Resource Description
Calvert Homeschool offers self-paced learning for students with step-by-step lesson plans for parents. Calvert Education was acquired by Edgenuity as part of their Glynlyon purchase in 2019 and currently offers mainly digital curriculum (K-2 is still print-based). According to their website, the new curriculum includes:
- Best-of-class digital resources
- Step-by-step lesson plans
- An online learning platform with 24/7 access to lessons, assessments, progress tracking tools, and more
For grades K-12, families can enrolls students in the accredited Calvert Academy online. For grades 3-12, families can sign up at more affordable rate to use the Calvert online curriculum without enrolling in the academy. For grades K-2, a colorful print-based curriculum is available for purchase.
Website: Calvert
(118 Reviews)
Before investing in any homeschooling resources, please read "How to Choose the Best Homeschool Curriculum."
Contributor Reviews
Reviews are solely the opinions of the contributor.
Cons: Everything else. Inaccurate history and geography, reliance on testing rather than learning, no strategies for accomodating learning disabilities, poor customer service, grossly inaccurate and inappropriate sources for their "learning videos," lack of information for the science projects
Grades Used: sixth
This is mediocre, at best. And that's being generous. The history/geography units are not only grossly inaccurate but racist, the projects are overwhelming,the units are too condensed (Africa and South America in the same single lesson? Seriously?), the science experiments lack specific instruction and information, the grading scheme is bizarre, and it relies so heavily on quizzes for grades that we might as well have put our son in public school--too much emphasis on testing and not enough on actual learning. We've supplemented so much to make sure he's getting accurate information in *all * the subjects that we feel like we should've just stuck with homebrewing curriculum like in previous years. My husband used Calvert when he was a homeschooled student in the 90s and says it wasn't this bad back then. Whatever's changed hasn't been for the better.
Cons: Not easily used independently by students, kinder lessons far above grade level.
Grades Used: K, 4
This is so hard to do with 2 kids. They need my assistance constantly, there is very little that can be done independently until they can real pretty well. They also cannot navigate the links without my help. It's extremely taxing.
The kindergarten course keeps prompting my child to write words and sentences before we have even does letters, sounds, and writing. They have a huge lesson about investigation themes of stories and then a couple of lessons throw in a couple of letters to look at as a side note. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to teach her to read on the side if this doesn't change.
My fourth grader is dyslexic and dysgraphic and this program requires so much writing. Even his math classes require paragraphs for answers. It's also really hard to meet him where he is at with this program, as he is quite a bit behind in reading, and it's hard to catch him up using this program.
Cons: Instructions is confusing and not easy to navigate at all also way to much work
Grades Used: 1st and 4th grade
This does not help children learn to work independently. I feel like I’m the student a lot of the times. It’s way too much work for my first grader and it’s way to advanced for her age. The instructions for the parents is most of the time difficult and the system is hard to navigate! My fourth grader understand it a little better but gets really frustrated at times as well. I am not have a good experience with is system. Would not recommend to anyone unless your ready to be stressed out!
Cons: None
Grades Used: 4th
Calvert's curriculum was amazing. Both my son and I learned so much. The teachers were very attentive and ensured my son had a good understanding if he struggled on a concept. We did not have to waste time with meaningless assignments, which gave him ample time for school and playtime balance. We loved the arts and craft sessions with the counselors. Someone is always there is you need them, and very responsive.
Cons: sometimes the platform links do not open
Grades Used: 6
After seeing other online platforms (2) in action I think it important to give credit where credit is due.
Calvert Academy is leagues ahead of the other schools my daughter attended. The back up person to person support is fantastic. The knowledge that there is a complete school support team of teachers, homeclass teachers, counselors, and even extracurricular activities and multi-student interaction online makes me feel the only thing we miss is not talking to the janitor. Always a favorite past time of all students. The regular follow up from Haley McInnis is helping us organize ourselves and receive support and access to the schools complete platform. All staff appear sincerely interested and supportive in Kely's success. Thank you.
Cons: Way too much work and a little bit of wrong info
Grades Used: Ninth, but with some tenth grade courses
This school is really good. The only problems are that they give way too much work (I had to unassign a lot so that the courses could get done in time) and some of the terminologies are wrong.
They keep using "he or she" when referring to someone of unknown gender when the correct pronouns are they/them. They also had a lesson in World History that said that gender is the sex of the person which is scientifically inaccurate and transphobic.
Cons: The content is great for kids who are comfortable working independently, but for kids who struggle with working independently it might not be an optimal format.
Grades Used: 6th and 4th
Calvert Academy has been an absolutely amazing resource for our 6th and 4th grade daughters this school year. Our family was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the education they've received and we feel this is the one of the strongest years of academics they've ever had. The kids can work at their own pace and really focus on the curriculum. My wife and I felt they're already learning subject matter we ourselves didn't cover until later grades when we were in school. The kids had access to their teachers if they ever needed to connect and Calvert Academy reached out to our family on a regular basis to make us aware of various communal events and to check and see how are kids were progressing with the program. We've already enrolled them for 7th and 5th grade next year and we're 100% confident they'll each get another year of outstanding education.
