Christian Homeschool Curriculum: A Complete Guide to Faith-Based Education

Choosing to educate your children at home is one of the most significant decisions a Christian parent can make. It's also one of the most rewarding. When you homeschool with a biblical worldview, you're not just teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic—you're discipling your children, shaping their hearts, and preparing them to engage the world with wisdom and faith.

The good news? You're far from alone. Over 91% of homeschool families in America identify as Christian^[1], and decades of curriculum development have produced outstanding options that marry academic rigor with spiritual depth. From classical education rooted in the Great Books to literature-rich programs that bring history alive through biography and narrative, today's Christian homeschool curriculum offers something for every family, every learning style, and every budget.

This guide walks you through the landscape of Christian homeschool curriculum—what's available, how to choose, and how to build an education that honors God while preparing your children for whatever calling He has for them.

Why Christian Parents Choose to Homeschool

The reasons families choose Christian homeschooling have changed over the years, but the core motivation remains unchanged: the desire to raise children who know and love God. Scripture is clear that parents bear primary responsibility for their children's education and spiritual formation. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instructs us to teach God's commands diligently, "when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Homeschooling makes that kind of integrated, whole-life discipleship not just possible but natural.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 53% of homeschooling parents cite the desire to provide religious instruction as a reason for their choice^[4]. But that number understates the reality for Christian families. When you factor in related motivations—wanting to provide moral instruction (75%), concerns about school environment (83%), and dissatisfaction with academic instruction (72%)^[5]—you begin to see how faith shapes every aspect of the decision.

Beyond spiritual formation, Christian parents recognize that education is never neutral. Every curriculum teaches from some worldview, whether explicitly stated or quietly assumed. Secular textbooks present evolution as settled fact, treat moral questions as matters of personal preference, and often exclude the role of faith in history and culture. Christian curriculum doesn't just add Bible verses to the margins—it integrates a biblical worldview throughout, helping children see all of life through the lens of Scripture.

Benefits of Christian Homeschool Curriculum

• Biblical worldview integration — Every subject points back to the Creator, from the order in mathematics to the providence in history
• Character formation — Curriculum emphasizes virtues like integrity, diligence, humility, and service alongside academics
• Family discipleship — Learning together strengthens family bonds and creates natural opportunities for spiritual conversations
• Academic excellence — Christian homeschoolers consistently outperform public school peers on standardized tests^[2]
• Protection with purpose — Shield children from harmful influences while they develop the discernment to engage the world wisely
• Flexibility for ministry — Adapt schedules around church activities, mission trips, and service opportunities

Understanding Christian Curriculum Approaches

Christian homeschool curriculum isn't monolithic. Different programs emphasize different teaching methods, theological perspectives, and educational philosophies. Understanding these approaches helps you find the right fit for your family's convictions and your children's learning styles.

Traditional/Textbook-Based programs like Abeka and BJU Press follow a familiar structure: textbooks, workbooks, tests, and often video instruction. These programs offer clear scope and sequence, easy-to-follow lesson plans, and the comfort of knowing exactly what's expected each day. They work well for families who appreciate structure and want confidence that nothing falls through the cracks.

Literature-Based programs like Sonlight and My Father's World use real books—biographies, historical fiction, primary sources—rather than textbooks to teach history, science, and reading. Children learn through narrative, developing a love of reading while absorbing content in context. These programs often have a global missions emphasis, exposing children to cultures around the world.

Classical Christian education, offered by programs like Veritas Press, Memoria Press, and Classical Conversations, follows the ancient Trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages matched to children's developmental readiness. Students memorize facts in elementary years, learn to reason through arguments in middle school, and develop persuasive communication in high school. Classical programs typically emphasize Latin, Great Books, and rigorous thinking.

Charlotte Mason approaches, found in programs like Simply Charlotte Mason and AmblesideOnline, emphasize "living books," nature study, narration, and short lessons. Charlotte Mason believed children are persons, not empty vessels—education should feast their minds on the best and truest ideas while respecting their God-given capacity to learn.

Christian Curriculum Approaches Compared

Top Christian Homeschool Curriculum Programs

With dozens of Christian curriculum options available, choosing can feel overwhelming. The programs below represent the most widely used and highly regarded options, each with distinct strengths. Most families end up using an "eclectic" approach—mixing programs by subject or adjusting over time—so don't feel pressured to commit to one provider for everything.

BJU Press: Academic Rigor with Biblical Depth

BJU Press (Bob Jones University Press) has earned a reputation for combining academic excellence with thorough biblical worldview integration. Their video courses feature engaging teachers who don't just deliver content but model critical thinking and faith application.

What sets BJU Press apart is their emphasis on teaching students how to think, not just what to think. Even in elementary grades, children learn to evaluate ideas against Scripture. High school courses prepare students for college-level work—many families report their BJU-educated students find freshman year classes easier than expected.

