Homeschool Curriculum FAQ

How much does homeschool curriculum cost?

It ranges from free to well over $1,000 per child per year. Khan Academy is free and widely used as a math/science spine. Most full-subject, one-time-purchase programs (Sonlight, My Father’s World) fall in the $300–$800 range per grade. Subscription and video-academy programs (Power Homeschool, Abeka Academy) typically run $80–$120 per month per student. Math-only programs (Math-U-See, Teaching Textbooks, Saxon) are usually cheaper since they cover one subject rather than a full year of everything.

Are there good secular (non-religious) options?

Yes. BookShark, Time4Learning, Math-U-See, Teaching Textbooks, Saxon Math, Khan Academy, Blossom & Root, and Beast Academy are all secular or explicitly faith-neutral. Several of them (BookShark, Blossom & Root) were built specifically as secular alternatives to popular faith-based programs, so families can get a similar teaching style without religious content.

Can I switch curriculums mid-year?

Yes, and many families do. Because most curriculums are sold per-subject or per-grade rather than as a multi-year contract, you can typically drop a program that isn’t working and pick up something else without losing what you’ve already paid for the rest of the year (aside from unused subscription time). It’s more disruptive than switching between school years, but not unusual — especially for math, where mismatched pacing is the most common reason families switch.

Do homeschool curriculums count for college admissions?

Most colleges accept homeschool transcripts, but the responsibility for creating a transcript, course descriptions, and grades typically falls on the parent rather than the curriculum provider. High-school-level programs from established publishers (Abeka, BJU Press, Sonlight, Saxon) are generally well recognized by admissions offices because of their track record, but no curriculum brand name replaces the need for you to keep organized records of courses, grades, and credit hours.

How much time does homeschooling take per day?

It depends heavily on the curriculum and grade level. Self-paced online programs (Time4Learning, Teaching Textbooks) can run largely independently once a child is old enough to read instructions, often 1–3 hours a day. Literature-based and unit-study programs (Sonlight, My Father’s World) usually require more direct parent involvement for read-alouds and discussion, especially in elementary grades. As a rough starting point, plan for roughly 2–4 hours of focused instruction time per day in elementary grades, more in high school as coursework specializes.

What’s the difference between a curriculum “kit” and an “academy” or subscription?

A kit or box curriculum is a set of materials — books, workbooks, teacher guides — that you as the parent teach directly. An academy or video-subscription option (like Abeka Academy or Power Homeschool) delivers the same subject matter through pre-recorded video lessons with a teacher on screen, so the parent’s role shifts from primary instructor to supervisor/grader. Academies generally cost more but require less day-to-day teaching prep.

Do I need a different curriculum for each subject?

Not necessarily. All-subject packages (Sonlight, BookShark, Abeka, My Father’s World, Time4Learning) bundle most or all core subjects into one program. Many families still mix and match — for example, using a dedicated math program like Math-U-See or Saxon alongside a literature-based curriculum for everything else, since math is the subject most often swapped out independently.

Is mastery-based math better than a traditional textbook?

Neither is universally “better” — it depends on the student. Mastery-based programs (Math-U-See, Beast Academy) let a child stay on a topic until it’s solid before moving forward, which helps kids who get lost when material moves on too fast. Spiral/incremental programs (Saxon) continuously revisit old material inside new lessons, which builds long-term retention through repetition but can feel repetitive to kids who grasp concepts quickly. Many families try one, and if a child struggles specifically with retention or pacing, switch to the other.

What if my child has a learning difference or special need?

Nothing on this site is a substitute for guidance from an educational specialist, but mastery-based, highly structured, and low-screen programs are often easier to adapt for kids who need more repetition or fewer distractions, while self-paced online programs give more control over pacing without a parent needing to reteach material. Many publishers list accommodation guidance or have direct support lines — check the official site.

Can multiple kids of different ages use the same curriculum?

Unit-study programs are specifically built for this — My Father’s World, for example, is explicitly designed so siblings study the same theme together at their own level. Literature-based programs (Sonlight, BookShark) work well for combined read-alouds even across ages, with younger kids listening in. Math and mastery-based subjects are usually taught separately by grade level regardless of curriculum style, since math skills are more sequential than history or literature.

How do I know if a curriculum is “working”?

Give a new curriculum a real trial period — most experienced homeschoolers suggest six to eight weeks — before judging it. Signs it’s not working: consistent daily frustration or tears, a child who can’t retain material a few days later, or a workload that consistently takes far longer than the program advertises. Signs it is working: steady, visible progress and a child who can explain what they learned in their own words, even if some days are still a struggle.

Where can I find more curriculum comparisons?

Use the grade-band pages and filters on this site to compare programs by budget, approach, and subject. Each review includes a specific “best for” recommendation to help narrow the choice faster than reading every publisher’s own marketing page.