Sycamore Community Schools approaches a Nov. 3 levy vote as Ohio's homeschool enrollment climbs past 53,000 students statewide.

The state had 53,051 homeschool students during the 2024-25 school year, representing 2.76% of Ohio's school-age children, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, citing Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) data, reported the number topped 50,000 and has climbed significantly since 2020-21.

The growth accelerated after Ohio lawmakers rolled homeschooling deregulation into the 2023 state budget bill. The law eliminated four requirements: instructors no longer need a high school diploma, families no longer submit academic progress reports or assessment tests, and there is no minimum number of instructional hours, WVXU reported Thursday, Sept. 10. Homeschooling numbers were already rising before the law passed.

How Ohio funds students

Under Ohio's funding formula, state dollars follow students to wherever they are educated. When a family switches to homeschooling, the resident district no longer receives state funding for that student, according to the Ohio DEW.

Sycamore Community Schools has an enrollment of 3,655 students for the 2026-27 school year, according to the district's website. The district spends an average of $15,000 per student. About 85% of district revenue comes from local property taxes, while 15% comes from the state, according to the district's ballot issue FAQ.

How many Sycamore-area families have shifted to homeschooling is not available in public district records. The district maintains a homeschool information page on its website for families in its service area.

Levy on the ballot

The Sycamore Board of Education placed a combined 6.95-mill property tax levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. The levy is split between 5.00 mills for operating expenses and 1.95 mills for permanent improvements. It covers precincts in Blue Ash, Montgomery, Sycamore Township and portions of Symmes Township and Loveland, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

The last time Sycamore voters approved an operating levy was in November 2016. The district stretched those funds for 10 years, double the original five-year promise, by capping annual expenditure growth under 2.5% to 3.5% and aligning staffing with enrollment trends, according to the district's ballot issue FAQ.

The Sycamore Board of Education meets next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Kenwood Learning Commons, 11120 Kenwood Rd., Cincinnati.