Homeschool Discounts in New York (2026) — New York homeschool days upstate

New York's best homeschool deals cluster upstate, where science centers, aquariums, and living-history museums run dedicated homeschool programming for a fraction of a regular family visit. In Rochester, the RMSC runs Homeschool Afternoons — a facilitated 50-minute STEM session plus full museum admission for $25 a student, with parent chaperones just $5. At Niagara Falls, the Aquarium of Niagara holds all-ages Homeschool Classes on the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, for $15 a student. Syracuse's Everson Museum of Art opens its docent tours and art-making studios to homeschool co-ops, and the Genesee Country Village near Rochester runs seasonal homeschool tour days.

Downstate, Long Island's Cradle of Aviation Museum — where Grumman built the real Apollo Lunar Modules — gives homeschool groups of 10 or more a discounted $12 museum rate (versus $18 general admission), with the planetarium combo at $20. Most of these are pay-as-you-go single sessions or group field-trip rates, so a co-op can show up once without committing to a class series. Pair them with the dozens of free and cheap educational outings in our New York directory below — from the free New York State Museum in Albany to the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse. If your venue runs a homeschool day we missed, email info@discovercheapus.com.

Confirmed homeschool pricing

Published price on the venue's own homeschool page — most under $20 per child.

Recurring

Recurring sessions (spring & fall)

Themed STEM topics by grade band; register for the next date

$25 per session

per kid · adult $5 per chaperone

RMSC — Homeschool Afternoons

Rochester · Grade-banded (e.g., grades 1–6 and 2–9) · Pre-registration required, online or by phone

The Rochester Museum & Science Center runs Homeschool Afternoons throughout the spring and fall — a 50-minute educator-facilitated program diving into a STEM topic like Earth science or water quality, followed by the rest of the afternoon to explore the museum's three floors of exhibits on your included admission. Sessions are grade-banded, and parent chaperones are just $5, making it one of the best-value homeschool programs in western New York.

Regular admission: $23 adult / $21 youth 3–18 regular admission — Facilitated STEM program plus admission for the price of a regular ticket

Homeschool page at rmsc.org →

Recurring

Second Tuesday monthly, Sept–May

11:30am–1pm; one theme explored across the school year

$15 per K–12 student

per kid · adult $8 per adult

Aquarium of Niagara — Homeschool Classes

Niagara Falls · All ages, K–12 · Pre-register online; registration closes the Monday before each class

The Aquarium of Niagara runs all-ages Homeschool Classes on the second Tuesday of every month from September through May, each a 90-minute hands-on session built around a yearlong theme (recent years went 'Inside the Aquarium,' exploring resident species, animal care, and behind-the-scenes areas). Families register month to month — no series commitment — and students take home a project after each class. At $15 a student and $8 an adult, it's an easy add to a Niagara Falls day.

Regular admission: Class fee is separate from general admission — 1.5-hour educator-led class for $15, drop-in by the month

Homeschool page at aquariumofniagara.org →

When

By reservation, Wed–Fri from 10am

Self-guided visits or docent tour + art-making studio

$8 per student (art-making)

per kid

Everson Museum of Art — Homeschool Group Visits

Syracuse · All ages · Submit a tour request form 4 weeks in advance (cwalsh@everson.org)

I.M. Pei's Everson Museum of Art opens its galleries and Danial Family Education Center to homeschool groups alongside schools and community organizations. Co-ops of 10 or more can book a self-guided group visit ($100 flat for up to 25) or pair a docent-led tour with a hands-on art-making workshop — painting, printmaking, fiber arts, or clay — for $8 per student. It's a budget way to give a homeschool group a real museum-and-studio day in a landmark building.

Regular admission: $14 adult / $5 child regular admission — Group self-guided visit works out to roughly $4–10 per student

Homeschool page at everson.org →

Year-round

Group rate available year-round

Tue–Sun; book 48 hours ahead

$12 museum (10+ group)

per kid · adult $12 (chaperones same rate)

Cradle of Aviation Museum — Homeschool Field Trips

Garden City (Long Island) · All ages; classes grade-banded · Reserve at least 48 hours ahead via the homeschool contact form

Long Island's aerospace museum, on the old Mitchel Field where Grumman built the real Apollo Lunar Modules, offers homeschool groups of 10 or more a discounted $12 museum rate (versus $18 general admission), with a planetarium combo at $20 and add-on educator-led museum classes for $2–3. Homeschool co-ops easily meet the 10-student minimum. Free downloadable scavenger hunts and educator guides help families build a lesson around the visit.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $16 youth 2–12 regular admission — About a third off regular admission for groups of 10+

Homeschool page at cradleofaviation.org →

Worth calling about

These venues run homeschool programs but don't publish pricing online. Call before you go.

