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Best American history homeschool curriculum

Many families study American history for a year or two in elementary school and again in high school. These programs have the strongest American history tracks.

Updated September 2026 · 32 programs compared · rankings from our published scoring rules

Every child is different. Add your child's grade, your faith preference and what you want to study for a personal ranking.

Try it with American history selected

What matters for American history

Pick your depth. Some programs cover all of U.S. history in one year; others spread it over two.

Check whose stories are told. Programs differ in how they handle Native American history, slavery and immigration, so read a sample chapter.

Consider your state. Some states expect state history too, which most national programs only touch on.

Our top 6 for American history

  1. Beautiful Feet Books

    Charlotte Mason-style literature packs: real books, a teacher guide, timeline and notebook per history era

    • Early American and Modern US/World History guides available
    • Watch for: full pack (guide plus all books) runs $200-$300 upfront
    Grades K–9thCharlotte Mason literature approach: living books (biographies, historical fiction) with narration and discussion, guided by a teacher's guideCost: $255.95: Early American History (4-6) pack - teacher guide, timeline, notebook, and all 23 books

  2. Blossom & Root: A River of Voices

    Secular US history told through multiple perspectives, with gentle/standard/advanced pathways

    • Entirely focused on US history, told through multiple voices
    • Watch for: not independent work; needs real parent engagement, 4-5 days a week
    Grades K–8thMulti-perspective, literature-rich US history: living books, primary sources and discussion, with 3 difficulty pathwaysCost: $36: A River of Voices Vol. 1 (First European Colonies to 1791) - full parent guide, student notebook and links list

  3. Notgrass History (Our Star-Spangled Story)

    Christian narrative history with literature and timelines, from Our Star-Spangled Story (1st–4th) to Exploring World History and Exploring America (high school)

    • Full-year, chronological U.S. history course
    • Watch for: some units (e.g. revolutionary war) are brief and may need supplementing
    Grades 1st–12thChristian narrative history: read-aloud textbook plus literature, songs, timeline and workbookCost: $95: Our Star-Spangled Story Curriculum Package (Parts 1 & 2, rhythms/rhymes audio, timeline, workbook, answer key)

  4. Abeka History & Geography

    Traditional Christian textbook history: scripted daily lessons, maps and quizzes with a patriotic, biblical lens

    • Multiple grades (2, 3, 4, 8) center on American history and biography
    • Watch for: heavy on quizzes, tests and worksheet review; light on hands-on activities
    Grades PreK–12thTraditional: textbook/worktext readings, mapping, review questions and tests each dayCost: $157.20: Grade 3 History Parent Kit ($97.60) + Child Kit ($59.60) — textbook, teacher edition, workbook, maps, quizzes and tests for one child

  5. Master Books History (America's Story / The World's Story / One Nation Under God)

    Christian narrative history readers: America's Story (elementary), World's Story (middle), One Nation Under God (high)

    • America's Story (3 volumes) is a dedicated, chronological U.S. history line
    • Watch for: historical coverage isn't comprehensive; some periods get light treatment
    Grades 3rd–12thCharlotte Mason-style narrative history: living-book textbook plus teacher guide with narration, sketching and timeline workCost: $60.78: America's Story Volume 1 Set (student textbook + teacher guide), grades 3-6

  6. Christian Light Education

    Affordable, workbook-based Social Studies LightUnits with an Anabaptist Christian worldview, grades 1-12

    • 5th, 8th and 11th grade all center on US/Canada or American history
    • Watch for: several parents find the social studies content plain or less engaging than cle's other subjects
    Grades 1st–12thTraditional: a grade-level textbook plus consumable LightUnit worktexts, quizzes and testsCost: $87.40: Grade 3 Social Studies — Living Together on God's Earth textbook, 301-306 LightUnit set and answer keys for one child

Questions parents ask

When should homeschoolers study American history?

Many families do it in upper elementary and again in high school, often after or alongside a world history cycle.

What is the best American history curriculum for high school?

Notgrass, Abeka, BJU Press, Master Books and Compass Classroom's video course are common high school choices; check the grade range on each.

Should I do world history or American history first?

Either works. Families following a chronological cycle reach American history in the third or fourth year; others start with it because it feels closer to home.

How this list is made: each program is scored against the needs above using features documented in parent reviews and publisher materials (sources are listed in each program's profile). It's a starting point, not medical or educational advice.