Apologia Science
by Apologia Educational Ministries (website )
Christian apologetics-focused science curriculum with hands-on experiments and rigorous content.
Best Fit For
Christian families seeking rigorous, college-prep science with creation worldview. Self-motivated readers who can work independently from textbook. Families teaching multiple ages together (elementary design). Those wanting thorough lab science without expensive equipment. Parents without science backgrounds using detailed teacher guides.
Not Recommended For
Families seeking secular science or evolutionary biology content. Students struggling with text-heavy learning. Reluctant learners who have lost interest in science. Families wanting broad annual science survey rather than single-topic deep dives. Students who found living books engaging.
What Reviewers Say
Apologia Science is the dominant creation-based science curriculum, earning 75+ awards. Cathy Duffy praises high school courses as 'among the best options for college-prep, lab science courses' allowing independent study with affordable household materials. Parents consistently report children enter college well-prepared. However, the General Science course is described as 'dry, boring, not well written' in Simply Charlotte Mason forums. The conversational writing style works well for motivated students but may frustrate those preferring hands-on or visual learning.
How It Works
For elementary students, a parent typically reads a chapter aloud for 30 minutes while the child completes sketches or vocabulary in a coordinating notebooking journal two to three days a week. In middle and high school, the student transitions to independent study, reading the conversational textbook and answering 'On Your Own' questions for about an hour each day. Experiments are designed to be done at the kitchen table using common household items like balloons, string, and jars, though high school levels may require a microscope or dissection kit. The parent's role shifts from a primary reader in the early years to a lab supervisor and grader who checks work against the provided solutions manual at the end of each module.
Switching to This?
Apologia does not provide formal diagnostic placement tests, so families typically choose levels based on the child's grade and math proficiency, as high school science courses have specific math prerequisites. For the elementary 'Young Explorer' series, families can start with any book that matches the child’s interest, though 'Astronomy' or 'Botany' are common starting points for younger children. Families can easily start mid-year at the beginning of any module, as each chapter focuses on a distinct scientific topic. If switching from a secular or traditional textbook program, parents should expect a significant increase in reading volume and a strong emphasis on a biblical worldview throughout every lesson.
Curriculum Details
- Price
- $39 - $150
- Grades
- K - 12
- Available As
- Print Digital Audiobook
- Coverage
- Single subject
- Subjects
- Science
- Pacing
- Flexible
- Parent Time
- 15-60 min/day
- Parent Involvement
- Minimal
- Student Independence
- Semi-independent
- Academic Level
- Above grade level
- Worldview
- Christian
- Teach Multiple Ages
- Yes
Elementary textbooks ~$39, notebooks ~$27, supply kits $20-45. High school textbooks $52-75, student notebooks $37-49. Complete high school course sets $90-115. Video courses and live classes available at higher prices.
Videos
Is Apologia Science Curriculum Worth the Hype? My In-Depth Review 😯
by How to Homeschool
Reviews We Consulted
Appreciates the "creation confirmation" sections and the ability to teach multiple children together, but warns the long reading sections can be a struggle for younger, fidgety students.
"One downside I’ve found with this curriculum is that it can be overwhelming to young children who have trouble sitting still. I’ve solved this problem with coloring pages, but some of the sections are fairly long if you have a fidgety kid."
Enthusiastically supports the curriculum for fostering independence in teens and providing a solid foundation for college success. She highlights the flexibility of the four-day schedule and the strong Christian worldview.
"I have graduated 2 children from my homeschool who only used the Apologia Science curriculum. Both have taken college level science courses and received A’s in every single one. Our family is proof positive this curriculum works!"
Praises the "immersion approach" for prioritizing depth over breadth, allowing children to master one topic per year. The reviewer finds it highly user-friendly for parents and effective for long-term retention.
"Instead of having my kids learn a little of this and a little of that in their science courses, they learn about one topic and focus on that for the entire year. It’s about quality, not quantity with Apologia."
Values the conversational "living book" style that makes complex topics accessible, but cautions that the textbooks are very text-heavy with small fonts that may overwhelm younger readers.
"The author is a genius at making science lessons conversational. As you read, you really feel like the author is speaking directly to you. Concepts are made simple and easy to relate to... I personally found it to be very text heavy—I would have loved to see a bigger font."
Offers a cautious perspective, questioning if the textbooks are too "dry" or massive for students who do not already enjoy science. The community discussion highlights mixed results for middle school engagement.
"I've always had apologia general science on my radar; however the reviews seem to be mixed on here. He does not love science, and I don't want to overwhelm him with this massive (and dry?) textbook."
Provides a critical look at the curriculum’s Young Earth Creationist focus, arguing that the narrow theological viewpoint may not provide students with an accurate picture of modern scientific consensus.
"The Apologia science is just so full of objectionable material that we are feeling that we cannot support the program without appearing to condone this curriculum choice. The whole curriculum is based around knowing God and learning to recognize and share truth, yet we are not presented with truth and really only shown one opinion."
Recommends this high school biology course for its rigorous, college-preparatory depth and the seamless integration of lab work with the text. She notes the self-paced online options are helpful additions to the 3rd edition.
"There is no disconnect between lab activities and what students are reading in the text as is sometimes the case with lab courses. Lab work includes microscope labs, dissections, and labs using mostly household items."
Updated: March 2026
How This Compares
Compared to BJU Press, which follows a traditional, teacher-led classroom model, Apologia is much more parent-friendly because it is written directly to the student for independent study. When compared to Noeo Science, which uses a 'living books' approach with many different colorful encyclopedias, Apologia provides a single, comprehensive textbook that offers a more structured and predictable daily routine. For families deciding between Apologia and Berean Builders, the primary difference is the organization: Apologia teaches by specific branch of science (like Biology), whereas Berean Builders teaches all sciences simultaneously through a chronological history timeline.
Getting Started
Purchase
The primary publisher page for purchasing complete curriculum packages, which typically include the textbook, notebooking journal, and testing materials.
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