The number of parents who choose to homeschool their children continues to rise. Despite the increasing acceptance and understanding of those who choose this less traditional method of education, there are still many common misconceptions about homeschooling.

1) Homeschooling doesn’t allow for social interaction.

Home schooled children have the same opportunities for social interaction as children schooled in conventional ways. Many communities, both in rural and urban areas, have home schooling organizations and groups that families can join that allows interaction for both adults and children who are taking on the challenge of homeschooling. In fact, some groups organize their home schooling so that some parents teach one subject and others teach other subjects. That means that kids get to move around to different houses to learn different subjects, much like a public or private school child would learn throughout the day. All these, plus the regular everyday interaction with neighborhood kids provide plenty of social interaction for the home schooled child.

2) Home schooled children won’t be able to partake in extracurricular activities.

Many public schools allow home schooled children to partake in extracurricular activities such as choir and some sports. Even if a public school doesn’t offer this opportunity, families can provide their own extracurricular activities through private music or art lessons, participation in group sports sponsored by a park district or even participation in other activities such as drama and speech through a community college or local centers.

3) Families who home school are conservative Christians.

Homeschoolers come from all walks of religious and political life. There are some people who choose to home school their children because of their deeply held religious beliefs. Others choose to home school because of a negative experience with a public or private school. Or, because they’d like to provide their child with greater opportunities for learning in the "real world" instead of learning by sitting in a desk and listening to lectures all day. The reasons families choose home schooling is as varied as the families themselves.

While most parents aren't qualified or experienced to teach in every subject, they may have extensive knowledge in some subjects. Other subjects can be taught through study groups, by a tutor or by other parents who are more skilled in that subject. Some families send their children to community college classes to learn about certain subjects. Others take classes over the Internet or the television or use videos and computer software.

4) Home schooled children can’t get into college without a diploma from an accredited high school.

More and more colleges are opening their doors to homeschoolers. In fact, many colleges are actively recruiting homeschoolers because of high scores on standardized tests taken by these students. Even Ivy League schools such as Harvard have admitted homeschoolers with much success. Portfolio evaluations are now being considered in place of school transcripts at many higher learning institutions. Homeschoolers have the opportunity to take standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, or college placement exams, and can exhibit their skills through essay writing.