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{Update February 2026}
Teaching science has never really bothered me as a homeschool mom until I started thinking about high school science. The idea of advanced topics, grading, and especially labs (hello, biology dissections 😬) was honestly intimidating. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re really qualified to teach high school science at home, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why I started looking for a solid online science curriculum that could take the pressure off, and why this Journey Homeschool Academy Review exists.
I first heard about Journey Homeschool Academy through the Homeschool Review Crew. At the time, I didn’t get the chance to officially review one of their science courses due to scheduling conflicts, but I kept seeing consistently positive feedback from other homeschool families. The more I read about their online science classes, the more curious I became.
Fast forward a couple of years, and Journey Homeschool Academy has become a regular part of our homeschool. We’ve now used three of their online science courses, and I’ve already purchased two more for next year, which says a lot in the ever-changing world of homeschool curriculum.
So why do I keep coming back to Journey Homeschool Academy?
There are several reasons, and I’ll walk you through them.
Quick Take: Is Journey Homeschool Academy Worth It?
If you’re looking for a Christian online science curriculum that reduces parent stress, especially at the middle and high school levels, Journey Homeschool Academy is a solid option. With engaging video lessons, flexible pacing, and meaningful labs, it’s especially well-suited for families who want structure without teaching science from scratch.
Table of Contents
- Journey Homeschool Academy Review
- Christian-Focused Science for Your Homeschool
- Overall Thoughts on This Online Science Curriculum
- Frequently Asked Questions About Journey Homeschool Academy
- Journey Homeschool Academy
Journey Homeschool Academy Review
As mentioned, I looked into Journey Homeschool Academy for my high school student. She dreaded taking biology because it is one science she REALLY does NOT like.
Not to mention, high school courses are expensive! I didn’t want to pay for a class, and she groaned at the thought of doing it daily.
After all, how much effort will someone put into a course if they don’t like it?
Probably not a whole lot! So why waste the money?!
Anyway…
Fortunately, Journey Homeschool Academy has the option to preview a lesson. So, I clicked on it, and we watched it together.
First, I was excited about the class after watching the preview. But, best of all, my daughter was!
➡️If you’re unsure whether this online science curriculum would work for your child, Journey Homeschool Academy lets you preview lessons before committing. That’s what helped us decide it was worth trying.
Journey Homeschool Academy Science Courses at a Glance
| Course Type | Grade Level | What’s Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Science | Grades K–5 | Video lessons, assignments, labs, and grading support | Curious learners who enjoy visuals |
| Middle School Science | Grades 6–8 | Video lessons, hands-on activities, and reading suggestions | Transitioning to more independent learning |
| High School Science | Grades 9–12 | Video lessons, assignments, labs, grading support | College-prep science with flexibility |
How These Online Science Courses Work
Journey Homeschool Academy offers an online science curriculum for your WHOLE family. They offer Christian-based science courses at each level.
| Course | Level | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Elementary – High School | Life science and biology concepts |
| Astronomy | Elementary- High School | Earth systems, geology, and weather |
| Earth Science | Middle School | Earth systems, geology, weather |
| Marine Biology | Middle School | Marine biology in 16 week course |
| Bird Study | Middle School | Birds in 16 week course |
| Physical Science | Middle/High | Chemistry & physics foundations |
| Chemistry | High School (Honors Level) | Chemistry with a heavy math focus |
| Physics | High School (Honors Level) | Fundamental laws of the physical world |
They also offer one non-science course called Equipped. It is a Bible survey course for teens.
I have only used the online science curriculum for middle and high school, so I will focus mainly on my experiences at these levels.
Online Video Lessons and More
First, the courses include online video-based lessons. Kids listen to Luke or Trisha Gilkerson present information on the week’s topic. There is one video at the middle school level, but at the high school level, there are two. In addition, students have outline pages from their Guidebook that help them take notes on the lecture.
I LOVE that kids learn how to take notes during a lesson.
The upper levels (middle and high school) also offer online quizzes and exams that are graded for you.
