Every parent wants to give their child the best start in life, especially during the critical early years of first through fifth grade. These elementary years lay the foundation for future learning – children transition from “learning to read” in the early grades to “reading to learn” by third and fourth grade. Research shows that if students haven’t achieved reading proficiency by third grade, they are four times more likely to become high school dropouts. High-quality education in the early years is not just about good grades; it’s about setting children up for lifelong success in literacy, math, and critical thinking. Unfortunately, many families across the U.S. struggle to secure this high-quality education for their young learners due to systemic challenges in both public and private schooling. In the sections below, we’ll explore these challenges and discuss possible solutions – including innovative homeschool programs – to ensure your child thrives academically.
Public schools serve about 90% of American children, and many provide excellent education. However, a significant number of public schools face challenges that can impact the quality of education your child receives. One major issue is teacher shortages. As of the 2023-24 school year, 86% of U.S. public schools reported difficulty hiring teachers for open positions. When schools can’t find enough qualified teachers, they often resort to stopgap measures that affect students: combining classes or increasing class sizes. In fact, more than 1 in 4 public schools have dealt with staffing shortages by creating larger classes.
Why do class sizes matter? Imagine a single teacher trying to give individual attention to 30 or even 40 energetic young children in one classroom. Teachers say that when you put 33, 38, or 40 kids in one room, it becomes “impossible to meet their individual needs.” (nea.org). Every child has a unique learning pace and style, and in overcrowded classrooms some kids inevitably “fall through the cracks” – either bored because they’re ahead or struggling because they’re behind. Large class sizes also mean more distractions and less one-on-one time for each student, which is especially concerning in early grades when children need guidance to build strong foundations in reading and math.
Another consequence of teacher shortages and under-resourcing is that students may begin to fall behind academically. Recent data show that nearly 45% of public school students started the 2023 school year below grade level in at least one subject (washingtonpost.com), a lingering effect of pandemic disruptions and strained school resources. When schools are understaffed, teachers are overextended – sometimes even giving up planning periods to cover classes – and it becomes harder to provide targeted help to each child. Crucial support services (like reading specialists or teacher’s aides) might be lacking. This means a child who is struggling to grasp phonics or basic addition might not get timely intervention, allowing small gaps in understanding to widen over time.
Funding and resource disparities also play a role. Public school quality can vary widely depending on the district. Schools in affluent areas often have newer materials, better facilities, and more enrichment programs, while schools in high-poverty areas might use outdated textbooks and have fewer extracurricular opportunities. These inequities mean not every child gets the “high-quality” experience we aspire to. As parents, it’s painful to watch a child’s potential limited by circumstances outside your control – such as the neighborhood you live in or the luck of the draw with teacher assignments.
In summary, many public school parents face overcrowded classrooms, teacher turnover, and uneven resource quality. Dedicated educators work hard every day, but the systemic challenges can make it difficult for them to give every child the attention and instruction they deserve.
Hearing about the struggles in some public schools, many parents naturally consider private schools for a higher-quality education. Private schools often tout smaller class sizes, specialized programs, and enriched curricula. It’s true that a good private school can offer many advantages – for example, your first-grader might be in a class of 15 instead of 30, and the school might have abundant art, music, and science resources. These environments can indeed be conducive to learning. However, private education comes with a hefty price tag and limited accessibility.
First and foremost is the cost barrier. Private school tuition in the U.S. is beyond the reach of many families. The national average private school tuition is about $14,959 per year, and even at the elementary level it averages around $13,991 per year (privateschoolreview.com). In some states and elite schools, tuition can climb much higher – often $20,000 or more annually for one child. For a family with two or three young kids, these costs are prohibitive. Not to mention, tuition is only one part of the expense; there are often additional fees for uniforms, books, facility funds, and extracurriculars. Simply put, not every household can budget tens of thousands of dollars a year for elementary school.
Because of these costs, only about 9–10% of American K-12 students are enrolled in private schools – roughly 4.7 million out of ~50 million total students (nces.ed.gov). Private schools, by their nature, serve a small segment of the population. This leaves the vast majority of families relying on public schools or other alternatives. Even families who might afford private school face practical hurdles: there may be no quality private schools nearby (especially in rural areas), or admission can be competitive and not guaranteed.
Furthermore, choosing private isn’t just an economic decision; it can be a cultural or personal one. Many private schools are affiliated with religious or specific educational philosophies, which may or may not align with a family’s values or a child’s needs. And while smaller class sizes are common in private schools, there’s no absolute guarantee of quality – some private schools hire uncertified teachers or have curricula that lack oversight. As a parent, you have to weigh whether the promised benefits truly justify the costs and trade-offs.
For countless families, the conclusion is that traditional private schooling is not a feasible solution to the education quality problem. The struggle then becomes: if your local public schools are not meeting your child’s needs, and private schools are out of reach, what can you do to ensure your child is getting a top-notch education?