Accreditation: BJU Press offers accreditation through their Academy of Home Education partnership, recognized by Cognia (formerly AdvancED). This matters for families concerned about transcript acceptance.

Cost: Individual courses range from $75-150 per subject; complete grade packages run $400-800. Video streaming adds about $250-400 annually.

Best for: Families prioritizing academic rigor, critical thinking skills, and comprehensive worldview training.

Abeka: Traditional Excellence and Proven Results

Abeka has been a cornerstone of Christian homeschooling since 1972. Their traditional approach—phonics-based reading, spiral math review, structured grammar instruction—has produced generations of well-educated students. The curriculum is known for being "about a grade level ahead," meaning Abeka students often test above their grade level on standardized assessments.

Abeka's video program features actual classroom instruction recorded at Pensacola Christian Academy. Students watch real teachers interact with real students, creating an experience closer to traditional school than most video curricula. Some families love this; others prefer the one-on-one feel of other programs.

Accreditation: Abeka Academy offers accreditation through DEAC, SACS, and other recognized bodies. Transcripts are issued directly from the academy.

Cost: Individual subjects run $50-150; complete grade packages range from $500-1,000 depending on format. Video streaming runs $500-900 annually.

Best for: Families wanting rigorous academics, clear structure, and minimal planning. Particularly strong for phonics-based reading and mathematics.

Sonlight: Literature That Brings Learning Alive

Sonlight takes a distinctly different approach: instead of textbooks, students learn through carefully curated "living books"—award-winning literature, gripping biographies, and thoughtfully selected non-fiction. Children who grow up on Sonlight become voracious readers who see history not as a list of dates but as stories of real people navigating real challenges.

Sonlight's programs integrate a global missions perspective. As families read about people and places around the world, they develop compassion for the nations and an awareness of God's work across cultures. Many Sonlight families report that their children grow up with hearts for missions and cross-cultural ministry.

The curriculum includes detailed Instructor's Guides that tell parents exactly what to read each day, what questions to discuss, and how to integrate subjects. It's designed to be "open and go" while still fostering deep learning.

Accreditation: Sonlight doesn't offer proprietary accreditation, but their record-keeping systems and scope and sequence satisfy state requirements. Many Sonlight students successfully enter selective colleges.

Cost: Complete packages range from $500-1,500 depending on grade level and options. This includes all books (which have resale value).

Best for: Literature-loving families, those wanting a global perspective, and parents who enjoy reading aloud with their children.

Apologia: Excellence in Christian Science Education

When it comes to science curriculum, Apologia stands in a class of its own. Founded by Dr. Jay Wile, a nuclear chemist who became convinced that creation science deserved rigorous academic treatment, Apologia produces science courses that are both academically challenging and thoroughly biblical.

Apologia's approach is conversational—textbooks read like a knowledgeable friend explaining concepts rather than dry academic prose. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experiments and teaches students to think scientifically while understanding the limitations of naturalistic assumptions.

Their high school biology, chemistry, and physics courses prepare students well for college science. Many Apologia graduates report being ahead of their college peers in lab skills and scientific reasoning.

Worldview: Apologia teaches from a young-earth creation perspective, presenting the scientific evidence for biblical creation and equipping students to evaluate evolutionary claims critically. Parents who hold different views on creation timelines sometimes supplement with additional perspectives.

Cost: Individual courses run $75-100 for textbooks; video instruction adds $50-100.

Best for: Families wanting rigorous science education from a creation perspective. Particularly strong for high school college-prep science.

Christian Curriculum Quick Comparison

Budget-Friendly and Free Christian Curriculum Options

Excellent Christian education doesn't require a massive budget. Several high-quality options make faith-based homeschooling accessible to families at every income level.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool offers a complete K-12 curriculum entirely free. Created by a homeschool mom and missionary, Easy Peasy covers all subjects with a Christian worldview, using online resources, printables, and public domain books. The curriculum requires internet access but costs nothing to use.

AmblesideOnline provides a free Charlotte Mason curriculum guide using books available at most libraries or inexpensively used. The program is rigorous and beautiful—many families consider it comparable to paid Charlotte Mason programs.

The Good and the Beautiful offers free language arts downloads and reasonably priced materials for other subjects. A note for evangelical families: the curriculum was created by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon). While many Christian families use and appreciate the materials, finding nothing objectionable, others prefer explicitly evangelical curriculum. The program emphasizes moral virtue and beauty without explicit LDS doctrine, but parents should preview materials and decide based on their own convictions.

Generations Homeschool Curriculum offers affordable, explicitly gospel-centered materials with a family discipleship emphasis. Their approach integrates Scripture throughout and costs significantly less than major publishers.

