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Saxon Math Reviews: Is Traditional Homeschool Curriculum Still Relevant in 2026?

Going through other parents’ Saxon Math reviews is one of the best ways to understand if the curriculum is the right choice for your child. I am a professional math tutor with Brighterly, and today, I will help you explore the pros, cons, and key features of Saxon Math so you can make your own assessment. 

Key points

• Range of features: 8/10. According to the Saxon Math homeschool reviews, this is a powerful curriculum for traditional-style instruction and independent learners, but it won’t work for everybody.
• Learning approach: 8/10. Reviewers often praise Saxon for independent learning skills, conceptual math, and constant revision, but it may not cater to everybody. 
• User interface and experience: 7/10 Parents love how the books are organized. However, Saxon doesn’t have a website and doesn’t provide customer support online. 
• Effectiveness: 8/10. Reviewers report that the effectiveness varies depending on the child, but many parents find Saxon Math effective for “traditional” learners.
• Customer support: 7/10. Limited customer support is present, and you can practice with Saxon Math online via math platforms or private tutors.
• Pricing model: 10/10. Saxon Math is a great option money-wise, especially if you value long-term use, usability, and a curriculum that can serve multiple children.

⭐Average rating: 8/10

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Based on what Saxon reviews are saying on blogs and Reddit, Saxon Math is a good enough option for parents who want a clear, step-by-step teaching plan, without guessing what to teach each day. If you’re a homeschooling parent, you will find this program quite helpful.

What is Saxon Math? A quick review

Saxon Math is a tried-and-true math curriculum that many homeschool families have used for decades. It was created by Dr. John Saxon, who believed that math is best approached when kids practice a little at a time and often revisit what they’ve already learned.

💡I’ll first start my Saxon math review with an overview of their learning method and later move to its pros, cons, features, and more, and cover questions like “What age does Saxon Math start?” Read on!

What type of curriculum is Saxon Math?

Saxon uses a spiral approach, where the topics are taught in small steps instead of learning them fully before progressing. Each lesson is filled with new and old concepts. That way, children have the opportunity to practice what they’ve already learned and lock those skills in. 

This approach is one of the defining features of the Saxon Math program, and many parents choose it because it gives them a simple but supportive structure. The “little by little” approach helps kids stay engaged and not lose motivation during lessons. 

I personally find this method useful, especially for mathematics, where you sometimes need to pace the program for the sake of students’ understanding. 

Another thing about the Saxon course you should definitely know about is that it’s not very progressive. Its mathematics lessons are based on textbooks, worksheets, and repetition exercises. It may be a serious problem if your child is a visual learner, because Saxon doesn’t give much space for hands-on activities, games, or visual explanations. 

So, who is Saxon Math good for? Let’s explore some facts below. 

What are the pros and cons of Saxon Math?

Saxon reviews: Benefits

• Spiral learning with constant review
• Less need to plan your own curriculum
• Builds independent learning skills

Spiral learning with constant review

So, is Saxon Math spiral or mastery? Saxon Math uses a spiral approach. That means kids don’t just study one topic and then never return to it: they constantly return to review concepts over time. 

Each lesson introduces a mix of new material and problems to review from the past courses, helping children practice regularly and avoid forming knowledge gaps. For many children, this review builds long-term retention better than a mastery-based approach, especially if the kids rely on repetition. 

👇Here’s what one homeschooling mom says in her Simple Homeschooler blog review:

The Saxon homeschool curriculum looks like a great approach for kids who need to build confidence with their math skills over time. But it seems like it can get boring for some. 

⭐Rating: 8/10

Less need to plan your own curriculum

For parents, Saxon removes the stress of needing to plan their own curriculum. Families don’t have to navigate programs and choose problems to solve in the next lesson – everything is already laid out in the curriculum 

👇Here’s another review on Well-Trained Mind from a parent posted on July 18, 2024:

“Saxon is an EXCELLENT math curriculum. It is rigorous and it prepares students well for advanced-level mathematics and college. Lessons take an average of 45 minutes, but some can take longer. My children do math independently beginning with Saxon 5/4 grade, of course I’m always there to help as needed.”

Is Saxon Math any good? Apparently, parents find it an excellent program, since it removes a lot of planning and supervision stress. 

⭐Rating: 9/10. 

Builds independent learning skills

Kids who enjoy working independently will thrive with Saxon Math. Parents with multiple children also praise the curriculum, since they don’t need to teach the whole lesson – only a portion of it. In addition, the lessons are written in the student text in a very clear language. Even if parents aren’t fully confident with some concepts, they are able to teach themselves quickly. 

👇Another parental review on Well-Trained Mind posted on July 21, 2024:

Saxon Math provides real value for independent thinkers and helps build those skills. However, it’s not for everyone, as when kids struggle with a subject, then independent working is never helpful. It won’t especially cater to preschoolers and anyone with a low level of math.

⭐Rating: 8/10. 

⭐Average rating of Saxon Math features: 8/10

According to the Saxon Math homeschool reviews, this is a powerful curriculum for traditional-style instruction and independent learners, but it won’t work for everybody – more on that below. 

