The Good and the Beautiful (TGTB) is one of the most popular Christian homeschool curriculums in the country, built by Jenny Phillips around literature, art, nature, and a non-denominational Christian worldview. This page covers what TGTB is, who it fits, what it costs, and how Arizona ESA families typically purchase it.
For broader options, see our homeschool curriculum directory and our Arizona ESA homeschool guide.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Good and Beautiful, LLC (Jenny Phillips) |
| Worldview | Non-denominational Christian |
| Grade levels | PreK through 12th grade |
| Format | Open-and-go printed books and PDFs |
| Teaching style | Literature-rich, integrated, Charlotte Mason adjacent |
| Parent prep | Low to moderate; scripted lessons |
| Student independence | Grows from grade 3 up |
| Daily time | 1.5 to 4 hours, grade dependent |
| Arizona ESA eligible | Conditional - academic levels routinely reimbursed; Bible and History often parent-funded |
| Best for | Families who want beauty, simplicity, and a Christian throughline |
Overview
The Good and the Beautiful blends language arts, art, music, geography, and history into integrated lessons so children read, write, and learn about the world at the same time. Math, handwriting, typing, and science are sold as separate courses. The aesthetic is calm and uncluttered, the writing is gentle, and Christian themes appear throughout without being doctrinally specific.
Most families use TGTB as their full curriculum or pair its language arts with another math program. The whole library is designed to be open-and-go: pick up the book, read the script, do the lesson, close the book.
Who This Curriculum Is Best For
TGTB works well for:
- Families who want a beautiful, low-prep day
- Children who love stories, art, and being read to
- Parents teaching multiple grades who want a calm rhythm
- Families looking for a Christian curriculum without strict denominational ties
- Newer homeschoolers who want an open-and-go year-one plan
Who Should Consider Something Else
TGTB may not fit if:
- You want a textbook-and-test traditional school feel - Abeka or BJU Press are closer
- You need a young-earth, doctrinally explicit Bible curriculum - Master Books or Sonlight may suit better
- Your child needs heavy structured phonics for dyslexia - All About Reading is a stronger Orton-Gillingham option
- You want a self-paced, video-led high school program - look at Veritas Press or Apologia courses
Subjects and What You Buy
Sold as separate lines:
- Language Arts (Levels K through 8 plus High School) - integrated reading, writing, grammar, spelling, art, geography, science topics
- Math (Levels K through 7, then Math 8 and pre-algebra) - mastery-based with a small spiral; uses manipulatives and mental math
- Handwriting, Typing, Spelling Plans, Marine Biology, Botany, History (4-year cycle), Health and Safety, Family Read-Alouds
Most printed books are reusable across children. Many digital PDFs are free or low-cost on the publisher site.
Daily Schedule Example (Grade 3)
A typical TGTB day at grade 3:
- Language Arts Level 3 - 45 minutes
- Math 3 - 30 minutes
- Handwriting - 10 minutes
- History or Science (alternating) - 30 minutes
- Family Read-Aloud or audiobook - 20 minutes
Total focused time runs about two hours, with extra reading and outside time around it.
Pricing
TGTB is one of the most affordable full-Christian curriculums available. As of 2026 pricing:
- Language Arts levels: ~$45 to $75 per level (course book plus reading booster set)
- Math levels: ~$45 per level
- Handwriting: ~$15
- History units: ~$40 to $60 per unit
- Many supplemental PDFs: free or under $10
A full grade can land between $200 and $400, depending on how much science and history you add.
Arizona ESA Eligibility
The Good and the Beautiful is conditionally ESA-eligible under Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program. Practically, this is how most Arizona families handle it:
- Math, Handwriting, Typing, Marine Biology, Botany, and Health - billable as standard academic curriculum, either through ClassWallet reimbursement or direct vendor payment when available.
- Language Arts - usually reimbursed as language arts curriculum. Religious content is woven in, but the academic skills are the spine.