Choosing Curriculum by Subject

Many homeschool families take an eclectic approach, selecting the best curriculum for each subject rather than buying everything from one publisher. Here's what Christian families most often recommend by subject:

Bible: Most families supplement their main curriculum with dedicated Bible study. Answers Bible Curriculum, Grapevine Studies (for younger children), and Bible Study Fellowship materials are popular choices. Some use the Bible reading included in their history or literature program as their primary instruction.

Mathematics: Saxon Math, Math-U-See, and Teaching Textbooks all offer solid options. BJU Press and Abeka math are particularly rigorous. Math is often considered a "neutral" subject where secular curricula work fine for Christian families—programs like Singapore Math and Beast Academy are popular regardless of worldview.

Language Arts: Abeka's phonics-based reading program is legendary for teaching children to read. BJU Press offers excellent grammar and writing. The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) provides outstanding writing instruction that many families use alongside their main curriculum.

History: Sonlight and My Father's World excel here. For classical families, Veritas Press and Memoria Press offer chronological history through primary sources. Notgrass History provides American history with strong integration of literature and Bible.

Science: Apologia dominates Christian science education, especially at high school level. For elementary, Answers in Genesis offers several options, and Master Books provides Charlotte Mason-style science. Some families use secular science curricula while discussing origins from a biblical perspective at home.

The Science Curriculum Question: Handling Origins

Science curriculum represents the most common area where Christian families diverge in their choices. The central question: How should Christian homeschoolers teach origins—creation, evolution, the age of the earth?

Most Christian homeschool curriculum teaches from a young-earth creation perspective. Programs like Apologia, Answers in Genesis, and BJU Press present scientific evidence supporting biblical creation and critique evolutionary theory. This reflects the historic Christian position and remains the majority view among evangelical homeschoolers.

Some Christian families hold to old-earth creation views or accept aspects of evolutionary theory while maintaining faith in God as Creator. These families sometimes use secular science curricula while supplementing with biblical teaching on creation, or they use programs like Sonlight that present multiple perspectives.

Whatever your convictions, here's what matters: teach your children how to think about these questions, not just what to think. Help them understand that science operates within philosophical assumptions, that interpretations of evidence depend on starting presuppositions, and that faithful Christians can hold different views on secondary matters while agreeing on the essentials—God created, creation is good, humanity is made in God's image, and we are accountable to our Creator.

Students taught to think critically about origins—examining evidence, understanding arguments, and articulating their own positions—will be better prepared for college and life than those who simply memorize conclusions.

Catholic Homeschool Curriculum

Catholic families have unique curriculum needs, seeking materials that align with Church teaching and often include preparation for sacraments, study of the Catechism, and integration of Catholic tradition.

Seton Home Study School is the largest Catholic homeschool program in the United States. Based in Front Royal, Virginia, Seton offers fully accredited K-12 curriculum that integrates Catholic faith throughout. Their program includes standardized testing, record-keeping, and diploma-granting services.

Mother of Divine Grace School offers a classical Catholic education with rigorous academics and strong emphasis on the Great Books. Their program follows the classical Trivium while incorporating Catholic devotional practices.

Kolbe Academy provides an accredited classical Catholic curriculum with flexible options for self-paced or enrolled programs.

Catholic Heritage Curricula offers individual courses and complete packages for families wanting Catholic materials without full enrollment in an accredited program.

Most Protestant Christian curriculum can also be used by Catholic families with supplementation for religion/theology. The academic content in programs like BJU Press or Abeka is strong; Catholic families simply substitute Catholic religion materials.

How to Choose Your Christian Curriculum

Accreditation: What It Means and When It Matters

One question that causes significant anxiety for Christian homeschool families: Do I need accredited curriculum? The short answer: probably not, but it depends on your situation.

What accreditation means: An accredited program has been evaluated by a recognized accrediting body (like Cognia, DEAC, or regional associations) and found to meet certain educational standards. Accredited programs issue official transcripts that carry the accrediting body's recognition.

When accreditation matters: - Military families transferring frequently may need accredited records for seamless transitions - Some scholarship programs require accredited transcripts - A few selective colleges prefer (but rarely require) accreditation - Families in heavily regulated states may find accreditation simplifies compliance

When it doesn't matter: - Most colleges accept non-accredited homeschool transcripts alongside SAT/ACT scores - State homeschool laws don't require accreditation in any U.S. state - Many elite universities actively recruit homeschoolers regardless of accreditation status

Here's what most families discover: colleges care far more about what your student knows than what program issued their transcript. Strong SAT/ACT scores, AP exam results, dual enrollment grades, and well-crafted transcripts matter more than an accreditor's stamp. Programs like BJU Press and Abeka offer accreditation options for families who want them, but thousands of successful college students each year come from non-accredited homeschools.

