TheHomeschoolingCompany vs Calvert Education
Calvert Education: Structured Online & Print Homeschool Curriculum
Calvert: The Oldest Name in Homeschool, for Better and Worse
Calvert Education has been providing home education curricula since 1906, making it one of the oldest correspondence school programs in the United States. This longevity reflects genuine institutional competence: the curriculum is well-organized, the materials are professionally produced, and the program offers advisory teaching services that provide a degree of external oversight and support that many homeschool families find reassuring. The optional accreditation through Calvert's accredited program adds institutional credibility that can be valuable for families who anticipate transitioning to traditional school or who want external validation of their child's academic progress. The challenge with Calvert in the current educational landscape is that its approach, while competent and time-tested, has not evolved to incorporate the kinds of personalization, technology integration, and interest-driven learning that newer platforms offer. The curriculum is fundamentally a pre-packaged, textbook-based program that follows a fixed sequence at a fixed pace, and while the quality of the materials is solid, the pedagogical approach would be recognizable to a student from 1950. For families who value tradition, structure, and the reassurance of a well-established institution, Calvert delivers. For families who want their child's education to reflect the personalized, technology-enhanced, interest-driven possibilities of the current moment, Calvert may feel like a well-maintained antique: reliable, respectable, and increasingly outdated.
Pricing Comparison
Calvert Education: $549-849+ per grade (online or print packages)
TheHomeschoolingCompany: $49/month (all grades, all subjects)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Calvert Education | TheHomeschoolingCompany |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $549-849+ per grade annually | $49/month for all grades |
| Structure | Highly structured daily lesson plans | Flexible, AI-adapted structure |
| Personalization | Same curriculum for all students | AI adapts to interests and pace |
| Teaching Method | Textbooks + online interactive lessons | AI-powered personalized tutoring |
| Track Record | 100+ years of homeschool curriculum | Modern AI technology approach |
| Parent Involvement | Low to moderate with guided lessons | Low - AI handles instruction |
| Project-Based Learning | Some projects within structured lessons | Core approach with real-world projects |
| Advisory Teachers | Optional advisory teacher support | 24/7 AI mentor always available |
| Record Keeping | Automated grading and record keeping | AI-powered analytics and transcripts |
| Physical Materials | Print option with textbooks and kits | Digital-first with printable options |