Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is a leading math education program for advanced learners. It focuses on deep understanding through challenging problems, not just memorizing formulas.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. A peer-reviewed study published in Peabody Journal of Education found that homeschooled children are typically well-adjusted socially and score above average on measures of social skills, emotional development, and daily living skills (Richard Medlin, 2013).
What is Art of Problem Solving?
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is a top-tier math program in the homeschool world. Since 1993, it has helped high-achieving math students with textbooks, online courses, and virtual classes. AoPS believes in deep learning over quick memorization. Students tackle tough problems to think like mathematicians. Every member of the USA International Math Olympiad team has been an AoPS student since 2015. For homeschoolers with gifted kids in math, AoPS offers a rigorous curriculum and a supportive community that's hard to find elsewhere.
Beast Academy (elementary)
Beast Academy is designed for grades 1-5 and uses a fun comic-book style featuring monster characters. Each grade has four units (A, B, C, D). The Guide books teach concepts, while Practice books offer exercises. The material is challenging and introduces ideas like number theory and logic earlier than typical programs. It's engaging and age-appropriate. You can get Beast Academy as physical books or use the online platform. This program is a hit with kids who love math but find regular elementary classes dull.
Core curriculum (middle/high school)
The main AoPS curriculum goes deeper than the usual prealgebra-to-calculus path. Introductory courses cover Prealgebra, Introduction to Algebra, Geometry, Counting & Probability, and Number Theory. Intermediate courses include Intermediate Algebra, Counting & Probability, and Precalculus. Textbooks use a discovery style, where students solve problems before seeing the answers. This builds both knowledge and mathematical maturity. You'll find competition problems from MATHCOUNTS, AMC, and more throughout the courses.
Free resources
AoPS offers a lot of free resources. Alcumus is an adaptive online system that adjusts problem difficulty based on how students perform. It's free for everyone. The AoPS website has free videos that explain concepts, a lively community forum for discussing problems, and resources to prepare for competitions. Many families start with textbooks and Alcumus, adding paid courses only if they want extra help.
The bottom line
Art of Problem Solving fills a unique need for students who find regular math programs too easy. It requires dedication and persistence, so it's not for those who struggle with math or need a lot of guidance. However, for math-minded students, AoPS provides depth that helps prepare them for top universities and STEM careers. Plus, you can choose between affordable self-study or premium instruction, making it a great fit for different homeschool situations.