College Preparation and Christian Curriculum

Christian homeschooled students consistently excel in college admissions and performance. Research shows homeschoolers achieve an 87% college acceptance rate compared to 68% for public school graduates^[3]. At some selective universities, homeschool applicants are admitted at rates significantly above the general pool.

Why do Christian homeschoolers succeed? Several factors contribute:

Academic preparation: Quality Christian curriculum covers the same (and often more rigorous) content as college-prep public school courses. BJU Press, Apologia, and Veritas Press high school courses are designed with college readiness in mind.

Writing skills: Emphasis on writing across Christian curricula—from narration in Charlotte Mason programs to research papers in classical education—produces students who enter college already comfortable with academic writing.

Self-direction: Homeschooled students develop time management and self-motivation skills that serve them well in college's less-structured environment.

Character: The same virtues Christian education emphasizes—integrity, diligence, respect for authority—translate into students professors appreciate.

When planning high school, focus on creating a rigorous transcript: four years each of English, math (through at least Algebra II, preferably Pre-Calculus or higher), science (with labs), and social studies, plus two years of foreign language. Add AP courses, dual enrollment at community colleges, or CLEP exams to demonstrate ability to handle college-level work.

Building Community: Co-ops and Support Groups

Christian homeschooling was never meant to happen in isolation. From its modern beginning, the movement has been sustained by community—parents encouraging parents, families learning together, children forming friendships with peers who share their values.

Homeschool co-ops bring families together regularly for group classes, often meeting weekly at a church. Some co-ops focus on enrichment subjects like art, drama, and physical education. Others function more like part-time schools, offering academic classes taught by parents with expertise in various subjects. Many co-ops organize by educational philosophy—you'll find classical co-ops, Charlotte Mason co-ops, and general Christian co-ops.

Support groups provide the relational encouragement homeschool parents need. Monthly meetings, field trips, and park days offer friendship for both parents and children. These groups become lifelines during difficult seasons, sources of curriculum advice, and often deep communities of faith.

Church connections matter too. Many churches actively support homeschool families through facilities, programming, and pastoral care. Some churches host co-ops or support groups; others integrate homeschoolers into children's and youth ministry in meaningful ways.

To find community in your area, start with your state homeschool association (often findable through HSLDA's directory), ask at local churches, and search Facebook for "[your area] Christian homeschool" groups. The connections you make will sustain your homeschool journey far more than any curriculum choice.

Getting Started with Christian Homeschooling

Common Concerns—Addressed Honestly

Christian homeschool parents wrestle with legitimate concerns. Rather than dismiss these worries, let's address them directly.

"Am I qualified to teach my children?" You've already taught your children their most important skills—walking, talking, sharing, obeying. Teaching academics is the same process of patient instruction and practice. Most Christian curriculum includes thorough teacher guides that walk you through every lesson. Video instruction handles subjects where you feel less confident. And God equips those He calls—He didn't make a mistake when He placed these children in your care.

"Will my children miss out socially?" Research consistently shows homeschooled children demonstrate healthy social development—often better than their public school peers^[6]. The difference is intentionality. Instead of random age-segregation, homeschooled children interact across ages, with adults, and in varied settings. Co-ops, sports leagues, church groups, and community activities provide rich social opportunities. The families who struggle with socialization are those who never leave the house—and that's a parenting choice, not a homeschool necessity.

"Will colleges accept my students?" Yes. Every major university in America accepts homeschool applicants. Many actively recruit them. Strong academics, good test scores, and a well-crafted transcript matter far more than what program produced your curriculum.

"What about subjects I can't teach?" You have more options than ever. Video courses let expert teachers handle instruction. Dual enrollment at community colleges covers advanced courses. Tutors and co-op classes fill gaps. Online programs offer live instruction in everything from Latin to calculus. You don't have to know everything—you just have to connect your students with people and resources who do.

The Bottom Line

Choosing to homeschool your children with a Christian curriculum is a profound act of faith and stewardship. You're taking responsibility for what God has entrusted to you—not outsourcing your children's intellectual and spiritual formation to institutions that don't share your values and can't love your children as you do.

The curriculum you choose matters, but not as much as you might think. What matters more is your faithfulness in showing up each day, your patience through the difficult lessons, your willingness to adjust when something isn't working, and your commitment to weave the gospel through everything you teach. Children who grow up watching their parents love learning, handle frustration with grace, and point everything back to Christ—those children will thrive regardless of which publisher printed their textbooks.

Start where you are. Choose a curriculum that fits your family right now—it doesn't have to be perfect. Connect with other Christian homeschool families who can encourage you and share the journey. Trust that God will use your imperfect efforts for His glory and your children's good. And remember: this isn't just education. It's discipleship. It's legacy. It's the most important work you may ever do.