Secular homeschool curriculum
A secular homeschool curriculum teaches academic subjects without religious instruction or a faith-based framing: biology is built on evolution, earth science uses the scientific age of the earth, and history describes religions rather than asserting one. To find one, check the science and history materials first, because that is where religious content most often appears, and do not rely on the label alone.
Most secular families combine programs subject by subject. The sections below show what to check, which widely used options are secular, and how to assemble a full year.
What "secular" means for a curriculum
Secular means the curriculum's claims rest on evidence and mainstream scholarship, not on scripture or a statement of faith. It does not mean anti-religious. A secular world history course should teach what Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists believe and how those beliefs shaped events. It teaches religion as a subject. It does not tell your child which one is true.
In practice the difference shows up in a handful of predictable places. Science is the biggest: a secular biology course treats evolution by natural selection as the organizing idea of the subject, and a secular earth science course teaches that the earth is billions of years old and explains how scientists date rocks and fossils. History is second, in how it dates ancient events and whether it explains outcomes by divine purpose. Health is third, in how it handles puberty, sexuality, and family structure.
Math, phonics, spelling, and grammar rarely carry doctrine in their content, though materials from religious publishers may use scripture for copywork or example sentences.
Where religious content shows up, by subject
Use this table as a preview checklist. Most programs that are not secular show it in the first two rows.
| Subject | Secular treatment | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Evolution is the unifying theory, taught with evidence from fossils, genetics, and anatomy | Whether evolution has its own chapter, or appears only as a "theory" set against creation or intelligent design |
| Earth and space science | The earth and universe are billions of years old; radiometric dating is explained | Mentions of a young earth, a global flood as a geological cause, or dinosaurs living alongside humans |
| History | Events explained by people, economics, geography, and ideas; religions described, not endorsed | Phrases like "God's plan in history" or "providential", and whether Bible narratives are dated as literal events |
| Literature | Selections chosen for literary quality and range | Reading lists built mostly around moral or devotional books, and discussion questions that point to scripture |
| Health | Medically accurate information on bodies, puberty, and relationships | Whether topics are omitted or framed by a religious teaching; this is where you will want to preview most |
| Math and language arts | Skills taught without doctrine | Bible verses used for copywork, handwriting, or word problems |
How to spot religious content before you buy
Catalog descriptions are written to sell to the widest audience, so check the materials themselves. This takes about 20 minutes per program.
- Read the publisher's About page. A statement of faith, a "biblical worldview" or "Christian worldview" line, or a church-affiliated university as publisher tells you the framing.
- Download the sample and the table of contents for the science level your child will use. Look for a chapter on evolution in biology and on geologic time in earth science.
- Search the sample PDF for "God", "Creator", "creation", "design", "biblical", and "worldview". One hit in a history reading about the Reformation is expected. Hits in a chemistry lesson are a signal.
- Look at the teacher's guide, not only the student book. Discussion prompts and suggested answers are often where framing lives.
- Treat "neutral" and "secular-friendly" as questions, not answers. Some programs earn the label by leaving evolution and the age of the earth out entirely, which means your child never learns them.
- Ask secular homeschool groups in your state what they use. Other parents have usually read the level you are considering.
Secular options by subject
These are widely used programs that present their content without religious framing. Check the current level and sample for your child before buying, since publishers revise editions.
- Math. Beast Academy for elementary grades and Art of Problem Solving for middle and high school suit children who like hard problems. Math Mammoth and Singapore Math are mastery-based and parent-friendly. Khan Academy is free and covers arithmetic through calculus.
- Science. Real Science Odyssey from Pandia Press is a hands-on elementary and middle school series. CK-12 offers free science texts and practice. OpenStax, from Rice University, publishes free biology, chemistry, and physics textbooks used in high school and college.
- History. History Odyssey, also from Pandia Press, is a chronological program. Build Your Library and BookShark are literature-based and combine history with read-alouds.
- Writing. Brave Writer focuses on writing process and a relaxed home routine.
- All-in-one programs. Oak Meadow is a secular, Waldorf-influenced program with printed materials. Time4Learning is an online program; see Time4Learning compared. TheHomeschoolingCompany builds a nonreligious, personalized curriculum for grades K to 12, with science and history under Explore in K to 2.
Several good resources cost nothing. Khan Academy, CK-12, and OpenStax together can carry math and science for years, and your public library can supply literature and history reading. The best free homeschool curriculum guide lists more.