It’s important to recognize why these struggles in accessing quality education are so concerning, particularly for children in first through fifth grade. Early elementary years are when kids develop fundamental skills and attitudes toward learning. Problems encountered now can have long-term consequences on a child’s academic trajectory and self-esteem.
Consider literacy as an example. If a child doesn’t get sufficient reading instruction or practice in first and second grade, they might enter third or fourth grade still unable to read fluently. By fourth grade, classwork shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. A student who hasn’t mastered reading will suddenly struggle in every subject – from understanding a math word problem to following along in social studies. Educators refer to this as the “fourth grade slump,” where students who fell behind in reading face compounding difficulties. Tragically, many of these children never catch up. As noted earlier, lack of reading proficiency by third grade correlates with much higher dropout rates in later years. This isn’t because they’re incapable, but because they missed out on quality foundational teaching when it mattered most.
Math tells a similar story. Elementary school math isn’t just about learning to add or subtract; it’s about building number sense and problem-solving skills. A child who doesn’t grasp these basics early on may develop math anxiety or the false belief that they “just aren’t good at math.” Large class sizes and insufficient support can cause teachers to move on before some students truly understand a concept. Without intervention, these gaps widen: the student might start avoiding math, and by middle school they’re far behind peers. National assessment results reflect this concern – for instance, in 2022 only 36% of fourth graders were proficient in math according to NAEP (a national exam), meaning nearly two-thirds were not on track. In reading, similarly, only 33% of fourth graders were proficient in 2022. These statistics underscore how widespread the challenges are; a majority of U.S. elementary students are not reaching proficiency in core skills, often due to factors beyond their control.
Beyond academics, educational struggles can affect a child’s confidence and love of learning. Young kids are naturally curious and eager to learn. But if they experience constant frustration – whether from an overcrowded class where they can’t get help, or curriculum that isn’t engaging – they may start to withdraw. It’s heartbreaking but not uncommon to hear of an enthusiastic first-grader who, by fourth grade, says they “hate school” because it makes them feel stupid or bored. Bullying and social issues can also arise when teachers are overextended and can’t closely monitor classroom dynamics, further harming a child’s school experience.
For parents, seeing your child struggle or lose their spark for learning is extremely distressing. You might be asking: How can I make sure my child doesn’t fall behind? How can I keep them motivated and confident in their abilities? If traditional schools – public or private – aren’t fulfilling these needs, is there another path?
The good news is that you are not powerless. In fact, many parents in recent years have taken a more active role in their children’s education to overcome these challenges. In the next section, we’ll explore one such route that more families are turning to: homeschooling, supported by high-quality online platforms.
Homeschooling was once a fairly rare practice, perceived as a niche choice. That has changed dramatically in the past decade – especially since 2020. Facing the dual challenges of school disruptions and concerns about quality, millions of parents have opted to educate their children at home. Homeschooling offers the potential for a truly personalized learning experience: one-on-one attention, a pace that suits the child, and the ability to focus on areas that need improvement or acceleration. When done right, homeschooling can directly address many of the struggles we’ve discussed by removing large classes and rigid curricula from the equation.
The numbers tell an eye-opening story. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, around spring 2019, there were roughly 2.5 million K-12 homeschool students in the United States. By the 2021-2022 school year, that number had soared to about 3.1 million, representing roughly 6% of all school-aged children being educated at home. In other words, approximately 1 in 16 students in the U.S. is now homeschooled – a proportion that would have been unheard of a generation ago. Homeschooling has moved into the mainstream, growing rapidly as parents seek greater control over educational quality and environment.
Why are families choosing homeschooling? The reasons are diverse. For some, it’s about academic quality – they believe they can provide a more rigorous or suitable education at home than the local school can. For others, it’s about environment – a desire for a safe, focused space free from bullying or negative peer pressure. Many parents appreciate the flexibility: homeschoolers can set their own schedules, delve deeply into topics that excite them, and take field trips or hands-on projects that traditional classrooms might not offer. During the pandemic, even parents who never imagined homeschooling got a window into their kids’ education through remote learning and often were not satisfied with what they saw, prompting them to try homeschooling intentionally.
Research on homeschooling outcomes has generally been encouraging. Homeschooled students, on average, tend to perform as well as or better than their public school counterparts on standardized tests. In fact, studies compiled by the National Home Education Research Institute indicate that home-educated students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. This higher performance is observed across a range of subjects. Part of this success is attributed to the individualized attention and ability to master a topic before moving on, which is a luxury that a one-size-fits-all classroom can’t afford. It’s worth noting that these outcomes hold across different parent education levels and income levels – meaning you don’t have to be a trained teacher or have an advanced degree for your child to thrive in homeschool.
