51 Best Secular Homeschool Curriculum (For All Subjects)

Finding a secular homeschool curriculum that’s truly non-religious and still high quality can be frustrating.

When we started homeschooling in 2018, I spent hours sorting through programs that claimed to be neutral but still slipped in religious content.

Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of options with my son, from preschool to high school.

This guide pulls together the secular homeschool curriculum we’ve actually used and trusted across every subject and grade level.

If you’re looking for a complete curriculum, subject-specific materials, or just something that aligns with your family’s values, these resources offer solid academics without the religious influence.

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Best Non Religious Homeschool Curriculum

These are the secular homeschool programs we’ve used the most and found genuinely helpful. Each one offers something different, whether you’re looking for full subjects or just a strong supplement.

1. Real Science Odyssey – This has been one of our favorite science programs—hands-on, easy to follow, and truly secular. Great for grades K–10.
2. History Odyssey – Perfect for middle and high school. It’s research-heavy, but my son loved how it helped him actually understand historical events, not just memorize them.
3. Beautiful Feet Books – A literature-based approach to learning. The book lists are excellent, and the flexibility made it easy to adapt across grade levels.
4. Mr D Math – We’ve used this for math, economics, and ASL. The live classes and real feedback make it a standout for older kids.
5. Typesy – If you’re teaching typing, this is the one to get. My son actually stuck with it (which says a lot).
6. Outschool – Great for filling gaps or exploring new interests. We’ve used it for everything from creative writing to Japanese.
7. Moneytime – A solid, age-appropriate way to teach middle schoolers real-world money skills. It’s practical and engaging.
8. Adventure Academy – Ideal for 8–13-year-olds. My son used it during those years when he needed structure but didn’t want anything “school-like.”

History

Finding a truly secular history curriculum took some time. We wanted something accurate, engaging, and free from religious bias, and over the years, these are the options that stood out in our homeschool.

• History Odyssey – Great for grades 6–12. It’s project-based and research-heavy, which worked well when my son wanted something more independent. [Check out our History Odyssey review.]
• Beautiful Feet Books – Literature-based and flexible across ages. We loved pairing the book lists with read-aloud time. [See our Beautiful Feet Books review.]
• History Quest – A strong fit for grades 1–6. My son enjoyed the storytelling format, and the hands-on projects helped bring it all together.
• Curiosity Chronicles – Covers world history from a global perspective. It’s written with humor and clarity, which kept things from feeling like a textbook.
• Horrible Histories – Not a full curriculum, but a fun way to make history stick. The humor really worked for us during upper elementary years.
• US History with Blossom Root – A newer favorite for American history in K–8. The art and literature integration made it more engaging than just dates and facts.
• Everything You Need To Ace World History – Simple, organized, and great for review or independent study in middle school.
• Crash Course – We used this a lot in late middle school and high school. The videos are fast-paced and packed with context, definitely one to preview with your kids.
• Khan Academy – Still one of the most comprehensive free options out there. Works well as a supplement across all ages.
• Curiosity Stream – If your learner loves visual content, the documentaries here are a great way to deepen understanding. [Read our Curiosity Stream review.]
• Outschool – We’ve taken a few themed history classes here. A nice option for specific topics or when we wanted interaction with a live teacher.

Science

Science has probably been the trickiest subject for us to get right. I wanted something hands-on and engaging, but also truly secular, without any hidden creationism or “faith-based” language. These are the resources we’ve used and recommend:

• Real Science Odyssey – Still our go-to for structured, secular science. It’s inquiry-based and packed with experiments. My son liked the mix of reading, labs, and journaling. [Read our Real Science Odyssey review.]
• BrainPOP – The animated videos explain tricky topics in a way that actually sticks. We used this a lot in upper elementary. [Read our BrainPOP review.]
• Everything You Need to Ace Science – A great middle school supplement. My son liked how the layout made it easy to review key concepts without being overwhelming.
• Mel Science – A subscription box with legit experiments. These feel more like “real science” than crafts, and the app adds extra value. [Check out our Mel Science review.]
• KiwiCo Tinker Crate – Monthly STEM kits that are fun and genuinely educational. We’ve used these for years, especially when I needed something open-and-go.
• Generation Genius – This was perfect for K–5. The interactive videos and paired worksheets helped build confidence and curiosity. [See our Generation Genius review.]
• Crash Course – The science series is best for older kids. It’s fast-paced and thorough, but sometimes we’d watch together and pause to talk things through.
• Outschool – We’ve joined a few science classes here over the years, especially when I wanted someone else to lead the lesson or explain a concept differently.
• Adventure Academy – This has a lighter touch, but worked well as a supplement when we wanted something academic without the pressure of tests.
• StemWerkz – Kind of like a learning game, but with real STEM concepts woven in. It kept my son engaged during those upper elementary years when we needed more variety.

