Curriculum & Method
Abeka vs BJU Press: An Honest Comparison for Christian Homeschoolers
Abeka vs BJU Press compared: teaching style, rigor, video options, cost, and Arizona ESA notes, plus the Arizona programs that use each.
9 min read · Updated
Spotlighted programs in this guide
Amor Dei Academy - Tempe
Amor Dei Academy is a Christian K–12 academic and enrichment homeschool drop off program offering classes from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Families can choose from flexible à la carte classes designed to fit their homeschool needs, with engaging academic and enrichment options available for every grade level.
FeaturedFamily Focused Tutors
Family Focused Tutors is a Christian online tutoring company dedicated to providing personalized one-on-one instruction that helps students thrive academically while supporting families every step of the way. We specialize in serving homeschool families, virtual learners, and traditional school students by offering flexible, individualized educational support that fits each child's unique learning needs. Our mission is to partner with parents to cultivate confident learners who are equipped to reach their God-given potential. Unlike traditional tutoring centers, every session is conducted live online, allowing students to receive high-quality instruction from the comfort of home. Families can work with experienced Christian tutors regardless of where they live, making expert educational support both convenient and accessible. We understand that every homeschool journey is different, which is why we offer three levels of support to meet the needs of every family. Students can receive Homework Help ($35/hour) for assistance with assignments and difficult concepts, Homeschool Instruction ($40/hour) for families looking for a teacher to provide direct instruction using their curriculum, or Remediation & Intervention ($45/hour) for students who need specialized support to close learning gaps and build foundational skills. Every lesson is personalized to the student's learning style, pace, and academic goals. Our team of caring, highly qualified educators provides instruction in mathematics, reading, language arts, writing, science, history, Spanish, and many other subjects. Whether families need occasional academic support, consistent homeschool instruction, or intensive intervention, our tutors develop customized learning plans that help students gain confidence and achieve measurable progress. Family Focused Tutors proudly serves families across the United States and is an approved Education Savings Account (ESA) provider in multiple states, allowing many families to use their ESA funds to pay for eligible tutoring services. We continue to expand our scholarship and ESA partnerships so that more families have access to affordable, high-quality Christian education. As a faith-based organization, we strive to honor Christ in everything we do. While academic excellence is our primary focus, we also seek to encourage integrity, perseverance, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning. We believe education is most successful when parents and educators work together, which is why we prioritize strong communication, personalized instruction, and lasting relationships with every family we serve. At Family Focused Tutors, we are more than a tutoring company—we are a trusted educational partner committed to helping students succeed academically while supporting homeschool families with flexible, Christ-centered online learning.
Abeka and BJU Press are the two giants of traditional Christian homeschool curriculum. Both are thorough, both are unapologetically Christian, and both have decades of classroom and homeschool use behind them. So how do you choose?
The short answer: Abeka leans more rigorous and fast-paced with a stronger phonics tradition, while BJU Press leans more engaging and flexible with a better video option. But the details matter, and this comparison walks through all of them.
If you want the wider field first, start with our best Christian homeschool curriculum guide or the curriculum comparison chart.
The one-sentence difference
Abeka is a traditional, teacher-intensive curriculum known for academic rigor, especially in phonics and arithmetic. BJU Press is a traditional, colorful curriculum known for strong biblical integration and an accredited video school option.
Both are full K-12 publishers covering every core subject. Both are explicitly Christian. The differences live in pace, feel, and delivery.
Head-to-head comparison
| Factor | Abeka | BJU Press |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Full curriculum, nursery through grade 12 | Full curriculum, K4 through grade 12 |
| Teaching style | Traditional, structured, fast-paced | Traditional, structured, slightly gentler pace |
| Format | Textbooks and workbooks, optional video | Textbooks, optional Homeschool Hub + video courses |
| Phonics | Strong, intensive phonics-first approach | Solid phonics, less drill-heavy |
| Worldview | Christian, conservative, young-earth | Christian, conservative, Creation-Fall-Redemption lens |
| Accreditation | Abeka Academy (video) is accredited | Distance Learning (video) is accredited |
| Parent workload | High, very teacher-directed | Moderate, teacher editions are more forgiving |
| Screen time | Low with print; moderate with video | Low with print; moderate with video |
| Cost | Mid-to-high; video school adds up | Mid-to-high; video adds up per subject |
Teaching style and pace
Abeka moves fast. Lessons are scripted, seatwork is substantial, and the phonics program expects children reading early and well. Families with eager, compliant learners often love it. Families with wiggly or late-blooming kids sometimes find the pace exhausting.
BJU Press is also structured, but the materials feel more modern and visually engaging. Teacher editions are written so a brand-new homeschool parent can follow along, and the pacing leaves a little more breathing room. The biblical worldview is integrated into every subject rather than siloed into a Bible class.
If your child thrives on routine and worksheet mastery, Abeka fits. If you want structure with a slightly warmer delivery, BJU Press fits.
