Not Back-To-School

Homeschooling trend continues to grow around Intown

By Grace Huseth

School is back in session, but that doesn’t mean that every student is headed to a classroom each morning. Thanks to organized groups, enrichment classes and the city’s many resources, Atlanta continues to have a thriving community of homeschooled students.

“About a third of the parents I talk to seem to be considering homeschooling on some level, at some point. Many never act on that, but there’s a lot of interest growing,” said Esther GraffRadford, group facilitator at Atlanta Homeschool Co-op.

Georgia’s homeschooling growth rate is slightly higher than its public school student population growth. Since 2012, homeschooling has grown 3.5 percent compared to 2.7 percent for the public school student growth rate.

Homeschooling allows parents to be intimately involved in their child’s education. The education progresses at the child’s actual comprehension rate and the child understands the material more thoroughly. Many children are often more acclimated and successful through homeschooling than in traditional educational settings, according to experts.

Blair Marino has been homeschooling her 11th grade son and 7th grade daughter for almost eight years. Marino now serves as Board President of LEAD (Learners and Educators of Atlanta and Decatur), an inclusive, secular, not-for-profit homeschool group that has offered support and classes to homeschoolers since 2000.

“Atlanta has embraced the homeschooling movement, and the opportunities for the kids have expanded in the last four to five years,” Marino said.

LEAD hosts more than 80 weekly, members-only academic and enrichment classes for ages preschool through adults. The classes meet Monday through Thursday with no set curriculum, allowing parents to choose classes that complement their own homeschool curriculum.

Some trickier subjects that parents find intimidating to teach can be taught by homeschool academies. Homeschool groups including Veritas Classical Schools, Atlanta Homeschool Cooperative and Kid Cultivators Homeschool Community offer classes ranging from composition to chemistry.

“It’s nice to have different options and to supplement classes,” Marino said. “Our children have picked classes that they enjoy, but as they get older I started becoming an advocate for their education and making sure they take classes that they need.”

LEAD offers science and math classes as well some extracurricular, and eclectic, classes. “The Art of the Journal” uses exercises in free form writing while “Lego: Mine, Craft and Build Survival Game” uses the popular computer game and building blocks to teach resourcefulness, creativity and cooperation.

‘The great thing about homeschooling is that the classes have no grades, so the pressure is off and they can try things,” Marino commented. “The grade is not the end all be all.”

To become a homeschooling family, parents must submit a declaration of intent to the Georgia Department of Education. The law requires all children to learn mathematics, English and language arts, science, social studies and reading. Children must take a national standardized achievement test every three years beginning at the end of the third grade, but test scores are not required to be submitted to public school authorities.

For more information, visit atlantahomeschoolcoop.org and leadhomeschool.org.

Serving grades 7–12, Marist School provides an education where achievement exists within a spirit of humility and generosity. Students are challenged by an extensive college-preparatory curriculum while an array of extracurricular activities inspire exploration and uncover hidden talents. Through it all, students gain a unique strength of character and skill and a joy of serving others that prepares them to be compassionate, confident leaders.

Learn more at marist.com