hi all,
Jumping in a little late in the discussion, just wanted to add our experiences.
We started homeschooling because the private schools were very costly and the public schools were not good. Fortunately there was a very good support group that we connected to.
10 years later we moved to a small, rural area and my oldest didn't adjust well to being out in the boonies, so he entered high school in the middle of 9th grade. We were very pleased with the teachers, although the administration was a pain to deal with. They were more interested in policy than education. Two of my other children did a two year stint in the public school and again we loved the teachers and the atmosphere was welcoming and tended to be conservative.
HOWEVER, we have found that controling the environment and education of the children was far better than what was being offered at the private school nearby (where I taught music for a while) and our local public school. I see a big difference in attitude, maturity level, independence and self-worth.
Blessings,
suzanne