Home schooling is a major thing in our area. Of course it is a personal choice and the reasons for it are many. In most instances it is a "religious choice". However I know families who do it for economic reasons. (They have several children and can't afford the new clothes etc, field trips, etc. And they do not want "government assistance".) There are others whose children have medical issues and the local school system can't provide the proper environment or trained personnel. There are still others whose children have been traumatized (physically or emotionally) and cannot deal with school social issues and bullies (kids can be terrible). So yes it is a thing. Does it work? In most cases it works fine. Most homeschooled children when tested outscored their peer groups dramatically. Most, not all, homeschooled kids are well ahead their public and private school peers in math and the sciences. Parents of homeschooled children make arrangements so their children have social interaction with children of their own age equal to those who attend public or private schools. There are many sites on the web that cover the subject.
