There were an estimated 8,712 home-schooled students during the 2005-06 school year, up 9 percent from the 7,997 during the previous academic year, according to latest report by the U.S. Department of Education's Instructional Services Branch.

Central O'ahu had the most children being educated at home with 1,773, followed closely by the Big Island's 1,748. Most of the Big Island's students were registered through Waiakea High School.

Parents cite many reasons to keep their children at home, from dissatisfaction with the quality of education at schools to being able to spend more time as a family.