Ranked guideUpdated June 202637 curricula compared
The best secular homeschool curriculum
The best secular homeschool curriculum No publisher pays for placement.
Best for most families
Reading Horizons
7.8
→If your child struggles
Story of the World
7.5
→For advanced kids
Beast Academy
7.8
→How we ranked these — weighted by evidence and fit, never by payment ▾
We rank by evidence (publisher data + reviewed parent sentiment + our research) and say plainly when we don't yet have enough first-party reviews. Read the full methodology →
1
Top pick for most families
Reading Horizons
Software-driven structured phonics for new and struggling readers.
How sure: Some
Best fit if… Families wanting independent, screen-based structured phonics.
Maybe not if… Parents avoiding screen time.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 2 themes from what parents say. How we score →
2
Math Mammoth
A thorough, affordable, mastery-based math program that leans on clear written explanations.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families who want rigorous, independent, workbook-based math at a low price.
Maybe not if… children who need lots of hands-on, manipulative-based instruction.
Watch out for… Text-heavy — light on hands-on manipulatives.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 9 themes from what parents say. How we score →
3
Beast Academy
A comic-based, deeply challenging math program that emphasizes problem-solving.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… mathy or gifted kids who enjoy challenge and puzzles.
Maybe not if… struggling math students or those who need straightforward instruction.
Watch out for… Genuinely hard — a poor fit for struggling math students.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 12 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… struggling or dyslexic readers and families wanting open-and-go, multisensory phonics.
Maybe not if… families wanting independent or very low-prep reading instruction.
Watch out for… Teacher-intensive (one-on-one) and pricey, though reusable.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 13 themes from what parents say. How we score →
5
Story of the World
Narrative, story-based world history rotation for elementary/middle grades.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Families wanting engaging, read-aloud chronological history.
Maybe not if… Those wanting a faith-based or strictly textbook history.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
6
History Quest
Secular, story-based elementary history from the makers of Real Science Odyssey.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Secular families wanting open-and-go narrative history.
Maybe not if… High-school-level history needs.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 4 themes from what parents say. How we score →
7
Writing With Ease
Classical, incremental writing via copywork, narration, and dictation.
How sure: Some
Best fit if… Early elementary writers needing gentle, structured foundations.
Maybe not if… Older students needing advanced composition.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 2 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Independent learners and families wanting hands-off, bite-sized math.
Maybe not if… Kids who need hands-on manipulatives or a teacher at the table.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 7 themes from what parents say. How we score →
9
Singapore Math
A conceptually deep, mastery-based program known for bar modeling and mental math.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families who want deep conceptual understanding and will teach actively.
Maybe not if… parents wanting hands-off or kids who need lots of repetition.
Watch out for… Requires active parent teaching and prep; not open-and-go.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 13 themes from what parents say. How we score →
10
Mystery Science
Secular, video-led elementary science with low-prep hands-on activities.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Busy parents wanting engaging, open-and-go secular science.
Maybe not if… High-school-level or textbook-driven science needs.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 7 themes from what parents say. How we score →
11
Teaching Textbooks
A self-grading, online math program that students complete largely on their own.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… independent students and parents who want hands-off, automatically graded math.
Maybe not if… students needing advanced rigor or hands-on/manipulative instruction.
Watch out for… Widely considered about a grade level behind in rigor.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 13 themes from what parents say. How we score →
12
Saxon Math
A rigorous, incremental, spiral program with heavy review and a strong track record.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families wanting rigorous, incremental math with lots of review and proven results.
Maybe not if… students who dislike repetition or want a conceptual/visual approach.
Watch out for… Repetitive and can feel dry; early grades are teacher-intensive.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 13 themes from what parents say. How we score →
13
Logic of English
A comprehensive, research-based phonics and spelling program explaining the logic of English.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families wanting a thorough, research-based phonics+spelling program, including for older struggling spellers.
Maybe not if… those wanting quick, low-prep, or simpler reading instruction.
Watch out for… Content-heavy and teacher-intensive to implement well.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 13 themes from what parents say. How we score →
14
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
A structured, incremental writing program (the Pudewa method) that works for reluctant writers.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families wanting a structured writing method that works for reluctant or struggling writers.
Maybe not if… families wanting creative/open-ended writing or low cost.
Watch out for… Formulaic by design; can feel rigid; pricey.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Older students who need an engaging teacher but work independently.
Maybe not if… Elementary students or hands-on learners.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
16
Barton Reading & Spelling
Scripted Orton-Gillingham reading & spelling, built for dyslexia.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Dyslexic and struggling readers needing explicit, multisensory remediation.
Maybe not if… Families wanting a quick, low-prep program — it's intensive and parent-led.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
17
All About Spelling
Multisensory, rules-based spelling from the All About Reading publisher.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Dyslexic spellers and families already using All About Reading.