When

Seasonal homeschool tour days

e.g., Spring Nature Discoveries Homeschool Tour, June 10

Call

no public price

Genesee Country Village & Museum — Homeschool Tour Days

Mumford (~20 mi from Rochester)

One of the largest living-history museums in the country, Genesee Country Village recreates a 19th-century Genesee Valley village with 68 historic buildings, costumed interpreters, heritage gardens, and a nature center. It runs themed homeschool tour days through the year — maple sugaring in spring, nature discovery tours in early summer — at special homeschool rates, but the museum only posts pricing once you register, so confirm the current rate first.

Regular admission: ~$25 adult general admission

How to reach them: The museum schedules seasonal homeschool tour days (Maple Festival, Spring Nature Discoveries, and more) but lists pricing only at registration. Check the homeschool programs page or call to confirm the current per-student rate before you go.

Homeschool page at gcv.org →

Plus more free and cheap educational outings in New York

Already on DiscoverCheapUS — free and low-cost New York attractions homeschool families plan whole field-trip days around.

New York City

3 free or cheap

Grand Central TerminalFree
New York Public Library — Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingFree (including all guided tours)
9/11 Memorial Plaza & Reflecting PoolsFree (Memorial Museum is separate, paid admission)

See all New York City attractions →

Long Island

7 free or cheap

Sagamore Hill National Historic SiteFree grounds & museum / TR Home tour by ticket (small fee)
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park$8 per vehicle (seasonal parking)
Nassau County Museum of Art$15 adults / $5 under 12 / Arboretum & sculpture garden free
Cradle of Aviation Museum$18 adults / $16 youth 2–12 & seniors
Long Island Children's Museum$18 per person / $5 with EBT (Museums For All) / Free under 1
Old Bethpage Village Restoration$15 adults / $12 children 5–12 / Free under 5
Raynham Hall Museum$12 adults / $8 students & seniors

See all Long Island attractions →

Niagara Falls

3 free or cheap

Niagara Power VistaFree
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center$15 adults / $12 seniors 62+ / $12 students 13+ / $10 youth 6–12 / Free under 6
Old Fort Niagara$21 adults / $13 children 12 and under / Free 5 and under

See all Niagara Falls attractions →

Buffalo

6 free or cheap

Buffalo City Hall Observation DeckFree
Buffalo AKG Art Museum$30 adults / Pay-What-You-Wish on M&T First Fridays (5–10pm, first Friday of the month)
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site$12 adults / $7 youth (6–18) / Free under 6
Pierce-Arrow Museum$20 adults / $10 children (12 and under)
Buffalo History MuseumPay-What-You-Wish (suggested $12)
Forest Lawn CemeteryFree

See all Buffalo attractions →

Rochester

8 free or cheap

Highland ParkFree
Mount Hope CemeteryFree
George Eastman Museum$23 adults / $9 youth 5–17 / Free for SNAP-EBT families
Susan B. Anthony Museum & House$20 adults / $8 students / $3 Museums For All
Memorial Art Gallery$20 adults / $9 ages 6–18 / Half-price Thu & 2nd Fri after 5pm
Seneca Park Zoo$16 adults / $13 youth 4–14 ($2 less online) / Free under 4
Corn Hill Historic DistrictFree
Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)Suggested admission $2 ($5 during 6x6) / Free for members

See all Rochester attractions →

Syracuse

6 free or cheap

Erie Canal MuseumFree (suggested donation)
Onondaga Historical MuseumFree (suggested donation)
Everson Museum of Art$14 adults / $5 children 6–12 / Pay-what-you-wish Wed & Thu eve
Rosamond Gifford Zoo$9 adults / $5 youth 3–17 / Free under 2
MOST – Museum of Science & Technology$18 adults / $14 youth 2–15 / $2 with EBT (Museums For All)
Skä•noñh – Great Law of Peace Center$7 adults / $5 youth 6–17 / Free 5 & under

See all Syracuse attractions →

Albany

8 free or cheap

New York State CapitolFree
Empire State PlazaFree
New York State MuseumFree
Albany Pine Bush PreserveFree
Albany Rural CemeteryFree
USS Slater$14 adults / $10 youth under 18 / Free 5 & under
Albany Institute of History & Art$12 adults / $8 children 6–12 / Free First Fridays 5–7pm
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site$5 adults / $4 students / Free 12 & under

See all Albany attractions →

Saratoga Springs

9 free or cheap

Saratoga Spa State ParkFree walk-in / $10 per vehicle
Congress Park & Canfield CasinoFree park / $15 adults for History Museum
Yaddo GardensFree
Saratoga Race Course$7-10 general admission during meet / Free morning workouts daily 7am
Saratoga National Historical ParkFree
Saratoga Mineral Springs Self-Guided TourFree
New York State Military MuseumFree
Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore CollegeFree
Skidmore College CampusFree

See all Saratoga Springs attractions →

See all 83 New York attractions on the directory →