What an all-in-one secular program costs
If you want one program to cover most subjects, prices vary a lot by format. These are published prices at our last check. Prices change, so confirm on each provider's site.
| Program | Format | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Online, self-paced | Free |
| Time4Learning | Online, grades 6 to 12 | $39.95 per month entry point, seven courses included |
| Oak Meadow | Printed course packages | About $400 to $750 or more per grade |
| Calvert | Online or print packages | About $549 to $849 or more per grade |
| TheHomeschoolingCompany | Personalized online curriculum | $149 per month per learner for up to 12 subjects, or $49 per month for one subject; 14-day free trial |
Khan Academy is free but leaves writing, literature, and history mostly to you. See Oak Meadow compared and Khan Academy compared for detail on workload and records.
Secular vs faith-based: the real tradeoffs
Faith-based publishers make up a large share of the homeschool market, and that has practical effects. There are more used copies for sale, more complete boxed grade kits, and more local co-ops built around them. Some co-ops ask families to sign a statement of faith, so ask before you join. Secular families often have fewer ready-made grade packages and end up choosing subject by subject.
Faith-based does not mean weak. Some Christian programs are academically demanding, especially in grammar, math, and writing. The concern for secular families is narrower: science courses that teach creationism or a young earth leave gaps a student will meet again in a college biology or geology course. If you use a faith-based program for a subject, know which lessons you plan to replace. The comparisons for Apologia and Master Books show where science framing differs, and secular vs Christian curriculum compared goes subject by subject.
Mixing is common. A secular family may use a religious publisher's phonics or math book with no issue, then switch to a secular science and history spine. The work is in reading each level, not in avoiding a publisher outright.
How to build a secular school year
Build the year in this order. The early decisions constrain the later ones, and math takes the most daily time.
- Check your state's required subjects on the homeschool laws by state page. Some states name subjects such as health or civics that you must cover.
- Place your child in math and reading with a placement test. Buy by level, not by grade.
- Choose math first. It needs the most daily time and the clearest sequence.
- Choose a science spine and confirm the evolution and earth-age content at your child's level.
- Choose a history spine and a reading list that includes world religions as subjects of study.
- Decide how you will handle health, and preview anything on puberty and relationships yourself.
- Write a weekly plan, then review after six weeks. Replace anything your child is not learning from, even if you paid for it.
A worked example for a 4th grader: Math Mammoth for daily math, Real Science Odyssey two or three afternoons a week, a Build Your Library level for history and read-alouds, Brave Writer for writing, Khan Academy for extra math practice, and library books for independent reading. That covers every subject most states require with no religious content. The grade guides for elementary, middle school, and high school list what each stage should include.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between secular and neutral homeschool curriculum?
Secular curriculum teaches mainstream science and history directly, including evolution and the scientific age of the earth. Neutral curriculum avoids taking a position, which often means it skips those topics. That can work for math or phonics, but a neutral science program may leave out the central idea of biology. If a program calls itself neutral, check its science table of contents before buying.
Is BookShark the secular version of Sonlight?
Yes. BookShark comes from the same company as Sonlight and uses the same literature-based format, with read-alouds, a history spine, and instructor guides, without the Christian framing that runs through Sonlight. Families who like Sonlight's book lists but want secular content often choose BookShark. As with any program, preview the science level for your child before you buy.
Is The Good and the Beautiful secular?
No. The Good and the Beautiful is created from a Christian perspective, with an emphasis on character and wholesome content. Secular families who like its format sometimes use its math or handwriting materials and choose a separate science and history program. Read the samples for the level you want before deciding, since religious content varies by subject.
Is Time4Learning secular?
Yes. Time4Learning is an online program that does not include religious instruction, and many secular homeschool families use it as an all-in-one option. Its published entry point for grades 6 to 12 was $39.95 per month when last checked, with pricing that varies by plan. Confirm the current price on its site and review a sample science lesson for your child's grade.
How do I teach about religion in a secular homeschool?
Teach it as history, geography, and literature. Study what major religions believe when they come up in your history sequence, read short excerpts from their texts alongside other primary sources, and look at the art and buildings each one produced. A world religions unit in middle school gives a stronger base than scattered mentions. Your own beliefs can stay part of family life; the curriculum's job is to explain, not to persuade.
Can secular homeschoolers join a religious co-op?
Sometimes. Many co-ops welcome any family, but some ask members to sign a statement of faith or teach classes from a religious viewpoint. Ask for the co-op's membership agreement and class list before you join. Secular or inclusive co-ops exist in many areas and are easiest to find through state homeschool groups and local parent networks.