teaching upper-level subjects, but other times because they feared their children would miss out on things like sports, homecoming, or prom.
But, what I saw yesterday told a different story. Homeschooling is thriving in the teen years. And, the truth is, our children are not missing out. I know sometimes parents feel like they need to recreate the same experiences their kids would have had in public school, but we don’t have to do that. Years ago, instead of a prom, many of us did senior formals. Parents and their seniors dressed up, we had a sit-down dinner at a nice venue with music and some games, and it was all about honoring our kids as they stepped into adulthood. It was simple, family-centered, and meaningful. The gift of homeschooling is that we have the freedom to celebrate milestones in ways that reflect our values and keep faith and family at the center.
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to do things differently. Our children are not missing anything that truly matters; they are gaining something deeper and far more lasting. We are not called to look like the world; we are called to be set apart. That’s what I saw yesterday as I looked around that outdoor gathering. These young people aren’t living second-best lives. They’re thriving. They’re respectful, polite, well-spoken, and kind. Not perfect, of course, but different, and that difference is something good and beautiful.
This growth matters because these teens are not just filling up a co-op meeting. They represent the next generation. They are coming of age in a world that is desperate for light, truth, and courage. We recently saw it when the world watched Christians respond to the death of Charlie Kirk. The contrast was unmistakable. Some mocked. But the people of God prayed. They held vigils. They grieved with hope. And the world noticed: these people are different.
That is exactly what God is doing with our homeschooled teens. He is raising up a generation that doesn’t need to blend into the culture, but stands apart in it. Every time I see a group like the one I saw yesterday, I am reminded that God is equipping them not just with academics, but with character, conviction, and faith that can withstand a broken world.
I’ve seen the change even in my own home. Fifteen years ago, my older teens felt embarrassed to admit they were homeschooled. That feels like a lifetime ago. My current teen doesn’t see homeschooling as strange at all. It’s normal. And that shift is worth celebrating. Homeschooling has grown, and so has our confidence as parents. These teens are proof that staying the course through the high school years is not only possible, but powerful.
So, take heart, fellow homeschooling parents. What we are doing is not easy, but it is worthy. You can do it. God is raising up a generation of homeschooled young people who are not conformed to the world, but who are set apart for His purposes. And, when we see them gathered together–strong, joyful, and growing–we can be sure the future is full of hope.
