The Best Secular Homeschool Curriculum Options (Honest Reviews)

Finding good homeschool curriculum is hard enough. Finding good secular homeschool curriculum? That's a whole other level of frustrating.

The homeschool market is heavily tilted toward faith-based materials. Many of the most popular and most recommended curricula weave religious content into their lessons — sometimes obviously, sometimes subtly. If you're looking for materials that stick to facts, science, and critical thinking without a religious framework, you have to be more intentional about your choices.

The good news: excellent secular options exist for every subject and every age. Here are honest reviews of the best ones.

What "Secular" Means in This Context

Let's clarify: secular curriculum means materials that present subjects without a religious lens. Science is taught as science. History includes all perspectives. There are no Bible verses in the math book.

This doesn't mean anti-religious. It means religion-neutral. Families of all faiths (and no faith) use secular curriculum — some teach religion separately according to their beliefs, while others prefer a fully secular education. Both approaches are valid.

Math

Beast Academy (Ages 6-13)

Format: Comic-book style textbooks + online practice
Cost: ~$78/year online, $38-44 per guide book
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: Beast Academy teaches math through problem-solving and puzzles, not repetitive drilling. The comic format keeps kids engaged, and the difficulty level is genuinely challenging. Kids who are bored by typical math curriculum often come alive with Beast Academy.

What's not: This is a rigorous program. It's designed for kids who are at or above grade level in math. Struggling math students may find it frustrating rather than fun. Also, the independent practice component requires the online subscription — the books alone aren't enough.

Best for: Math-curious kids who need to be challenged, not just drilled.

Math-U-See (All Ages)

Format: Video lessons + manipulatives + workbook
Cost: ~$110-150 per level (includes blocks)
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: The manipulative blocks make abstract concepts concrete. The video instructor is clear and patient. It's mastery-based, meaning your child doesn't move on until they truly understand each concept. Great for visual and kinesthetic learners.

What's not: Some kids find the pace too slow. The program can feel repetitive if your child grasps concepts quickly. And the blocks, while effective, can get lost or become toddler magnets.

Best for: Kids who need to see and touch math, especially those who struggle with abstract concepts.

Khan Academy (All Ages)

Format: Online video lessons + practice
Cost: Free
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: It's free, it's comprehensive, and it works. The video explanations are clear, the practice problems are adaptive, and the progress tracking is solid. For families on a budget, Khan Academy can be your entire math curriculum.

What's not: It's screen-based, which doesn't work for all kids. There's no hands-on component. Some students need more personal interaction than a video can provide. And the teaching style, while competent, isn't the most engaging.

Best for: Self-motivated learners, budget-conscious families, and as a supplement to any other program.

Teaching Textbooks (Grades 3-12)

Format: Online, fully self-teaching
Cost: ~$72/year per level
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: Teaching Textbooks is genuinely self-teaching. The animated lectures explain concepts step-by-step, and if your child gets a problem wrong, it walks them through the solution. This is the go-to curriculum for parents who don't want to teach math themselves.

What's not: The pace is slower and the rigor is lower compared to Beast Academy or Saxon. Advanced math students may need something more challenging. It also requires a computer.

Best for: Families who need their child to learn math independently, working parents, and kids who are anxious about math.

Science

Real Science Odyssey (Elementary-Middle)

Format: Textbook + lab manual
Cost: ~$55-85 per level
Secular? Completely secular, evolution included

What's great: Truly hands-on science with real experiments. Covers biology, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy across different levels. Teaches the scientific method from the start. The experiments use mostly common household materials.

What's not: You need to be involved — this isn't self-teaching. Experiments require preparation time. Some parents find the text a bit dry for younger kids.

Best for: Families who want real, hands-on science with proper scientific methodology.

Blossom and Root (Ages 4-12)

Format: Digital curriculum with nature study focus
Cost: ~$40-55 per level
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: Beautiful, nature-centered science curriculum. Incorporates nature journaling, outdoor exploration, and Charlotte Mason-inspired living books. It's the kind of science program that makes kids fall in love with the natural world.