Cons: Self-management
Grades Used: 4&5
My son was in public school like his siblings but has always been a part of the IEP system. His needs were being met at the younger grades but as he grew older, in the 4th grade, his needs were more of a technological and attention accommodations. Due to the fact that his diagnosis was not accepted by the school, he was denied the simple accommodations and we were left with a very bright child potentially failing school and showing signs of anxiety. A month prior to the pandemic, we moved him to Calvert and have never regretted the decision, his classmates all went virtual a month later with limited resources and interaction. My son has had constant educational instruction and has flourished. We are so happy we made the move and his needs are met with technological access, unlimited time and a small non distracting environment. For parents who have the similar issue or have found that their children have flourished during this time of the pandemic, I would urge you to give this program a chance.
Grades Used: 4th and 6th
Due to changes in my professional career, I and my family were relocated to a remote location where the local schools have a very limited education structure. As a parent, one of my top priorities is to provide a good education background to my two kids and Calvert Academy program does that with excellence. The on-line materials, the teachers and the learning skills my two kids are showing me make me confident that I made the right choice.
My kids attend regular local school in the morning and Calvert in the afternoon and do well on both.
Cons: Sometimes website was down, some instructions were confusing at times
A wonderful experience! We heard of Calvert from another student and when our schools were shut down, we needed a program that would be suitable to our son’s learning pace. He is advanced and was growing bored with his current schools plan. Since joining Calvert, he was able to go his own pace and the teacher was extremely accommodating! All of the material was very easy to understand and instructor was always available to discuss and provide insight. Loved loved the all of the learning tools and schedule was very accommodating! We will definitely be using again!
Cons: Does take more parent engagement, but is nice because I can schedule her day and we don't have to answer to someone else.
My 3rd grader was failing every subject and had lack of help from the public school and teachers she was attending because the lack of resources the school had to offer. I decided to look into a self paced program that would allow her to learn at her own pace and not be rushed based on school standards. Every child learns differently and my daughter takes more time to learn things but was being rushed and judged based on her lack of with the public school system. Calvert Academy has helped my daughter build her confidence back up because it is self paced and is structured so that the students are successful. She no longer has to feel doubt about her learning and has excelled a tremendous amount since she started. When she started Calvert she was below standards in all subjects based on the public school she was in. She has been in Calvert for about 3-4 months now and has A's and B's in all subjects. She has acquired the love of learning through Calvert. The lessons are what teaches the students and the way they set this program up has been a confidence booster and very awarding for her and me. I am a VERY happy and proud mommy! I suggest this program to all parents especially the ones who have little angels that need a little more guidance and support!
I did not like Calvert Education it was not fun at all It was very boring kids will not find their best interests in this piece of junk.
I am so happy we learned about Calvert Academy when we were looking for a Covid safe alternative.
My son has been challenged but not overwhelmed by the third grade curriculum. He is learning to balance school time with other activities. He also learned to review before quizzes and tests. I can't thank the staff enough for the support.
Cons: If more than one kid, competitiveness between them to finish first!
Grades Used: 3
Calvert Academy has provided to our family all the advantages of a Homeschooling setting without the stress of the planning and seeking for curricula and time management class to class! It’s all there for you and your kids to enjoy and experience digital learning! Teachers are available, online meetings (if the children wish to) and all the resources print ready to go further if needed! We are LOVING it!
Cons: may not be an ideal fit for kids who love real-time interaction with teachers and classmates
Grades Used: 5
Calvert is an great all-in-one remote learning program. We switched to Calvert early in the 2020/2021 school year when remote learning at our private school wasn't working - constantly changing virtual class schedules, very little "class" time and no enrichment or homework. My daughter is good at self direction so the Calvert modules, which are reading and video focused, were a good fit for her. Her teachers are there for her whenever she has questions. She submits her questions via the Calvert platform and usually receives answers within minutes. The staff call me regularly to make sure everything is going smoothly. I receive biweekly email reports on her grades and there are regular "office hours" where we can meet with teachers to talk about topics of interest. I attended one on helping kids with anxiety and learned techniques to help my daughter with test taking anxiety. There is a dashboard where I can see how long she spends in school on her lessons and how she's doing in every module of every class. Calvert has a solid core curriculum for 5th graders. You will need to supplement extras, but I'm ok with that because it's clear up-front that they don't provide those. We use live, online classes for art and music and to supplement the core classes when my daughter has an interest deeper than the class material.
Overall, we've been very satisfied with Calvert.
Cons: There are no cons with this program.
Grades Used: 5th
This is my first year homeschooling and I must say that using the Calvert Academy curriculum has been a blessing. The program is age appropriate as the teacher support has been fantastic!
Cons: I have no cons. It's just a great program that works for my family.
