(RALEIGH) -- While thousands of North Carolina children are heading back to school this year, some are going to class at home.  Terry Stoops with the John Locke Foundation said that those who are choosing the option of home schooling is on the rise.

"Over the last 10 years we've seen about a 50 percent increase in home schooling, so it is a huge area of growth in schooling," said Stoops.  "A lot of parents are taking this option for their children and for their families and the numbers continue to grow."

Stoops said most who opt for home schools are parents of elementary and middle school students.  He added that with virtual learning and other options, more are also able to home school high school subjects.