What Reviewers Say

Beast Academy is widely regarded as the most challenging elementary math curriculum, designed for mathematically gifted students. Cathy Duffy includes it in Top Picks, praising the rigorous comic-book format. Kate's Homeschool Math Help calls it 'the most challenging math program available' for these grades. However, Well-Trained Mind explicitly does not recommend it for typical students, noting it 'introduces abstract, logic-stage thinking during grammar-stage years.' Parents report children who love math get excited while those who struggle find it overwhelming.

How It Works

A typical week involves the child reading a chapter in the graphic-novel style "Guide" book to learn new concepts through the adventures of monster characters, followed by solving logic-heavy problems in the "Practice" book or the interactive online platform. Parents generally act as coaches rather than lecturers, providing support when children encounter "double-star" challenges that require deep perseverance. Sessions usually last 30 to 60 minutes, with the online component offering instructional videos and automated grading while the print books focus on handwritten problem-solving. Families often alternate between reading a few pages of the comic and completing the corresponding practice exercises to ensure mastery. Beast Academy also works well as a supplement alongside traditional school math — many families use it 2-3 times per week to challenge a gifted child who finishes regular classwork quickly.

Switching to This?

Before starting, families should use the free placement tests on the Beast Academy website, as most students need to start at least one level below their current school grade due to the program's rigor. It is best to begin at the start of a level (e.g., Level 2A) rather than switching mid-year, as the curriculum builds unique problem-solving strategies from the ground up. Upon completing Level 5, the standard path is to transition into Art of Problem Solving's Pre-Algebra series for middle school. When switching from a program like Singapore Math, parents should expect significantly more focus on abstract logic and puzzles and much less emphasis on traditional repetitive drills.

Curriculum Details

Price

$99 - $160

Online-only $16/month or $100/year. Print books ~$27 per Guide + Practice set (~$108/year complete grade). Bundle (online + print) $160. Sibling discount $65/year additional students.

Grades

1 - 5

Available As

Print Digital

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

Math

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

10-30 min/day

Parent Involvement

Minimal

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Secular

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Beast Academy is most often compared to Singapore Math (Dimensions), but while both are rigorous, Beast Academy focuses more on "discovery-based" learning and non-linear logic puzzles. Compared to Khan Academy, which follows a standard procedural approach to mastery, Beast Academy requires students to apply concepts to entirely unfamiliar, high-level scenarios. While Zearn Math is designed for standard grade-level alignment and remediation, Beast Academy is specifically engineered to challenge advanced learners who find traditional curricula too repetitive or easy.

Getting Started