The full catalog

How challenging6.0Low prep4.0 Compare

2Rank

Saxon Math

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt · Traditional

7.6/10Strong fit

A rigorous, incremental, spiral program with heavy review and a strong track record.

GradesK–12Cost~$30–130/yrApproachTraditionalWorldviewSecular

Heads up: Repetitive and can feel dry; early grades are teacher-intensive.

Research-based · publisher facts + 13 parent themes

How challenging8.0Low prep6.0 Compare

3Rank

Teaching Textbooks

Teaching Textbooks · Self-paced

7.6/10Strong fit

A self-grading, online math program that students complete largely on their own.

Grades3–12Cost~$43–67/yrApproachSelf-pacedWorldviewSecular

Heads up: Widely considered about a grade level behind in rigor.

Research-based · publisher facts + 13 parent themes

How challenging4.0Low prep10.0 Compare

4Rank

Build Your Library

Build Your Library · Charlotte Mason

7.6/10Strong fit

Secular, literature-rich Charlotte Mason-inspired all-in-one.

GradesK–12Cost~$100/yrApproachCharlotte MasonWorldviewSecular

Research-based · publisher facts + 4 parent themes

How challenging4.0Low prep6.0 Compare

5Rank

BookShark

BookShark · Unit study

GradesPreK–12Cost~$200–1000/yrApproachUnit studyWorldviewSecular

A secular, literature-rich, open-and-go boxed curriculum (Sonlight's secular sibling).

Heads up: Reading-heavy and parent-intensive; pricey.

How challenging6.0Low prep4.0 Compare

6Rank

IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Institute for Excellence in Writing · Classical

Grades2–12Cost~$29–200/yrApproachClassicalWorldviewSecular

A structured, incremental writing program (the Pudewa method) that works for reluctant writers.

Heads up: Formulaic by design; can feel rigid; pricey.

How challenging8.0Low prep6.0 Compare

7Rank

Math-U-See

Demme Learning · Traditional

GradesK–12Cost~$43–145/yrApproachTraditionalWorldviewSecular

A manipulative-based, mastery approach that teaches one concept at a time with video instruction.

Heads up: Mastery sequence means topics like fractions come later than in other programs.

Research-based · publisher facts + 12 parent themes

How challenging6.0Low prep6.0 Compare

8Rank

Brave Writer

Brave Writer · Charlotte Mason

GradesK–12Cost~$100/yrApproachCharlotte MasonWorldviewSecular

Process- and lifestyle-based writing emphasizing voice and a love of language.

How challenging4.0Low prep4.0 Compare

9Rank

CTCMath

CTCMath · Self-paced

7.4/10Good fit

Short, self-paced video math lessons, K–12, very low parent prep.

GradesK–12Cost~$120/yrApproachSelf-pacedWorldviewSecular

Research-based · publisher facts + 7 parent themes

How challenging6.0Low prep10.0 Compare

10Rank

Time4Learning

Time4Learning · Self-paced

7.1/10Good fit

A flexible, online, automatically graded all-in-one curriculum.

GradesPreK–12Cost~$20–35/yrApproachSelf-pacedWorldviewSecular

Heads up: Not rigorous or advanced enough to be the sole curriculum for some families.

Research-based · publisher facts + 8 parent themes

How challenging4.0Low prep10.0 Compare

11Rank

Mr. D Math

Mr. D Math · Self-paced

7.1/10Good fit

Video-based middle/high-school math with a self-paced format.

Grades5–12Cost~$200/yrApproachSelf-pacedWorldviewSecular

How challenging6.0Low prep10.0 Compare

12Rank

Oak Meadow

7.0/10Good fit

A gentle, secular, nature-rich, screen-free, creative curriculum (Waldorf-inspired).

GradesK–12Cost~$50–600/yrWorldviewSecular

Heads up: Gentle/relaxed pace—light on rigor for some; pricey.

How challenging6.0Low prep4.0 Compare

13Rank

Life of Fred

Polka Dot Publishing · Traditional

6.3/10Good fit

Story-based math told through the adventures of a character named Fred.

Grades1–12Cost~$80/yrApproachTraditionalWorldviewSecular

How challenging6.0Low prep8.0 Compare

14Rank

Power Homeschool (Acellus)

Acellus · Self-paced

6.1/10Good fit

Video-based, self-paced full-curriculum platform across subjects.

GradesK–12Cost~$300/yrApproachSelf-pacedWorldviewSecular