Homeschooling in New Jersey, and the backyard classroom
Homeschooling has grown into one of the fastest-growing forms of education in the United States. U.S. Census Bureau data showed the share of households homeschooling roughly doubled in 2020, and a 2023 Washington Post analysis found homeschooling was the fastest-growing schooling option in the country. New Jersey is one of the easiest states to homeschool in, with no registration or approval required, and a growing number of NJ families are giving school its own space with a backyard classroom.
The share of U.S. households homeschooling roughly doubled in 2020, from about 5% to 11%.
Homeschooling was the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., up an estimated 51% over six years.
New Jersey requires no registration, approval, or notice to homeschool — one of the most flexible states in the country.
Figures are drawn from public reporting and are approximate; check current data and NJ Department of Education guidance for the latest.
Why homeschooling took off
Homeschooling used to be a niche choice. It isn't anymore. The share of American families teaching at home surged in 2020 and, unlike a lot of pandemic-era changes, it didn't snap back — homeschooling has settled in as one of the fastest-growing ways kids are educated in the country. Families point to all kinds of reasons: more flexibility and one-on-one attention, a schedule that fits their life, a learning pace set to the child instead of the class, and simply wanting a bigger hand in how their kids grow up.
New Jersey is one of the easiest states to do it in
New Jersey gives homeschooling families a lot of room. There's no requirement to register, get approval, or even notify your school district, and no state-mandated testing or curriculum to file. Parents are responsible for providing an education equivalent to public school, and that's the framework. That freedom is part of why so many NJ families give it a try. (Rules can change, so it's always worth confirming the current guidance with the NJ Department of Education.)
The hardest part isn't the teaching — it's the space
Talk to homeschool parents and the same frustration comes up again and again: school takes over the house. The kitchen table becomes a desk, supplies pile up in every room, and there's no line between school time and the rest of the day. A dedicated space fixes that. It gives lessons a place to start and stop, keeps projects and materials together, cuts the distractions, and gives kids a room that says "this is where we learn."
That's exactly why we're building backyard mini classrooms for NJ homeschool families: a finished, quiet room a few steps from the house, with space for desks, storage, a reading nook, and a whiteboard wall, without giving up a bedroom inside. Our three starting sizes run from $4,975, and each one is finished around how your family actually learns.
Homeschooling & backyard classroom questions
Is homeschooling growing in New Jersey?
Nationally, yes, sharply. U.S. Census Bureau data showed the share of households homeschooling roughly doubled in 2020, and it has stayed well above pre-2020 levels since. New Jersey doesn't require families to register to homeschool, so the state keeps no official count, but the interest we hear from customers mirrors the national rise.
Do you have to register to homeschool in NJ?
No. New Jersey is one of the most flexible states in the country for homeschooling: parents are not required to register, seek approval, or notify the district, and there's no mandated testing or curriculum to file. Families are responsible for providing an education equivalent to what's offered in public school. Always confirm current rules with the NJ Department of Education, as guidance can change.
Why do homeschool families add a dedicated classroom space?
The most common struggle homeschool parents describe is keeping school separate from the rest of home life. A dedicated space gives lessons a start and an end, keeps supplies and projects in one place, cuts the distractions of the kitchen table, and gives kids a room that signals "this is where we learn." A backyard room does that without giving up a bedroom or dining room inside the house.
What size backyard classroom do most families want?
It depends on how many kids and how you teach, but our three starting shed sizes cover most homeschool setups: 8x10 for one or two learners and a desk, 8x12 for a bit more room with storage and a reading nook, and 10x12 for a full mini classroom with desks, a whiteboard wall, and space to spread out. Every one is finished around how your family learns.
Thinking about a backyard classroom? See our sheds & mini classrooms or tell us what you're picturing.
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