Saxon Math review: Complaints

• Heavy on textbooks and worksheets 
• Less focus on relatable mathematical problems 
• Lessons may be too long
• No website 

Heavy on textbooks and worksheets 

Saxon Math relies heavily on textbook learning. If you’re a parent who expects interactivity or the “discovery” style of presentation, you will be disappointed. Although the information is explained and written very well, this may not feel fun or engaging for kids, who retain information better through play and fun activities. 

All in all, if you choose to work with Saxon, bear in mind that the fun part of the lesson will be on you. 

👇Here’s what one parent shares in their review on Well-Trained Mind posted on July 21, 2024:

If you’re thinking about alternatives, a game-based program may be something you want to look into. Brighterly math and reading platform, for example, uses an interactive and gamified approach to learning. This method is extremely helpful for kids who learn best through visuals, movement, and engagement. 

Although Brighterly offers math and reading worksheets for kids, it does not solely rely on it – it’s a free add-on for kids’ practice, while they build their skills on 1-on-1 personalized lessons. 

🤩Following that, here’s a Trustpilot review from one of the Brighterly users:

Less focus on relatable mathematical problems 

Some families note that Saxon emphasizes practice word problems over real-life math applications. When I examined Saxon Math review questions, I noticed that parents don’t mention anything about real-life math.

Based on my years-long professional experience as a tutor, this approach can make math feel too abstract and not meaningful. 

👇Here’s another Well-Trained Mind review from a parent:

“For us, it would not have been a good fit.  The amount of written work involved with several problems each day was not something my child would have needed to fully understand a concept.”

An alternative, Brighterly, practices a different approach: math tutors offer practical explanations to math concepts by connecting them to everyday situations kids already relate to. 

This method helps them exit the lesson and apply math right away by telling time, using money math, understanding statistics and schedules and so on.

Lessons may be too long

The Saxon Math curriculum implies practicing a little at a time and often revisiting what you’ve already learned. In practice, parents report that lessons can take up to 2 hours per session. Of course, that largely depends on families, learning styles, and how prepared parents and children are. But, as a third party, I stumbled upon many reviews talking about how overwhelming the lessons can be. 

👇What a parent shared:

Alternatively, Brighterly lessons follow the same structure each time – 45 minutes with mental breaks and fun educational activities. All at the reasonable price of $17.3 per lesson. That is, if you choose the longest plan with the max weekly lessons and 20% discount. 

No website 

Lastly, a personal and common complaint is the absence of the website. Normally, with programs like this, you have a website with the info on placement tests, frequently asked questions, customer support, and order placements. This is not the case with Saxon Math. 

So, if you have questions like “What level is Saxon Math?” or “What book edition is right for you?”, you’d have to locate the details from different resources. That creates a lot of confusion for parents. This is where Saxon can be tricky for some parents: usually, to get the most out of a curriculum, you have to have some kind of support system.

Saxon Math homeschool review: How is the learning approach?

When I dug into the Saxon Math reviews, I had to find out is Saxon Math good in terms of learning approach and teaching methods. 

One thing was very clear for me: Saxon works well for children who feel fine with the traditional style of instruction + abstract, algorithm-based approach. The program relies heavily on repetition, so before you move to a new topic, you have to go through 30 questions from the previous one.
Lessons follow a predictable format and step-by-step procedures rather than visual models or real-life applications. This method could be challenging for children whose learning style is through visual examples, hands-on activities, or who need concepts explained verbally. 

👇For example, here’s what Saxon Math review Reddit:

⭐Rating: 8/10

Reviewers often praise Saxon for independent learning skills, conceptual math, and constant revision, but it may not cater to everybody. 

Saxon Math reviews on user experience feedback

Like I’ve said, Saxon Math doesn’t have a website or a platform. To work with Saxon Math, you’d have to order textbooks from affiliated platforms or publishing houses. 

Saxon curricula are organized into short, manageable lessons that focus on one concept at a time with some revision of past topics. This way, students follow a logical progression.

What parents like most about the books is that by middle school, learning with Saxon doesn’t require much supervision from parents.

👇Here’s what one of the  Saxon math reviews on Reddit talks about:

“When I got to the mid-level elementary Saxon books, my kids were basically on their own. I asked them to read the material and figure out the lesson. They figured it out, and very rarely came to me with a question about the daily lesson.” 

Still, parents aren’t particularly happy with the fact that Saxon doesn’t have a website. As I’ve talked about this before, this can be a serious downfall for the homeschool community, since parents have to do research on their own. Saxon Math also doesn’t offer customer support. 

⭐Rating: 7/10

Parents love how the books are organized, but the absence of customer support is not families’ favorite feature. 

Is Saxon Math effective?

According to many reviews, Saxon Math proves to be an effective curriculum. It helps children build mathematical fluency and retain basic skills long-term, thanks to constant revision of the math topics. Many homeschooling parents mention that consistent practice and Saxon’s spiral approach led to great performance on standardized tests. The review also helps parents understand what their child struggles with the most and act timely.

