More kids are being homeschooled in Montana

Enrollment data released earlier this week from the Office of Public Instruction shows there’s been an increase in students seeking private or homeschooled instruction and a decrease in public school enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year.

Public K-12 students decreased by 1,988 students, or 1.3%, this year and the nonpublic enrollee population grew by 403 students or 2.4%. The number of homeschooled kids, factored in the nonpublic enrollment, rose by more than 9% in the last year.

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen attributes the shift in part to families wanting to homeschool their children.