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Two homeschool science programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: creation and faith content, teaching style, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
These two are close: the differences are small, so price, grade range and what parents say below may decide it.
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| BJU Press Science | Abeka Science | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12th | 1st–12th |
| Creation/faith | Christian, young-earth creation | Christian, young-earth creation |
| Approach | Traditional textbook with activity manual, labs and optional video lessons | Graded textbook with activity book, quizzes and tests |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | High (teacher-led unless you add video; long supply lists) | Low (lesson plans by grade; some activity supplies) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | Available: video lessons sold separately; print books still needed | Available: abeka Academy video lessons are sold separately |
| Cost | $179.75: Science 4 Homeschool Kit, 5th ed. (texts, activity book, tests, keys); video and lab kit extra | $94.39: Grade 4 Science/Health homeschool child kit (textbook, STEM activity book, quizzes/tests); parent keys and lesson plans extra |
| Parents love |
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| Common complaints |
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Parents value the polished full-color books, the emphasis on scientific thinking from first grade, the thorough teacher editions, and the option of well-produced video teachers. The main complaints are cost (especially with video), the amount of parent teaching and component juggling without video, and long lab supply lists that include specialized equipment at upper levels.
Parents like the bright pictures and simple layout, and that lessons need very little planning. Critics call the early grades broad but shallow with simple activities, find the religious messaging heavy-handed, and a geologist's critique of an upper-grade book faults its young-earth science claims.
Neither is better for every child. BJU Press Science is the stronger fit for video-led; plenty. Abeka Science is the stronger fit for independent workbooks; minimal; some.
BJU Press Science: christian, young-earth creation. Abeka Science: christian, young-earth creation.
BJU Press Science: $179.75: Science 4 Homeschool Kit, 5th ed. (texts, activity book, tests, keys); video and lab kit extra. Abeka Science: $94.39: Grade 4 Science/Health homeschool child kit (textbook, STEM activity book, quizzes/tests); parent keys and lesson plans extra.
Summaries are in our own words.