Home Schooling On The Rise In District Of Columbia

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Home schooling appears to be an increasingly popular education option for families in the District of Columbia.

The number of registered home-schooling families has grown by a third over the past two years to almost 400 this fall, up from less than 300 in the 2013-2014 school year.

The Washington Post reports that the growth corresponds with an increase in the number of home-school cooperatives and Internet mailing lists offering support and advice for home school families.

Home-schooling groups that have been formed include those for blacks, Christians, gifted students and military families.

Nationwide, about 3?percent of the school-age population was home-schooled in the 2011-2012 school year, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Education Department.