Montgomery County Data Show Modest Shift to Homeschooling
Local Homeschool News: Maryland
New data from Maryland’s largest school district show a small but steady flow of families choosing to homeschool (Bethesda Magazine).
Montgomery County Public Schools shared the numbers at a school board work session on November 2. In 2026, 284 students left MCPS for homeschooling, while 202 joined MCPS from homeschooling. That is a net shift of 82 students, up from 73 in 2025, when 266 left and 193 joined.
The figures came up as the district looked at a drop of about 4,100 students this year. District staff said most of the decline comes from fewer births and lower international enrollment, not from families leaving for private schools or homeschooling.
The data also show that families move in both directions. Some students who homeschool for a time return to public school, while others make the switch to home. Homeschooling remains one option among many for Maryland families.
For more on homeschooling in the state, see our Maryland Homeschool Laws page and our Maryland Pending Homeschool Legislation post.
Sources:
- Ashlyn Campbell, “Where are the children going?: MCPS says enrollment drop is not due to students opting for private, homeschooling,” Bethesda Magazine, November 2, 2026