9: Springfield, Missouri

Missouri Division of Tourism

HOMESCHOOL REQUIREMENTS: File a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool every year by Sept. 1 (or within 30 days of withdrawing your child from school)

COMMUNITY: The Springfield MO Moms Homeschoolers network connects homeschool families around the Ozarks for social and educational opportunities, curriculum trades, and online conversation.

BOOKS: You can score used and new books (not to mention used textbooks) for bargain-basement prices at ABC Books.

INSIDER TIP: Homeschoolers can tour the Askinosie Chocolate Factory, which makes organic, free-trade chocolate.

RESOURCES: Participate in the Homeschool History Fair of the Ozarks; sign up for weekly homeschool activities at the YMCA; study nature at Dickerson Park Zoo and the Botanical Gardens; make the most of homeschool day at Silver Dollar City; try out for a show at the Springfield Little Theater; take the homeschool track at Ozarks Technical Community College; play old-school arcade games at 1984

NUMBER OF MUSEUMS: 23, including the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, the History of Hearing Museum, and the Missouri Institute of Natural Science

NUMBER OF LIBRARIES: 10, plus a book mobile and a drop-off/pick-up location at the Price Cutter supermarket

MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $116,500

POPULATION: 164,122

The first time you pick up your on-hold library books at the supermarket in Springfield, you’ll feel like there should be a fanfare of trumpets. How often is library legwork this easy? But Springfield’s libraries are some of the best in the country, and the librarian team works hard to make them as accessible as possible, with late-night hours, a book mobile, an on-site cafe, and yes, pick-up and drop-off options at the Price Cutter supermarket.

The Queen City of the Ozarks’ library system is just one of the only-in-Springfield details that make this city such a great place to live. The city’s big enough to have amenities like its top-notch library system, its own opera and ballet companies, and a busy theatrical season, but still small enough to feel like one big community. On a weekday morning, there’s a good chance you’ll run into other homeschool families, whether you’re playing in fountains at Jordan Valley Park, lining up for the roller coasters at Silver Dollar City, or waiting your turn to ride a bike across the highwire at the Discovery Center. The Bass Pro Shop outdoor supply stores started here in Springfield, and the main outpost goes all out with special programming and activities throughout the year. Cheering for the minor-league Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field is practically mandatory if you live here, but tickets often sell for less than $10 each so the city’s baseball obsession is one you can afford to keep up with. Springfield is also home to plenty of history: Wilson’s Creek Battlefield is the site of the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi, and the American Civil War Library is housed there.

Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks, Springfield is also a gateway to all kinds of outdoor adventure, from float trips down the James or Niangua River, to fishing on Table Rock Lake, to watching for deer on the trails at the Springfield Nature Center. Costs in Springfield are low. On average, you’ll pay about seven percent less here for gas, utilities, and other everyday expenses than you would in other parts of the country. Houses are affordable, even in sought-after, family-oriented neighborhoods like Phelps Grove. Public transportation is just fine, but you’ll definitely want a car to get around efficiently. One thing to be aware of: Springfield has the most variable weather in the United States, so be prepared for days that feel like they run through all four seasons.

This list was originally published by home/school/life in 2014. Are there great Springfield, MO secular homeschool resources we missed or new resources created since we made this list? Add them in the comments!

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