- History (4-year cycle) and Bible-specific titles - religious instruction is restricted under Arizona Department of Education ESA policy. Most families purchase History and explicit Bible materials with parent funds, or submit detailed reimbursement requests and accept that some line items may be denied.
The Good and the Beautiful is not currently a registered ClassWallet Marketplace vendor for direct purchase, so families typically buy from goodandbeautiful.com and submit receipts for reimbursement. Always confirm in your ClassWallet portal before assuming a title will be approved.
For the full Arizona ESA picture, read our ESA homeschool guide and the homeschool vs. ESA legal pathway explainer.
How It Compares
- vs. Abeka: TGTB is gentler, more literature-rich, less rigorous, far less expensive, and far less Christian-doctrinal. Abeka is school-at-home; TGTB is integrated lessons.
- vs. Master Books: Both are open-and-go and Christian. Master Books leans young-earth and uses more traditional textbooks; TGTB is more beautiful and integrated.
- vs. My Father's World: Both unify subjects around themes. MFW is a heavier teacher-led plan with denominational specificity; TGTB is lighter and broader.
- vs. Sonlight: Sonlight is heavily book-list driven with explicit Bible study; TGTB is more visually polished and lighter on theology.
Common Questions
Is The Good and the Beautiful actually Christian? Yes. The author and her team are practicing Latter-day Saints, but the curriculum is intentionally non-denominational Christian. Lessons reference God, scripture, character, and creation without taking sides on doctrine that divides Christians.
Is The Good and the Beautiful LDS? The publisher is LDS-owned. The curriculum itself avoids distinctively LDS doctrine and is used by Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, and Reformed families. Read the placement guides if you want to confirm specific content.
Can I buy The Good and the Beautiful with my Arizona ESA? Conditionally. Math, handwriting, language arts, science, and similar academic titles are routinely reimbursable. History and explicitly Bible-focused titles often require parent funds or reimbursement review under ADE's religious-instruction policy. Confirm in your ClassWallet portal before purchase.
Is The Good and the Beautiful enough by itself? For PreK through about 6th grade, yes - it covers all core subjects. Many families in upper elementary supplement with a separate math (Beast Academy, Singapore, Math-U-See) for stronger conceptual depth, or add a high-school program like Apologia or Veritas Press for upper grades.
How long does a Good and the Beautiful day take? Plan 1.5 to 2 hours of focused work in K-2, 2 to 3 hours in grades 3-5, and 3 to 4 hours in middle school. The pace is calm by design.
Where do I buy it? goodandbeautiful.com. Most PDFs are free or low cost; printed books ship direct.
Arizona Programs Using The Good and the Beautiful
The directory below lists every Arizona Christian co-op, microschool, and tutorial that uses The Good and the Beautiful. Tap any program for hours, location, and contact info.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Good and the Beautiful ESA approved in Arizona? Partially. Academic titles (math, handwriting, language arts, science) are routinely reimbursed through the Arizona ESA. History and Bible-focused titles typically require parent funding or reimbursement review under the state's religious-instruction policy. Always confirm in your ClassWallet portal before buying.
Is The Good and the Beautiful a complete homeschool curriculum? Yes for PreK through 6th grade. The publisher sells language arts, math, handwriting, science, history, and typing - enough to cover a full year. Many upper-elementary families supplement math, and high schoolers typically add courses from Apologia, Veritas, or a dual-enrollment college program.
Is The Good and the Beautiful too easy? For some advanced students, yes - especially in math. Many Arizona families pair TGTB language arts with a stronger math (Beast Academy, Singapore, Saxon, or Math-U-See) starting around grade 3.
How much does The Good and the Beautiful cost per year? Roughly $200 to $400 per child for a full grade, plus optional add-ons. That makes it one of the lowest-cost full Christian curriculums on the market.
What grades does The Good and the Beautiful cover? PreK through 12, though the high school program is newer and many families transition to other providers for grades 9-12.