Math

Most homeschool math programs are already secular, but finding the right one still took some trial and error. These are the options we’ve used and liked best over the years:

• Mr D Math – This has been our top pick for upper grades. My son liked the live class option and how clearly everything was explained. We also used it for ASL and economics.
• IXL – We’ve used this on and off for practice and assessments. It’s great for independent review, and the diagnostic tools are genuinely helpful.
• Teaching Textbooks – Super user-friendly and ideal if your child prefers working independently. The auto-grading saved me a lot of time. [Read our Teaching Textbooks review.]
• Beast Academy – Perfect for kids who love puzzles and want a challenge. The comic book format made advanced math way less intimidating.
• Everything You Need To Ace Math – This notebook worked well in middle school when we needed a simple overview or refresher.
• Rounded Schoolhouse – A newer option we’ve tried that includes secular math alongside other core subjects. Nice for families looking for an all-in-one setup.

Language Arts

Language arts has always been a mix-and-match subject for us. We’ve tried quite a few secular options over the years. Some focused on writing, others on grammar or literature. Here are the ones that actually worked in our homeschool:

• Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) – Structured and effective. It helped my son become a more confident writer, especially in upper elementary and middle school.
• Learning Language Arts Through Literature – A gentle, literature-based program we used early on. It ties reading, writing, and grammar together in a low-pressure way. [Here’s why we like it as our secular homeschool literature pick.]
• Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts – My son liked how visual and straightforward this was. Great for middle school review or as a spine to build from.
• Spectrum Language Arts – These were easy to work into our routine. They cover grammar, writing, reading comprehension, and vocabulary by grade level.
• Night Zookeeper – An interactive writing platform that really clicked during the creative writing phase. The prompts and feedback made it feel more like a game. [Read our Night Zookeeper review.]
• WriteShop – This gave us more structure when we needed it. The lessons were broken down into manageable chunks that didn’t feel overwhelming. [Check out our WriteShop review.]
• ABCMouse – Great for early learners. We used it mostly for pre-K to 1st grade as a way to reinforce phonics and early reading skills. [Read our ABCmouse review.]
• Michael Clay Thompson (MCT) – This one is thorough. It’s a full language arts program with grammar, vocabulary, writing, and literature. We used it in middle school.
• Brave Writer – More of a lifestyle than a curriculum. It encourages writing through connection and conversation, which worked well when we wanted a break from formal lessons.

Also, check out our favorite secular spelling curriculum picks—they’ve been a great addition to our language arts lineup.

Art & Music

Incorporating art and music into our homeschool has been one of the most rewarding parts of the week. These secular resources have made it easy to stay creative without needing a formal background in the arts.

• KiwiCo Studio Art – We’ve used these crates for years. The projects are fun, open-ended, and my son always looked forward to them.
• Meet the Great Composers – A gentle way to introduce classical music. We used it in elementary years to build awareness of famous composers and their work.
• Music and How it Works – A great pick for curious kids who want to understand the structure behind music. It helped us bridge the gap between listening and learning.
• YouTube & Free Sites – Channels like Draw So Cute and Babble Dabble Do became our go-to for quick, creative art lessons. No prep needed, just fun and easy projects.
• Google Arts & Culture – For virtual field trips to museums and galleries, this has been a favorite. It’s also great for art history tie-ins.

If you’re just getting started with art or music, even a weekly creative break can go a long way, these tools helped us make it part of our regular rhythm.

Foreign Language

Finding a secular foreign language curriculum that’s engaging and age-appropriate took some time. We’ve used a mix of structured programs and casual tools depending on our son’s interest and level.

• Lingopie – This was a game-changer for us. It turns TV shows into interactive lessons with flashcards and quizzes built in. My son actually wanted to practice Spanish with it. [Check out our Lingopie review.]
• Japanese from Zero – A solid beginner course. We liked how it introduced the basics step-by-step without being overwhelming. It’s our top pick for learning Japanese at home.
• Spanish Workbook (Grades 6–12) – A traditional workbook, but it paired well with other online tools when we wanted offline practice.
• Duolingo – Free, simple, and effective. We’ve used this for Spanish and French. It’s not a full curriculum, but it’s been a helpful supplement, especially on busy days.

We’ve found that keeping language learning fun and consistent is more important than choosing the “perfect” program. Mixing in videos, games, and practice apps helped us stick with it.

Geography & Social Studies

We’ve found that geography and social studies work best when they’re hands-on and connected to real-world experiences. These secular resources helped make the subjects more engaging and meaningful in our homeschool.

• Let’s Go Geography – This was a fun way to “travel” the world from home. Each unit includes crafts, music, and stories that helped my son remember the material.
• US Geography from Beautiful Feet – We used this around 4th grade. It combines literature and map work, and the storytelling really helped bring American geography to life.
• 180 Days of Social Studies: Geography (6th Grade) – A simple workbook that we used for independent practice. It’s not flashy, but it covers key concepts clearly.
• Printable Geography Worksheets – We’ve used these to reinforce topics or as quiet time activities. They work well alongside any program.

We also mixed in geography board games, trivia, and geography books to make learning more interactive. It’s one of those subjects where variety really helps it stick.

Last Updated on 14 May 2025 by Clare Brown