How to Homeschool Night School (and Why Families Do It)

I had never really thought about homeschooling at night until I was doing research for another post and came across the topic of homeschool night school. Homeschooling at night is exactly what it sounds like: the children are taught in the evening rather than during the day. Some families do this because the parents work a full-time job and still want to homeschool, others because it lets them do more hands-on learning during the daytime, and some simply because it works better for their family schedule.

Here's the freeing truth: when homeschooling, there is no right or wrong time of day. You do what works best for your family and follows your state's homeschool laws. (Not sure what yours are? HSLDA is a great resource.)

Can homeschooling be done at night?

Yes, homeschooling can be done at night. When you homeschool, you can do what works best for your family — as long as you follow your state's homeschool laws. For what it's worth, we don't have a set start time each day; we have more of a routine. We wake up, eat breakfast, then start school. I start my older child on work he can do independently while I work one-on-one with my younger, then I switch to one-on-one time with my older. We take a break for lunch and then finish up for the day. Mornings work best for us — but nights work beautifully for many families.

6 reasons to homeschool at night

1. Both parents work full time during the day. Night school works well for families where both parents work a full-time job and still want to homeschool.
2. Both parents can be active in homeschooling. It's a great fit when a family wants or needs both parents involved in teaching lessons.
3. Homeschooling multiple grade levels. Teaching several grades at once can be a challenge for one person, so some families spread it across day and night.
4. More time for field trips and outside activities. Doing school at night frees up the daytime for hands-on learning and field trips when places aren't as busy — no feeling rushed.
5. Flexibility for children with special needs. Many children with special needs have doctor's appointments, physical therapy, or speech therapy during the day, so night school may work better for them and their siblings.
6. Your children are more focused at night. Some children have lots of energy to burn off during the day, or have little siblings who distract them — so once the littles are in bed, it's easier to focus.

How many hours a day should you homeschool?

There's no definite answer — it depends on your child's age, learning abilities, learning style, your curriculum, and how many children you're teaching at once. Using My Father's World and Saxon Math, here's roughly how long we homeschool per day by grade (not counting breaks or lunch):

• Kindergarten — 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
• First Grade — 2 to 3 hours
• Second Grade — 2 to 3.5 hours
• Third Grade — 2.5 to 3.5 hours
• Fourth Grade — 3 to 4 hours
• Fifth Grade — 3 to 4.5 hours
• Sixth Grade — 3.5 to 5 hours
• Seventh Grade — 4 to 6 hours
• Eighth Grade — 4 to 6 hours
• High School — 5+ hours

This is just an average — some days are shorter, depending on how quickly the material clicks that day.

How many days a week do you homeschool?

This is different for every family. We homeschool four days a week so we can keep one day for field trips, doctor appointments, or fun outside activities, and we homeschool from late September to the end of July.

The best part of homeschooling is that you can create a schedule that works best for your family — morning, night, weekdays, or weekends.

Frequently asked questions

Can you homeschool and still have a full-time job?

Yes, you can! Flexibility is a great part of homeschooling — it can be done during the day or at night, and more and more working families are finding they can homeschool and work a full-time job inside or outside the home.

Can you homeschool on weekends?

Yes. You can create a schedule that works best for your family. Just note that some states require a set number of school days per year (often 180), so always follow your state's homeschool laws.

What does it mean to be homeschooled?

Being homeschooled means the primary education takes place at home rather than in a public or private school. When someone asked my son this a few years ago, his answer was: "It is when one parent stays home with you and teaches you and the other parent works a bunch." Kids say the funniest things!

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Do what works for your family

Whether you're a morning family, a night-school family, or somewhere in between, the freedom to build your own schedule is one of homeschooling's greatest gifts. Follow your state's laws, find your rhythm, and don't compare your clock to anyone else's. For help building your daily flow, see Homeschool Schedules That Actually Work, and grab the free checklist below.