We didn't h/s our older two sons. I just wasn't ready for it. I liked the idea of being involved in their schools. They always attended Catholic schools, and though the education was mediocre, we supplemented by starting a Science Club at school, and we always had discussions about science, math, etc. at home. It was mainly for socialization; not for the kids, but for ME!
When the two younger ones started the same school, I was about socialized out, and they didn't really have any friends because no one shared their interests. We left, and went to a different Catholic school that had recently opened, hearing that is was more rigorous. It was, but it came with its own set of problems which included a young man who harrassed our daughter every day. She didn't tell me it happened every day, and the school didn't either. When her grades tanked at the beginning of the LAST 9 weeks, they called me in for a meeting. When I found out that the harrassment had been going on every day and that they'd done nothing about it, we went ballistic! At that point, we almost decided to bring her home, but then were told that the boy would not be in her class the following year. It took me a few months to bring myself to the decision, but We decided in January of the following year that we'd homeschool. We took them BOTH out, and started h/sing them; the younger for 6th and the older for 8th. grades.
Our youngest son returned to school this year, attending the Catholic boys high school our older sons attended and in which they did very well. We know the principal personally, and are pleased with the program. Our 11th grade daughter continues at home, but will be starting courses at the local community college next week. She's looking forward to that.
This has been a long way of saying, give your wife time, and find some homeschooling families to befriend. Maybe if she sees the difference in behavior and attitudes of the schooled and homeschooled kids, it might sway her! Go on a field trip with a group of each. THAT would be a real eyeopener!!