Natalie never planned to homeschool, but as she watched her bright and curious daughter Anais grow more disengaged at school each day, she knew something had to change. After many honest conversations about alternative options, she decided to try homeschooling, a choice that opened doors Natalie and Anais never could have imagined. Today, Anais is 17 and a junior at The University of Texas at Austin. Their story is proof of what families can achieve when given the freedom and support to learn on their own terms.
What began as one mother’s decision to find a better educational path grew into a whole-family shift in how they think about education. Years later, after a move from California to Texas, Natalie is now homeschooling her two younger children too, hoping to give them the same chance Anais had.
The Opportunity: Accelerating Academic Achievement
From kindergarten through second grade, Anais was bullied and often felt like she didn’t belong. She also wasn’t being challenged academically. She finished her regular assignments early, spent recess reading alone in the library, and brought home extra work because she was so far ahead.
As Natalie watched Anais become increasingly disengaged, they started discussing alternative options. Homeschooling felt intimidating at first. Like many parents, Natalie worried about the stigma, and she worried even more about whether she was the right person for the job. She wasn’t a trained teacher. She didn’t have credentials. The fear of falling short for her own child weighed on her. But after honest conversations with Anais, Natalie decided homeschooling was the right fit for their family. She agreed to try it for a year and see where it led.
The first year wasn’t easy. There were hard days, frustration and a few tears on both sides. Natalie’s early instinct was to recreate the public school system at home, and it simply didn’t work for either of them. So she changed course. She started asking Anais what excited her about learning every day, and everything began to change.
The Solution: Utilizing Educational Funds to Customize a Homeschool Experience
At the time, the family lived in California and used educational funds through Inspire Charter School, now known as Mission Vista Academy, to open doors they could not have afforded otherwise. Throughout her entire homeschooling journey, Natalie was able to use the funds to help cover curriculum and supplies along with acting, martial arts, drawing and cooking classes. The funds gave Anais room to explore her interests and chances to connect with other kids through extracurriculars.
Natalie’s personalized, one-on-one approach mattered just as much. She kept Anais strong on the basics while giving her the freedom to move at her own pace. She refused to limit her daughter by grade level. Anais read Diary of Anne Frank in third grade, years before most kids ever pick it up. The freedom helped Anais learn faster, stay curious and build a lasting love for learning.
“I got to try acting, martial arts, drawing, all of it. Homeschooling didn’t make my world smaller. It made it bigger.” – Anais
The Impact: Outsized Expectations Meet Unprecedented Achievement
By the young age of 12, Anais had completed high school and enrolled in community college, sitting in classrooms full of adults while still figuring out who she wanted to be. She explored art, acting and interior design before setting her sights higher.
The road wasn’t perfectly smooth. Anais applied to several Ivy League schools and was rejected by every one. It stung, and for a while she felt disappointed in herself. But the disappointment became fuel. She tried again, and at 16, she was accepted to The University of Texas at Austin.
She is now pursuing business, a fitting choice for someone with so many creative passions. “I’m a very artistic type of person,” she says. “Business is broad. There are a lot of things to lean into, and I get to be creative in my own way.”
Having seen what’s possible, Natalie is excited to give her two younger children (11 and 4) the same opportunity through Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). She’s watched what listening, flexibility and the right resources can do for one child and she wants the same for the others.
“Just go for it. Try it. And don’t worry about what other people are going to say.”
– Natalie