Maybe not if… Those wanting a hands-off or test-based spelling program.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 7 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Secular families wanting affordable, open-and-go history.
Maybe not if… Those wanting hands-on projects or faith integration.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
19
Nessy Reading & Spelling
Gamified, self-paced structured literacy designed around dyslexia.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Kids who need low-pressure, independent, game-based practice.
Maybe not if… Families wanting a full, parent-led reading program.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Secular families wanting a book-based, integrated curriculum.
Maybe not if… Those wanting a textbook or test-driven approach.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 4 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… early readers who enjoy gamified, independent online practice.
Maybe not if… families avoiding screens or wanting a complete core reading program.
Watch out for… A supplement for many families, not a complete reading core.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 8 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… families wanting flexible, independent, screen-based all-in-one learning.
Maybe not if… those wanting rigorous, advanced academics or screen-free learning.
Watch out for… Not rigorous or advanced enough to be the sole curriculum for some families.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 8 themes from what parents say. How we score →
23
Math-U-See
A manipulative-based, mastery approach that teaches one concept at a time with video instruction.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… visual and hands-on learners who benefit from manipulatives and one-concept-at-a-time mastery.
Maybe not if… families who prefer a spiral approach or dislike teaching with manipulatives.
Watch out for… Mastery sequence means topics like fractions come later than in other programs.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 12 themes from what parents say. How we score →
24
BookShark
A secular, literature-rich, open-and-go boxed curriculum (Sonlight's secular sibling).
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… secular families wanting a literature-rich, open-and-go boxed curriculum.
Maybe not if… families wanting independent or non-reading-heavy approaches.
Watch out for… Reading-heavy and parent-intensive; pricey.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
25
Brave Writer
Process- and lifestyle-based writing emphasizing voice and a love of language.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Families wanting a gentle, creativity-forward writing approach.
Maybe not if… Those wanting structured, formulaic composition instruction.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
26
Math with Confidence
Scripted, gentle elementary math balancing conceptual and procedural skills.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Parents wanting open-and-go, confidence-building early math.
Maybe not if… Advanced students needing acceleration.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 9 themes from what parents say. How we score →
27
Life of Fred
Story-based math told through the adventures of a character named Fred.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Reluctant or easily-bored learners who like narrative over drill.
Maybe not if… Families wanting heavy practice and a conventional scope & sequence.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
28
PRIDE Reading Program
Open-and-go Orton-Gillingham program for struggling and dyslexic readers.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Parents who want O-G structure with less scripting than Barton.
Maybe not if… Strong readers who don't need remediation.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
29
RightStart Math
A deeply conceptual, abacus- and manipulative-based math program, strong in early grades.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… families wanting a deeply conceptual, hands-on math foundation and willing to teach actively.
Maybe not if… families wanting open-and-go, independent, or low-prep math.
Watch out for… Very teacher-intensive and manipulative-heavy; lots of prep.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
30
Explode the Code
Classic phonics-only workbook series for systematic decoding practice.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Supplementing a reading program with explicit phonics practice.
Maybe not if… Families wanting a complete reading/comprehension curriculum.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
31
Oak Meadow
A gentle, secular, nature-rich, screen-free, creative curriculum (Waldorf-inspired).
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… secular families wanting a gentle, nature-rich, screen-free, creative approach.
Maybe not if… families wanting rigorous/accelerated academics or open-and-go.
Watch out for… Gentle/relaxed pace—light on rigor for some; pricey.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 6 themes from what parents say. How we score →
32
Real Science Odyssey
Secular, hands-on science with a clear evidence-based approach.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Secular families wanting rigorous, lab-rich science.
Maybe not if… Those wanting a faith-integrated science program.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
33
Power Homeschool (Acellus)
Video-based, self-paced full-curriculum platform across subjects.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Families wanting a hands-off, screen-based full program.
Maybe not if… Parents wanting discussion-rich or hands-on learning.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Early learners who respond to short, app-based lessons.
Maybe not if… Older or struggling readers needing deeper remediation.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Families wanting a calm, flexible, creativity-forward approach.
Maybe not if… Those needing rigorous, structured, test-driven academics.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
Best fit if… Classical secular families wanting structured science.
Maybe not if… Those wanting video-led or open-and-go science.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 4 themes from what parents say. How we score →
37
Phonics Pathways
Single-book, open-and-go phonics for teaching decoding step by step.
How sure: Solid
Best fit if… Budget-minded parents wanting one simple phonics resource.
Maybe not if… Kids who need games, color, or digital engagement.
How we know ▾
Based on facts from the publisher, 5 themes from what parents say. How we score →
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