Plus, all levels have hands-on activities or labs with a video component for some lessons that explains the lab or activity!
This is great because we are notorious for failed science experiments. They fail, and we are trying to make the most of our failed science experiments and figure out what we did wrong. Now we have videos to help!
Online Science Curriculum Materials
All course materials are either videos or digital. The course guidebooks and lab notebooks are all digital. However, you can purchase printed copies if you don’t want to print them yourself.
I purchased the suggested textbook for the courses, and of course, I needed to buy lab supplies. But don’t worry; Journey Homeschool Academy can suggest where to purchase lab kits or textbooks.
One nice thing is that the instructors, Luke and Trisha, let you know how many labs your child should complete to make a well-rounded high school science course.
I really appreciated that because we could pick and choose the labs we wanted to do, AND it saved on lab costs. For instance, we didn’t do animal dissections, but we completed all the other labs in the biology course.
Parent and Student Dashboards
The Parent and Student Dashboards are easy to use. The parent and student each have their own logins.
Parents have EVERYTHING they need to help their children with the course. As a parent, your Parent Dashboard has
- List of supplies
- Guidebook and lab notebook downloads
- Answer keys
- Reading assignments
- Suggested grading for lab reports.
- Homework help videos (so awesome!)
- Record-keeping sheets for student work
- Your child’s grades on their quizzes and exams
- Any additional materials your child may need, such as links for research.
The Student Dashboard is your child’s own portal to the class. It is here, kids find:
- All their video lessons and lab videos
- Quizzes
- Exams
- Research/Homework questions
My kiddos have never had any difficulty accessing their course materials.
When speaking of course materials, I should note that kids (at least in middle and high school) need their own email addresses. Though don’t worry about it if your kiddos don’t have one. Trisha and Luke can help with this, especially if you’re a parent who doesn’t want your child to have their own email address.
So why their own email?
Well, all lessons are emailed to your child. However, they are only sent their week’s lessons once they’ve checked off that they’ve completed all the previous week’s work. In all, kids complete 35 lessons (four are exam weeks).
You have 12 months from the date you activate the course to complete it. This is for middle and high school courses. The elementary levels have lifetime access. You can request additional time if needed.
The quizzes and exams are graded for you. However, the parent needs to grade the homework questions (high school) and lab reports. Though Luke and Trisha provide answer keys and easy tools for grading.
That is, in a nutshell, Journey Homeschool Academy.
Christian-Focused Science for Your Homeschool
Journey Homeschool Academy provides a Christian-based science curriculum for the whole family. Now, this can get tricky when you are talking about Earth’s age and how long ago scientific events occurred.
I am sooo happy with the way Journey Homeschool Academy handles this!
Trisha and Luke are very respectful of other people’s beliefs. They warn families about material they may want to discuss with their child beforehand and encourage them to discuss their beliefs together on the subject.
For instance, in Earth Science, I had a choice between a textbook with an old-Earth or a new-Earth perspective. Later, when my son needed to research the Earth, they gave us links we could choose from depending on our family’s beliefs.
It is really nice that they acknowledge and respect differing opinions in the Christian community.
Who Journey Homeschool Academy Is a Good Fit For
- Homeschool families teaching middle or high school science
- Parents who feel overwhelmed planning labs and grading
- Students who learn well from video-based instruction
- Families wanting a Christian-based science curriculum
- Parents juggling multiple grades and needing structure
Who It May NOT Be a Good Fit For
- Families wanting a completely free or ultra-low-cost science option
- Students who strongly prefer traditional textbooks only
- Parents wanting a 100% hands-off curriculum for younger students
Overall Thoughts on This Online Science Curriculum
Overall, we love the science curriculum that Journey Homeschool Academy offers. This is why we keep purchasing their curriculum each year, AND I became an affiliate for them.
So here is a summary of our thoughts.
Pros
- High-quality video-based instruction– The curriculum is rigorous but presented in a way that kids can learn.