What's not: Light on traditional textbook-style science. If you want structured chemistry or physics, you'll need to supplement. It's more nature study than formal science, especially at younger levels.

Best for: Nature-loving families, Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers, and younger elementary students.

Language Arts

Brave Writer (All Ages)

Format: Online classes, writing guides, and lifestyle approach
Cost: ~$20-40 per guide, $100-300 per online class
Secular? Secular

What's great: Brave Writer transforms how families think about writing. Instead of worksheets and grammar drills, it uses real conversations, freewriting, and literature to develop confident writers. The online classes are excellent and provide outside feedback your child can't get from a parent.

What's not: It's not structured in the traditional sense. If you want a clear "do this on Monday, this on Tuesday" program, Brave Writer's philosophy-based approach may feel too open-ended. Also, the full program (classes + materials) gets expensive.

Best for: Kids who hate writing and need a fresh approach. Also great for families who value writing as a thinking tool, not just a school subject.

Logic of English (K-6)

Format: Teacher manual + student workbook + phonogram cards
Cost: ~$115-150 per level
Secular? Completely secular

What's great: Teaches reading and spelling through the actual rules of English (there are 74 phonograms and 31 spelling rules that explain ~98% of English words). Kids understand why words are spelled the way they are instead of just memorizing. Excellent for struggling readers and kids with dyslexia.

What's not: Teacher-intensive. You need to study the manual and lead the lessons. It's not something you can hand to a child and walk away. The upfront investment in materials is also higher than alternatives.

Best for: Kids who struggle with reading or spelling, and families who want a systematic phonics approach.

History & Social Studies

Story of the World (Elementary)

Format: Audio + read-aloud book + activity guide
Cost: ~$16-20 per volume (4 volumes cover ancient to modern)
Secular? Mostly — written by a Christian author but covers all world religions and civilizations without proselytizing. Most secular homeschoolers consider it acceptable, though some supplement with additional perspectives.

What's great: History told as a story that kids actually want to hear. The narrative style makes ancient and medieval history come alive. The activity guide adds hands-on projects, map work, and coloring pages.

What's not: Some secular families find certain sections lean too heavily toward a Western/Christian perspective. The activity guide can be overwhelming to prep. And the series only goes through early modern history.

Best for: Elementary families who want an engaging introduction to world history.

History Quest (Elementary)

Format: Book-based + activity pages
Cost: ~$35 per level
Secular? Explicitly secular

What's great: Created specifically as a secular alternative to Story of the World. Uses a narrative approach with diverse perspectives. Includes contributions from multiple cultures and avoids the Western-centric lens.

What's not: Newer program, so there are fewer levels available compared to established curricula. The community of users is smaller, meaning fewer supplemental resources and reviews online.

Best for: Families who want an explicitly secular, globally diverse history curriculum.

All-in-One Secular Options

If you want one program that covers multiple subjects:

• BookShark — Literature-based, all subjects, completely secular. Based on the Sonlight model but without the Christian content. Cost: ~$500-800 per year for a full package.
• Build Your Library — Secular, literature-rich, Charlotte Mason-inspired. All subjects in one program with detailed schedules. Cost: ~$250-400 per year.
• Blossom and Root — Nature-based, secular, covers most subjects for elementary ages. Cost: ~$40-55 per level.

Finding Secular Homeschool Community

Curriculum is only part of the equation. Finding other secular homeschool families can be just as challenging — and just as important. Many co-ops and groups are faith-based, which is great for those families but can leave secular homeschoolers feeling like outsiders.

Look for groups specifically labeled "secular" or "inclusive" on Homeschool Hive. These groups welcome families of all backgrounds and keep shared activities religion-neutral.

The Bottom Line

Secular homeschool curriculum options have exploded in the last five years. You no longer have to settle for faith-based materials and just "skip the religious parts." Every subject has excellent secular options at every price point, from free (Khan Academy) to premium (BookShark).

The best curriculum is the one your child will actually use and learn from. Read reviews, try free samples, buy used when you can, and don't be afraid to switch if something isn't working. That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling — use it.