Homeschooling hits record numbers

Asking as an non-US person: Is there mandatory education for children in the US?

I guess homeschooling fits well with extreme individualistic American culture, no surprises there.

There are 13 years required (K-12) in the US. The way non-compliance is peanlized varies depending on the state.

Education in the US is a complicated subject given the "extreme individualistic American culture" as you say. That will be present in the teachers and school districts, and the lesson plans can/will differ greatly between teachers and school districts for getting students to the general standard.