Homeschool families are helping drive the public-school exodus in Colorado, commentary argues

While Colorado’s public-school analysts often blame dwindling enrollment on falling birth rates, higher immigration enforcement and a shrinking population, they may need to consider another factor – homeschooling, argues a recent commentary. 

“In stark contrast to the consistent year-over-year dip on district rolls across Colorado since 2022, the number of homeschool families in our state has actually been on the rise in that same time period,” writes Christian Horstmann in a piece published by the Rocky Mountain Voice. 

Horstmann, a homeschool graduate working for Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC), noted the state’s education department had reported a 5.5% increase in full-time homeschoolers for the 2025-2026 school year – while districts showed an overall 1.2% decline “this year alone.” 

“Could it be that the desperate drop in public school students is being exacerbated by the simple fact that more parents are waking up and taking personal interest and direct responsibility for their children’s education?” he asks. 

Increased workshop attendance reflecting ‘broader statewide surge’ 

The number of Centennial State homeschoolers has grown nearly 20% since 2022, according to government data. 

However, such statistics represent “a vast undercount, as they only represent families who home educate under just one of Colorado’s three different legal options,” Horstmann observes. 

“Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) is on the front lines of experiencing this trend firsthand, welcoming nearly 125 families at two ‘how-to-homeschool’ seminars hosted earlier this month in Castle Rock. The increased attendance at these events mirror the broader statewide surge.” 

Meanwhile, the state’s public schools lost more than 10,000 students this academic year – “affecting each of our top ten largest districts and many others statewide,” according to Horstmann. 

“Denver Public Schools alone lost about 1,200 students and the district is already projecting another 6,000 by 2029 – almost certain to trigger even more school closures on top of the ten that have already been shuttered over the last few years.” 

As previously reported by The Lion, Colorado families tend to cite concerns over school environments – including bullying, drugs and safety – as the top reason for choosing to homeschool, 

“The number of Colorado families homeschooling remains significantly higher than before the pandemic, with more than 3,300 more students learning at home today compared to a decade ago,” the Denver Gazette reported in July. 

“Today, many families join homeschool co-ops, which offer group classes, field trips, and parent-to-parent support — a far cry from the solitary experience of early homeschool pioneers.” 

The news outlet quoted Stacie Graver, a mom who credited homeschooling for allowing her to tailor learning directly to her children’s specific needs. 

“The beauty of homeschooling,” she explained, “is you can modify based on the student.”