I choose the "equal" option because there are so many factors to consider. When we homeschooled- there were so many moments everyday to reinforce all that I was teaching. When we finally moved to a state with charter schools and we decided to put the kids in school, they were way ahead of their counterparts. Luckily the charter school met them where they were and let them continue from that point. Homeschooling also developed in them a sense of responsibility to get it done without me looking over their shoulder. On the flip side I've met other homeschoolers who's parents don't have it together and are completely dropping the ball to the child's disadvantage. As a child, I went from an elementary school in Ohio to Arkansas. I had mastered everything taught to me at the latter school the year before, in the Ohio school. When finally moving back to Ohio, the make up I had to achieve was tremendous. Two public schools, very very different educations. Once again, there are just so many factors.