Curated guide

Best High School English Curriculum for Homeschool

8 curricula in this guide

High school English is really two subjects: literature and composition. Colleges expect four years of it, one credit per year, and strong writing is the skill that pays off on every application essay. The best programs either teach writing explicitly or pair great books with real writing assignments.

IEW is the writing powerhouse, with a structured method that works even for reluctant writers. Memoria Press pairs classic literature with careful study guides. BJU Press covers grammar, literature, and writing in a traditional textbook line, and Oak Meadow takes a secular, discussion-driven approach. Browse every high school English option in our directory below.

Editor's selection

Our picks

IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Structured writing curriculum using the Structure and Style method with engaging video instruction. Teaches reluctant writers to produce organized, stylistic prose through nine structural models.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$169–$289/grade

Memoria Press

Classical Christian curriculum with a strong emphasis on Latin, memorization, and the liberal arts. Highly organized with complete grade-level packages and optional online academy classes.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$235–$914/year

BJU Press

Comprehensive traditional Christian curriculum with optional professional video instruction (Distance Learning). Rigorous academics with critical thinking emphasis across all subjects K4-12.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$600–$1500/year

Oak Meadow

Waldorf-inspired secular curriculum emphasizing creativity, nature, and hands-on learning. Offers both independent homeschool materials and an accredited distance-learning school option.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$120–$2500/year

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Abeka

Pensacola Christian College

Highly structured traditional Christian curriculum with daily lesson plans, heavy drill and review, and optional filmed-classroom video instruction. One of the most comprehensive K4-12 programs available.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$450–$1884/year

BJU Press

Comprehensive traditional Christian curriculum with optional professional video instruction (Distance Learning). Rigorous academics with critical thinking emphasis across all subjects K4-12.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$600–$1500/year

Build Your Library

Secular, literature-based curriculum following a historical timeline with Charlotte Mason methods. Teacher's guide PDFs are affordable; books purchased separately.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$30–$60/grade

Classical Conversations

Classical Christian education combining weekly in-person community meetings with at-home study. Memory work, Socratic discussion, and the trivium model structure a unique hybrid program.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$700–$2000/year

Heart of Dakota

Charlotte Mason-influenced Christian unit study curriculum with detailed daily plans and a screen-free philosophy. Fourteen program levels span ages 2-18 using living books and hands-on activities.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$107–$1500/year

Master Books

New Leaf Publishing Group

Affordable Charlotte Mason-inspired Christian curriculum with open-and-go daily lesson plans. Known for gentle pacing, beautiful design, and young-earth creation science integration.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$40–$350/grade

Oak Meadow

Waldorf-inspired secular curriculum emphasizing creativity, nature, and hands-on learning. Offers both independent homeschool materials and an accredited distance-learning school option.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$120–$2500/year

Sonlight

Sonlight Curriculum

Literature-based Christian curriculum built around parent-led read-alouds and high-quality living books. All-Subjects Packages provide a full year of instruction across multiple subjects.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$250–$700/year

Common questions

Frequently asked

What should high school English cover each year?

Four credits, each combining literature and composition. A common sequence pairs a literature focus with a writing focus per year, for example American literature with research writing, or British literature with literary analysis. Colleges want to see four years, and they want to see writing, not just reading.

How much writing should a high schooler be doing?

Enough that essays stop being an event. A reasonable target is several substantial papers per year, including at least one researched paper with citations before graduation. Frequency matters more than length. A student who writes regularly arrives at college composition prepared in a way that a student who wrote three papers total does not.

Do we have to read the classics?

Not exclusively, but read some. Shared cultural texts show up in college coursework, standardized tests, and general literacy, and a student who has never worked through difficult prose is at a real disadvantage. Mixing canonical works with contemporary literature usually keeps engagement up without giving up the benefit.

How do I grade my own child's writing?

Use a rubric, and keep it consistent across the year. Grading against stated criteria for thesis, evidence, organization, and mechanics is far more defensible than a general impression, and it gives your student something actionable. Save graded papers as portfolio evidence supporting the transcript grade.

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