Although I have seen "at home" and "at school" used as separate
occupations in the occupation or employment column, I have also seen "at
home" used for young people whom other columns indicate are in fact
attending school.  My assumption has been that this is a catch-all
phrase used for people who are too young, too old, too disabled, or too
upper class to be officially listed as "farm worker," "keeping house,"
etc., when the census taker felt he needed a description for everyone in
the occupation column.  Children seem to be listed this way most,
followed by unmarried daughters.  "At home" was also used for one of my
ancestors when she was 30, but disabled by tuberculosis.  I have also
seen the phrase used to describe survivors in obituaries.

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