MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — South Dakota’s rate of home-schooled students rose 143% from the 2015–16 to the 2023–24 school years, according to a database compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The number of home-schooled students increased from 4,333 to 10,536 during that period.
Among states that reported data consistently during those years, Tennessee saw the next highest increase at 135%, followed by North Dakota at 114%, according to the Johns Hopkins home-school database.
The rapid growth in home schooling has contributed to significant funding decreases for public school districts. South Dakota schools receive roughly $7,000 per student in state aid, resulting in a collective funding loss exceeding $60 million as enrollment declines.
Home-school numbers may continue to rise following an announcement from Gov. Larry Rhoden, who said the state will opt into a federal education tax credit program aimed at supporting students in alternative schooling.
These findings were highlighted as part of a fact brief from South Dakota News Watch, which partners with Gigafact to verify claims and provide context through data-driven analysis.