- Engaging instructors– My kids enjoy Luke and Trisha (and their kids, who help in the videos). They think they are great teachers and even call them their “science teachers.”
- Great tool for teaching independent learning.
- Students learn valuable note-taking skills. The Guidebook helps students find important information in a classroom lecture.
- Students learn how to study for exams.
- Teaches high school students to write lab reports.
- The Parent and Student Dashboards are easy to navigate and helpful. The Dashboards provide all the information needed to succeed in the class and lots of help for parents.
- Quality textbooks– We have been very satisfied with the texts used in our three courses.
- Terrific hands–on labs and activities– These activities help demonstrate concepts meaningfully. It isn’t busy work.
Cons
- Christian curriculum- This isn’t for you if you don’t want a Christian-based curriculum.
- You need to repurchase the curriculum (at the middle and high school levels) in the future. – I can see this being a deal breaker for many people. For instance, I needed to repurchase the high school biology course for my son, even though my daughter had taken it.
- Not completely hands-off for younger students– Elementary students usually need parent involvement for reading, activities, and labs.
- Some materials are not included– Recommended books and lab supplies are often purchased separately, which can increase overall cost.
- Time-limited access– Courses are typically accessed for a set period, so families need to plan their school year intentionally.
- May not suit every learning style– Students who strongly prefer physical textbooks or heavy written instruction may need supplemental resources.
So, for me, the Pros outweigh the Cons.
I will repurchase the high school curriculum for my younger child. I will because I believe that Journey Homeschool Academy offers a quality, rigorous online science curriculum for middle and high school students.
However, I know it isn’t realistic for all families. Some families have tighter budgets than mine.
Update: As of 2026, our family has now used the following courses: middle school Earth Science, high school (HS) Biology, HS Chemistry, HS Physics, and HS Astronomy. All were great courses and challenged my kiddos.
Frequently Asked Questions About Journey Homeschool Academy
Is Journey Homeschool Academy a full science curriculum?
Yes. Courses include video lessons, assignments, activities, and suggested labs, making it a complete science option for many families.
Can multiple children use one course?
Many families use courses with more than one child, especially at the elementary level, though access limits and grading features may vary by course.
Is Journey Homeschool Academy self-paced?
Courses follow a suggested schedule, but families can move faster or slower depending on their needs.
Are textbooks included?
Some courses require outside books or lab supplies that are not included in the purchase price.
Is this curriculum good for independent learners?
Middle and high school students can often work independently, while younger students usually need guidance.
Is Journey Homeschool Academy faith-based?
Yes, science is taught from a Christian worldview.
Journey Homeschool Academy
If you are nervous about teaching science, especially at the high school level, Journey Homeschool Academy can help reduce that pressure. With clear video lessons, meaningful labs, and built-in structure, it allows parents to focus on supporting their students instead of planning every detail.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by science, I highly recommend previewing their courses to see if this online science curriculum is the right fit for your homeschool.
Happy Homeschooling!
Fantastic Review! We love Journey Homeschool Academy!
It was YOUR review that convinced me to give it a try!
Thank you for this!! I have been over here overwhelmed with trying to choose a high school science for my oldest. Most things we’ve tried we have struggled to follow through on (especially in labs!) or have turned out intimidating! Not to mention expensive. I prayed for guidance and then found your site. I think we will be giving this a try!
I hope this works for you. It has been a big help in our homeschool! Best of luck.
You mention you’re able to pick and choose the labs you want to do… the labs you choose not to do, does that just mean you watch the videos of the labs? you’re just not necessarily doing the labs physically at home?
We do most of the labs. However, the program recommends you do at least 15 labs in the courses for a solid high school program. So, at times, we have skipped some labs. We just moved on to the next lesson or the kids may have watched a video if one was available. It didn’t impact my kids exam scores or understanding of the material. There are over 20 labs (26 in chemistry) in the high school courses we’ve done. My kids did not want to disect anything for biology, so they skipped those labs but did all the other labs in the course. We still got more than 15 labs completed. I hope this helps.