Grades Used: 1st and 2nd
We have both our 1st and 2nd graders using Calvert homeschooling and they just enjoy every minute of it. It's perfect for our way of life. Our teacher Junette is great and makes our kids feel welcome and loved.
Grades Used: 3
I grew up on the classic Calvert curriculum. My Mom homeschooled myself and my 4 siblings using it and we all have fabulous memories of it. Fast forward and I am using Calvert homeschool now with my 3rd grader. I am so disappointed that the curriculum has changed. Where is "A Child's History of the World" or the greek mythology for 3rd grade? And it is soooo much screen time. I was looking forward to bonding with my daughter while we read these stories together while also learning. Has anyone found a similar curriculum to the "old Calvert"? I am on a search now to find a replacement for next year. We have switched over to using BookShark for our History/Geography portions of homeschooling for the rest of this year as I was craving some real books for us to learn and work through together. I am very happy with it, however it is 100% literature based. We are learning and enjoying the books, but I want a curriculum that also offers tests periodically. I plan for my children to eventually move into the school system for high school and I want them to be prepared for a testing environment and not be shocked. Any suggestions?
Calvert is a wonderful school. My children are excelling and never been happier about learning.
Cons: None.
Grades Used: 9th
We could not be more happy with our experience at Calvert Academy. We live abroad and after Covid restrictions were put in place, my son was having a very undesirable experience with his private school’s Zoom classes. We switched to Calvert Academy for 9th grade and he’s honestly never done better. He’s getting straight A’s. He loves the flexibility of when he can study and that he is able to finish ahead of schedule. This program works so very well for him. It’s been one of the only positive things that has happened in 2020. We’ll stick with Calvert Academy! Really great teachers too. Great staff that are always available. It’s been wonderful.
Cons: Practically none! To keep elementary kids sharp with writing, take a little more time to write out the assignments. The website encourages this and makes it a snap to upload. We couldn’t be happier!
Grades Used: 3rd
I wrote the review below as well, but I needed more space! We love Calvert Academy for our 3rd grader.
The history and English curriculum for 3rd grade are truly awesome. Informative, important to learn, and engaging, having him read aloud to me as he works we both enjoy his work every day. The format and questions are teaching him how to critically read and - for quizzes and tests - he’s learning how to study well with techniques he’ll use when he’s old, even in the third grade! I cannot express how wonderful I think these curricula are!
Math is also very good and I have him write the problems out in a notebook to keep his handwriting and ability to work offline sharp. The science is fun and engaging. Just like the history, it does not talk down to the kids but expects them to read well The written instruction is perfectly broken up with questions and interactive activities, and the tests and quizzes are perfect.
Truly, getting on the computer each day, independently and when reading to me, is a joy. We came from an excellent public school and I honestly believe this curriculum is a thousand times better. My son is thriving because of Calvert Academy’s program. We moved online due to the pandemic, but honestly, I don’t want to go back. Calvert Academy is that good!
Cons: More practice at home may be required to keep kids sharp. The program is the right pace and time for grade level, but to keep handwriting sharp having math and writing/spelling in a notebook and then uploaded is important. If you choose do to it, the website makes it VERY easy to upload!
Grades Used: 3rd
We absolutely love Calvert Academy for my 3rd grader!
The online program is simple to use, the written instruction is perfectly matched to grade level, each section it is broken up with questions and interactive activities at appropriate times, and we are moving along and learning new things each week.
Honestly, as a high school teacher, I wish my own students had learned this when they were younger. The material is beautifully explained and we have never had a problem with the interface or the website. Our teacher is lovely and we just couldn’t be happier.
I would also highly recommend the spelling course - my son never really “clicked” with spelling when in public school and Calvert’s program - I am in awe of how well the program works for him!
Cons: None
Grades Used: 6th and 8th
I am very happy having my kids in Calvert. I love Calvert Academy.
Efficiency, objective academic curriculum, methodology, and a lot of professionalism.
We are still new to this platform, but I am sure that every day we have made the right choice to safely meet the needs of my kids.
As my father says: "Whoever makes the school is the student".
Thank you, Calvert! We will continue together mainly in this new educational scenario that we will go through in the coming years.
Cons: Everything else.
Grades Used: 10th.
If you can work up to eight hours a day and finish more than twenty-five assignments in one week, then this program is for you. As a student myself, the program is time-consuming, and instead of focusing on learning, you focus on finished all the to-do lists you have pendent. There is an excessive amount of work and a very limited amount of time; in Biology, I had seven assignments, eleven lesson quiz, two discussion boards, and one exam, ONLY IN MODULE 1. And I had to complete everything in less than one month. My experience with this program has been really bad, and I do not recommend it to anyone especially because of the amount of screen time you have to dedicate to it. Right now, my eyes are irritated, I haven't learned much things from the program and the money is not worth it.
Cons: Everything
Grades Used: K-5th
This program is so behind boring and does not capture the students interest to learn. Not user friendly and over all I’d give it a 0-10 not worth the money