👇A homeschooling mom shares in her Simple Homeschooler blog:

However, its effectiveness is not guaranteed: parents mention it depends largely on the learners. Even parents of multiple kids noted that paradigm – one single by Saxon curriculum may not work inside the same family.

Saxon may be a pass if:

• Your child is a verbal, visual, or hands-on learner.
• Abstract lessons and a rigid format bore your child. 
• You value flexibility and a personal touch to learning. 

👇Following that, here’s another Reddit review:

⭐Rating: 8/10

Reviewers report that the effectiveness varies depending on the child, but many parents find Saxon Math effective for “traditional” learners.

Saxon homeschool: Does Saxon have customer support?

You can get support via various resources, like customer support email, dedicated forums, third-party companion services, and homeschooling community help. But if you expect a dedicated, centralized support, you will probably be disappointed – Saxon doesn’t provide one. 

Parents also ask, “Can you do Saxon Math online?” Saxon is a textbook-based curriculum, but some platforms or private tutors use the Saxon curriculum as the base for their teaching. So, yes, you can do Saxon Math online. 

⭐Rating: 7/10

Limited customer support is present, and you can practice with Saxon Math online via math platforms or private tutors.

Is Saxon Math any good for its cost?

A complete homeschool kit typically runs in the ballpark of about $70-$120 per grade level. Many homeschool parents find it quite reasonable, especially if you buy a whole kit – it helps keep the cost predictable for a whole year.

What parents also like is that the books are reusable, so you can easily pass them down to your younger kids or sell them. Alternatively, second-hand options are also available for anyone interested at a discounted price. 

⭐Rating: 10/10

That makes Saxon Math a great option money-wise, especially if you value long-term use, usability, and a curriculum that can serve multiple children.

By the way, if you want a detailed review of the prices and alternatives to Saxon Math, you should check out this expert article – Saxon Math vs Singapore Math.

Saxon Math pricing

Saxon Math Primary (Grades K-3) and Saxon Math High School (Grades 9–12): 

Saxon Math pricing varies from $94.95 for the K Homeschool Edition to $117.95 to $147.50 for the Saxon Math 3 Homeschool Kit (applies to discounted prices).

Geometry and Algebra editions come for $139.50 to $159.95 (applies to discounted prices).

Is Saxon Math good compared to other platforms?

	Saxon Math	Brighterly	Kumon	Mathnasium
Trustpilot Rating	Not available	4.5/5	4.1/5	3.9/5
Age range	K-12	1–9 grades	K-12	K-12
Focus	Math	Math, Reading & Writing	Math, Reading	Math
Standout features	Spital approach Constant revision	Gamified approach to learning  US school-aligned curriculum Free math worksheets Free math tests Free reading worksheets Free reading tests	Kumon method, Small-steps worksheets	Flexible schedule Assessment test
Personalization	No	✅	✅	✅
Cost	From $94.95 for Homeschool Kit (applies to discounted prices)	From $17.3/ lesson (applies to discounted prices)	From $150 to $200 per subject + enrollment and material fees	The monthly price of Mathnasium ranges from $160 to $800 but can also climb above that.

Saxon Math reviews Reddit: Do parents love the program?

Parents are generally pleased with the Saxon Math program, but they do report that it may not show consistent results with different kids. For example, one parent on Reddit shared that the program helped their child with advanced mathematics and ultimately land a STEM college degree:

Children’s experience with the curricula is mixed, though:

 

Verdict: Is Saxon Math a good math curriculum?

Based on my in-depth Saxon Math review research, here are my ratings:

• Range of features: 8/10.
• Learning approach: 8/10.
• User interface and experience: 7/10 
• Effectiveness: 8/10.
• Customer support: 7/10. 
• Pricing model: 10/10.

This gives Saxon Math an average rating of 8/10.

To sum up:

Saxon Math is the ideal choice if you need:

✅Teach your children independence

✅You’re homeschooling

✅Long-term math tutoring at reasonable prices.

Saxon Math isn’t the best option if:

❌Your kid is a visual, verbal, and hands-on learner 

❌Your child gets bored easily

❌Need comprehensive support resources 

What is better than Saxon Math? Discovering its alternatives

If you’re looking for alternatives, I recommend that you look into the Brighterly reading and math tutoring platform, which stands out because:

✅Offers private lessons at a reasonable price

✅Uses gamified, interactive approach

✅Focuses on building confidence in math, while having fun

✅Adapts to children’s learning style and pace

✅Provides ongoing support for parents

 

Next steps: Make basics click with Brighterly

To conclude, Saxon Math may be an optimal choice thanks to a couple of points:

• It teaches kids work independently.
• It’s training in how to think through math conceptually and critically.
• Kids review past topics regularly, which helps with long-term retention. 

Should you choose Saxon Math? The choice depends heavily on whether you’re a homeschool parent and your child’s learning style and pace. 

Thinking about alternatives? Brighterly is an interactive, 1-on-1 online platform with flexible, convenient pricing system that can be suitable and worth looking into.               Book free lesson with Brighterly now and see the difference yourself!