Discovery K12 is a free online curriculum for homeschooling students from Pre-K to 12th grade. Founded in 2013, it offers self-paced lessons in core subjects and serves families globally.
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. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is Discovery K12?
Discovery K12 is a free online homeschool curriculum created by tech engineer Sheri Wells in 2013. It runs on a freemium model, offering self-paced lessons for kids from Pre-K to 12th grade. The program covers seven core subjects every day and supports families in all 50 states and over 75 countries. Parents are the main teachers, while DK12 provides a structured curriculum and resources. Just remember, Discovery K12 is not a school and doesn’t keep official student records. Families need to handle their own documentation and compliance.
What the curriculum includes
Discovery K12 offers a lot for a free platform. You get 180 days of lessons in core subjects, over 100 courses, and access to a digital library with more than 100 classic literature eBooks. Starting in first grade, kids focus on research skills and start essay writing in second grade. They complete two essays each week based on their reading. Weekly spelling programs, 36 weeks of STEM projects, and extra courses like Spanish I, HTML Coding, and Personal Finance are also included. Everything is accessible through a user-friendly web interface on any device.
Is Discovery K12 right for your family?
Discovery K12 is great for families on a budget who want a full, structured curriculum without religious content. It’s especially good for self-motivated learners who can work independently with some parental guidance. Some parents say it feels more like an organized assignment list than a traditional textbook curriculum. This works well for some kids but might frustrate others. The focus on writing and research skills appeals to families that value those strengths. Just keep in mind that success with DK12 relies heavily on parental involvement, as you’re using their materials to teach.
The bottom line
Discovery K12 shows that you don’t need to spend a lot for a quality homeschool curriculum. If you’re looking for a secular program that covers all the basics, this free option is hard to beat. The optional Parent/Teacher Account offers useful tracking and documentation features, especially for high school students who need transcripts. While it requires active parental engagement and may not fit every learning style, DK12 is worth considering for families looking into curriculum options.
