Explosive growth in NC homeschooling population leads to more programs for them
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State historic sites increasingly offer programs tailored for homeschool groups.
- Homeschool population is about 165,243, coinciding with more homeschool programs.
- Events emphasize hands-on history education; parents also get networking chances.
Bennett Place is often filled with school groups, but on Friday it was dozens of homeschool students who walked through the rural farm site to learn more about North Carolina history.
More than 100 homeschool students and their parents visited the famous Civil War site for a Homeschool Day hosted by Bennett Place State Historic Site. The state’s historic sites, as well as other groups, have increasingly organized events to cater to the needs of the state’s growing homeschool population.
“I just want more kids out here talking to parents and talking to our interpreters,” said Luke Kresse, education and collections coordinator for the Division of State Historic Sites at the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. ”It sounded like people had a wonderful time, and I just want to share that opportunity with more people. So I’ve reached out to homeschool groups directly.”
55% growth in homeschooling over past decade
North Carolina had an estimated 165,243 homeschool students last school year. That’s 55% more than 10 years prior, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
If the homeschool population was its own school district, it would be the largest in the state. In comparison, the Wake County school system has 160,000 students.
The state’s historic sites have historically held events for public schools and private schools. But the historic sites have increasingly been organizing events specifically for homeschool students.
“Our historic sites have recognized the need for different types of programming for different types of school groups and homeschool groups are able to come,” said Terra Schramm, a spokesperson for the Division of State Historic Sites. “They’re looking for a little bit more of an in-depth program.”
Unlike traditional school groups, Schramm said, homeschool groups have more flexibility since they’re not as beholden to school schedules.
Group homeschool field trips have become a way for parents to network with other adults and have their children socialize with other kids.
“Homeschooling in general, since the pandemic has really taken off, and there’s just a lot more families doing it every year,” said Wake Forest homeschool parent Shannon Meng. “I see ads all the time of like, maybe a rock climbing center dedicates a whole morning to homeschoolers. So I feel like the community here is just really robust.”
Meng ‘s family was among 20 people who came from their Wake Forest-based homeschool group. Meng said group field trips allow homeschool families to get more hands-on opportunities than if families went to sites individually.
Hands-on learning about NC history
In April 1865 the Bennett Farm became the site of the largest surrender of Confederate troops, effectively ending the Civil War. But on Friday, students could learn about more than the Civil War.
Kresse had interpreters from multiple state historic sites at the Homeschool Day so the students could learn about everything from colonial toys and games to the first flight of the Wright Brothers.
Jonas Meng, 13, was among the homeschoolers who wanted a firsthand try at walking on stilts — how his ancestors might have had fun hundreds of years ago.
“It was pretty cool,” Jonas said. “I like to learn about Civil War stuff. It was fun.”
As the historical trades interpretative specialist for the Division of State Historic Sites, Robert Bemis normally spends his weekdays training other staff to work with students. But on Friday, Bemis was teaching homeschoolers about 19th century woodworking, including giving them a chance to safely use a two-person crosscut saw.
“The great thing about working with kids is that they want to engage,” Bemis said. “So they will always want to have a hands-on demonstration. You’ll find that it’s the adults who are a little bit more self-conscious.”
Making history come alive for students
One of the most popular spots on Friday was the station for learning about the equipment worn by Civil War cavalry soldiers. The children crowded around Tyler Mink, who was decked out in Union soldier gear.
“I’ve got a table that is covered in historic weaponry, which is an immediate draw for many kids,” said Mink, a historical interpreter and the assistant site manager at Bennett Place. “But it’s alarming and detracting for others.
“So I need to make sure that the whole talk isn’t about something as aesthetic as weapons, or just kind of superficial, about, like, ‘Oh, here’s just guns’ broadly. But connecting a weapon as a tool for people that were here to do a job.”
By the end of the event, the homeschool families were thanking the interpreters for everything they had learned.
“It’s really exciting for the kids to see people in historical outfits,” said Cary homeschool parent Sarah Law. “It makes it come alive for kids and want to learn more about the history of this area.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Explosive growth in NC homeschooling population leads to more programs for them."