Socialization is a common question, but studies show homeschoolers often engage in plenty of social and extracurricular activities, and they tend to develop strong self-concepts and leadership skills. The bottom line is that homeschooling, when supported properly, can be a viable path to a high-quality education. Of course, it also requires a significant commitment from parents – planning lessons, managing curricula, and ensuring your child stays on track can be daunting, especially if you’re new to it. Not every parent has the time or confidence to design a full educational program from scratch.
This is where modern online homeschooling platforms come into play. Today, parents don’t have to do it all alone. There are comprehensive resources and curricula available that can take a lot of the guesswork out of homeschooling. These platforms strive to provide the structure and quality of a school – lesson plans, instructional videos, practice exercises, assessments – but in a format you can use at home at your own pace. In the final section, we’ll look at one such solution designed specifically for families like yours: Accelerated High School (AHS), a flexible and affordable homeschooling program for elementary students.
If you’re considering alternatives to traditional public or private schools, Accelerated High School (AHS) may be the solution you’re looking for. AHS is a not-for-profit online platform that offers a flexible and comprehensive homeschooling solution tailored to families seeking high-quality education from home. It’s built especially with elementary learners (Grades 1-5) in mind, combining the rigor of a solid curriculum with the interactivity of modern e-learning. The goal of AHS is to empower parents to provide an excellent education regardless of their location, schedule, or background, and to overcome many of the struggles we’ve discussed.
In short, AHS functions as an all-in-one homeschool solution – it brings together curriculum, instruction, practice, and assessment in a single platform. This removes a huge burden from parents’ shoulders. Instead of piecing together a math book from here, a reading program from there, and worrying about gaps, you have everything cohesively organized for you.
One concern parents often have is how to get started – will it be a technical hassle? AHS is designed to be very user-friendly. Here’s how you can begin and use the platform in a few easy steps:
These steps make it clear that you don’t have to be a tech guru or an experienced educator to start homeschooling with AHS. The platform is designed to guide you through setup and daily use. And should you ever have questions, AHS offers customer support and a community of other parent users where you can seek advice or tips.
By following the above steps, many parents find that homeschooling transitions from a daunting idea to a rewarding reality. You remain in control of your child’s education, but you’re not alone – AHS provides the curriculum structure, the teaching tools, and the support system you need to succeed.
Every family’s situation is unique, but the shared goal among parents is clear: we all want our children to receive a high-quality education that enables them to reach their full potential. In the United States today, it’s evident that traditional paths – public schools straining under various challenges, or private schools out of reach for many – don’t always make that goal easy to achieve. The struggles are real: overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, cost barriers, and the risk of children falling behind during those pivotal early years. Acknowledging these issues is the first step, and taking action is the next.
The rise of homeschooling represents one form of action that thousands of parents are choosing. It’s a way to take charge of your child’s learning environment and tailor it to their needs. As we’ve discussed, homeschooling can yield excellent academic results and restore a love of learning in children who might be wilting in other settings. But successful homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to do it all on your own or reinvent the wheel for each subject. That’s where resources like Accelerated High School (AHS) come into play – to partner with you in delivering top-notch education at home.
AHS addresses many struggles head-on: it keeps learning engaging (no more bored, checked-out students), ensures thorough coverage of curriculum standards (so your child learns everything they should and more), and provides the tools to monitor and encourage progress (so no child slips through the cracks). Importantly, it makes this solution accessible and affordable, opening the doors of high-quality education to families who might have felt stuck between inadequate public schools and unaffordable private schools. In essence, AHS and similar platforms are leveling the educational playing field, one homeschool family at a time.
If you are a parent of a first through fifth grader worried about your child’s educational journey, now is a great time to explore your options. You can sign up for a free trial of AHS and see how it works for your child. Watch them light up at an interactive science video or proudly print a certificate after acing a quiz. Homeschooling doesn’t mean schooling alone – with AHS, you gain a community and a proven program to back you up.
Your child’s future is too important to leave to chance. By staying informed about the challenges in our education system and being proactive in finding solutions, you’re already taking a huge step toward ensuring your child gets the quality education they deserve. Whether you ultimately supplement public school with at-home resources, fully homeschool, or find another creative path, your involvement and advocacy make all the difference. Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. With dedication and the right support, you can overcome the hurdles and watch your young learner thrive.
Ready to take control of your child’s education? Consider giving AHS a try – it might just be the game-changing support your family needs. You can sign up now or schedule a free demo, and embark on a new learning adventure that puts your child on the road to success. Here’s to empowering your child’s mind and securing a bright educational future!
AHSEDU.org offers personalized learning for every student. With a curriculum standardized with USA State Standards, Free interactive videos, Fun and interactive learning content, Constructive assessments, and take-home worksheets we address the unique educational needs of each learner to ensure success.
