Review
Apologia Science teaches biology, chemistry, physics, and elementary general science through a conversational, first-person textbook style paired with hands-on experiments and student notebooking, all from a young-earth creationist Christian perspective.
Curriculum Grade
B-
- Academic Rigor: 3/5
Why this score
Solid, real content, though the high-school tracks are often noted as somewhat lighter than public-school AP-level science.
- Ease of Use: 4/5
Why this score
The conversational, first-person writing style is specifically designed to be readable and self-explanatory for the student.
- Parent Time Required: 4/5
Why this score
The readable text and student-notebooking design let a student work through most of a course with light parent oversight.
- Cost Value: 4/5
Why this score
$40-100 per course for a full year of science with experiments is a fair price relative to comparable science-specific lines.
- Engagement: 4/5
Why this score
The conversational tone and hands-on experiments make science noticeably more approachable than a dry textbook.
- Flexibility: 3/5
Why this score
Courses can be taken in a flexible order within reason, though each level builds on general science fundamentals.
- Independent Learning: 4/5
Why this score
Purpose-built for a student to read and work through largely alone, with the parent needed mainly for experiment supervision.
- Support & Community: 4/5
Why this score
One of the most widely used Christian science lines, with a large, active community and strong official support.
- Special Needs Support: 3/5
Why this score
The readable, structured text helps many learners, though hands-on labs may need extra support for some processing differences.
Pros
- Conversational writing style makes science genuinely readable for independent students
- Strong hands-on experiment component reinforces concepts concretely
- One of the most widely used and well-supported Christian science lines available
Cons
- Young-earth creationist framework rules it out for secular or old-earth families
- Course rigor, especially at the high-school level, is debated as lighter than public-school AP tracks
- Lab equipment and supplies for experiments add cost beyond the base textbook
Best for
An accessible, hands-on science line a student can largely read and work through independently suits Christian families who don't want to co-teach every lab.
Editorial evidence
Last editorial review: July 20, 2026.
Our grades are editorial judgments, not objective facts. If a claim is factually outdated, tell us so we can recheck it.