Video options compared
Both publishers run accredited video schools.
Abeka Academy streams full-grade video packages filmed in real Abeka classrooms. Your child watches a teacher lead the class, then completes the same seatwork. It is the more affordable of the two video options but the format is traditional and the videos can feel dated.
BJU Press Homeschool Hub + video courses lets you buy video courses per subject, taught by teachers in a studio setting. The per-subject model is flexible, you can video-outsource only the hard subjects, but costs climb quickly for large families.
Cost considerations
For print-only, single-grade full kits, both publishers land in a similar range, roughly $500 to $1,000 per child per year depending on grade and options. Video instruction pushes both well above $1,000 per child per year.
Budget-saving notes: Abeka and BJU textbooks both hold value on the used market, and print materials can be reused across siblings. Workbooks are consumable, so plan to rebuy those per child.
Arizona ESA notes
Both Abeka and BJU Press are commonly purchased with Arizona ESA funds. Academic subjects (math, language arts, science, history) generally qualify as curriculum. Bible-specific courses may require reimbursement review or private payment. Both publishers have long track records with ESA families in Arizona.
Confirm the specific items in ClassWallet before purchasing, and keep itemized receipts. See our Arizona ESA guide and ESA-approved curriculum overview.
Arizona programs that use Abeka or BJU Press
Want your child taught with these books in a group setting? These Arizona programs build classes around them:
Programs using Abeka
- Phoenix Christian School PreK-8
- Redeemer Christian School - Homeschool Program
- The Rock Christian Academy
- Rosebud's Academy
- Amor Dei Academy - Anthem
Programs using BJU Press
- Light of Christ Christian Academy
- Dawn Treader Academy
- Ignite Homeschool Ministries
- Ms Gaona LLC
- Family Focused Tutors
Several programs, including Redeemer, Ignite, and Family Focused Tutors, use both. Browse the full Arizona homeschool co-op directory or the tutors hub for more.
Who should choose Abeka
Abeka is the strong pick if your child is an eager or advanced reader, you want a proven phonics-first reading program, you like scripted lessons with everything planned, and you are comfortable with a heavier daily workload in exchange for strong academic outcomes.
Who should choose BJU Press
BJU Press is the strong pick if you want structure with a more modern feel, you are a newer homeschool parent who wants supportive teacher editions, you want the option to outsource individual subjects to video teachers, or you want biblical integration woven through every subject rather than concentrated in Bible time.
Can you mix them?
Yes. A common blend is Abeka for phonics and arithmetic in the early grades with BJU Press for everything else. Both publishers are modular enough to mix by subject without friction.
Related guides
More programs in this guide
Phoenix Christian School PreK-8
Serving PreK through 8th grade students and families in the Valley since 1959. They offer faith-based early-childhood education as the entry point into an established Christian day-school program. The mission of Phoenix Christian School PreK-8 is to partner with Christian homes and Christian churches to educate children for lives of loving and obedient service to God, His kingdom, and all humankind.
Redeemer Christian School - Homeschool Program
Redeemer Christian School is an accredited classical and Christian K-12 school in Mesa, established in 1980, serving Christian families. The school offers a homeschool enrichment drop-in program. Homeschooling families can enroll in select RCS classes (Latin, Music, P.E., History-Bible-Literature core, Logic, HS Spanish, electives, etc.) taught by school faculty from a Christian worldview using classical techniques. Homeschool students may also participate in field trips, music, drama, sports, and standardized testing alongside full-time students.
Amor Dei Academy - Anthem
Amor Dei Academy is a Christian K–12 academic and enrichment homeschool drop off program offering classes from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Families can choose from flexible à la carte classes designed to fit their homeschool needs, with engaging academic and enrichment options available for every grade level.
In Christ Tutoring (K-College | Online)
✝️In Christ Tutoring🧑🏻💻 provides high‑quality, 1‑on‑1 online tutoring for K–College in all subjects, along with signature 6‑ and 8‑week programs, comprehensive exam prep, STEM, piano, and more, all in a safe, Scripture‑anchored atmosphere. (See our website for more details: www.inchristtutoring.com) ⛪Every session begins with a short KJV Bible reading and is led by Expert, Accredited, Christ‑centered tutors from across the USA ⛪All our tutors are expert certified teachers, USA-based & background checked. ⛪Families also enjoy unique benefits, including 50% off the first session, a free Study Album for new students, two printed 4×6 study cards after each session, and a video recording of any session.
Curriculums covered in this guide
Tap any publisher for its full profile, teaching philosophy, and Arizona ESA notes.
Abeka
Abeka (Pensacola Christian College)
Traditional, textbook-based K-12 Christian curriculum known for phonics-first reading, structured grammar, and a biblical worldview across every subject.
BJU Press
BJU Press
Christian K-12 textbook and video curriculum from Bob Jones University. Strong academics, biblical worldview integration, and well-known science and history programs.
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This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm current rules with the Arizona Department of Education before acting.