Horizons Math
A colorful, spiral, parent-taught math curriculum from Christian publisher Alpha Omega Publications, with 160 lessons per grade from kindergarten through Pre-Algebra and Algebra I.
What is Horizons Math?
Horizons Math is a print homeschool math curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications (AOP), a Christian homeschool publisher that also makes LIFEPAC and Monarch. Each grade comes as a box set with two full-color student workbooks and a teacher's guide, for 160 lessons a year.
Horizons uses a spiral approach. Every lesson adds something new and brings back earlier topics, so skills are reviewed all year. The scope is also purposely advanced. Reviewer Cathy Duffy notes that the kindergarten book is closer to many first-grade programs and that grade 6 goes beyond most sixth-grade courses.
How it works
Horizons expects a parent to teach. The teacher's guide gives step-by-step daily lessons, goals, a materials list, answer keys and 40 extra practice worksheets. A typical day looks like this:
- Read the lesson plan and gather any manipulatives.
- Teach the new concept for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Your child completes the workbook page, which mixes the new skill with review.
- Check the work with the answer key.
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes a day. Duffy points out that there are a lot of workbook pages, especially in kindergarten, and encourages parents to skip practice a child does not need.
What it covers
| Level | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Counting, single-digit addition and subtraction, money, time, simple fractions |
| Grades 1–2 | 160 spiral lessons per grade building number sense and operations |
| Grade 3 | Square roots, geometry, rounding, graphing, division with remainders, decimals and fractions |
| Grades 4–5 | 160 spiral lessons per grade at an advanced pace |
| Grade 6 | Ratios and cross multiplication, beyond most sixth-grade courses |
| Pre-Algebra | Grade 7 course with tests and resources book |
| Algebra I | Grade 8 box set |
Because the pace is fast, place by skill. AOP offers free readiness evaluations for grades 1–6, Pre-Algebra and Algebra I.
Who it's best for
Horizons suits kids who like color and variety, families who want built-in review, and parents who are happy to teach a short lesson. It is a popular choice in Christian homeschool math.
Look elsewhere if your child is behind, gets overwhelmed by switching topics, or needs to work alone. A mastery or video-based program may fit better.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, every Horizons Math box set costs $120 on aop.com. That includes two student books and the teacher's guide. Manipulative kits are extra, and a second child needs new consumable workbooks.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. Curriculum is one of the most common allowable expenses in programs like the Arizona ESA and Florida's FES-UA, though each program decides and some require purchases through an approved marketplace. Learn more about homeschool scholarships and education savings accounts. Save Horizons Math to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
Saxon Math is the other classic spiral program, with less color and more incremental steps. Math-U-See teaches one concept at a time with videos and blocks. Singapore Math builds deep number sense with a concrete-to-abstract method. If you want a gentler, story-based Christian option, look at Math Lessons for a Living Education. Compare Saxon Math vs Singapore Math, or browse homeschool math by grade.
Who Horizons Math is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Families who want bright, engaging workbooks with lots of variety
- Kids who retain more with constant spiral review
- Parents who are happy to teach a short daily lesson
- Christian homeschoolers who want a product from a Christian publisher
Look elsewhere if
- Children who struggle with math or are behind grade level
- Families who want an independent, open-and-go or video-based option
- Kids who get overwhelmed by switching topics within one lesson
Horizons Math pros and cons
Pros
- Full-color, varied workbook pages that young kids enjoy
- Advanced scope: kindergarten is closer to many first-grade programs
- Built-in spiral review keeps old skills fresh
- Free readiness tests make placement straightforward
- Continues through Pre-Algebra and Algebra I
Cons
- Teacher's guide is required and lessons take prep
- Many workbook pages, especially for kindergarten
- Manipulatives cost extra
- Faster pace can frustrate kids who need more time
What’s included
- 160 lessons per grade across two full-color student workbooks
- Spiral review: each lesson mixes new material with earlier topics
- Teacher's guide with daily lesson plans, answer keys and 40 extra practice worksheets
- Free readiness evaluations for grades 1–6, Pre-Algebra and Algebra I
- Box sets for kindergarten through grade 6, plus Pre-Algebra and Algebra I
Horizons Math levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Kindergarten | Counting, adding and subtracting single digits, money, time, days of the week, direction and position, and simple fractions. |
| Grade 1 | Grade 1 | 160 lessons that build on kindergarten skills with daily spiral review; use the grade 1 readiness evaluation to confirm placement. |
| Grade 2 | Grade 2 | 160 spiral lessons extending number sense and operations; the readiness evaluation checks grade 1 skills first. |
| Grade 3 | Grade 3 | Square roots, geometry, rounding, graphing, division with two-digit quotients and remainders, and decimal-fraction relationships. |
| Grade 4 | Grade 4 | 160 spiral lessons that continue operations, fractions and geometry at an advanced pace. |
| Grade 5 | Grade 5 | 160 spiral lessons preparing for grade 6 and Pre-Algebra; place with the readiness evaluation. |
| Grade 6 | Grade 6 | Includes cross multiplication with ratios; Cathy Duffy notes it goes beyond most sixth-grade courses. |
| Pre-Algebra | Grade 7 | 160-lesson workbook with a teacher's guide and a separate tests and resources book. |
| Algebra I | Grade 8 | Full first-year algebra course sold as a box set for grade 8. |
AOP offers free Horizons Math readiness evaluations for grades 1–6, plus Pre-Algebra and Algebra I readiness tests. Each takes about 30–60 minutes and includes scoring guidance. Cathy Duffy recommends placing by skill, not grade, because the scope is advanced.
Official Horizons Math placement test ↗How much does Horizons Math cost?
As of October 2026, AOP sells each Horizons Math box set (K through 6, Pre-Algebra and Algebra I) for $120. A set holds two student workbooks and the teacher's guide. Bought separately, the kindergarten pieces cost $38.75 per student book and $62.50 for the teacher's guide, so the set saves $20. Workbooks are consumable; a second child needs new student books.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box set, one grade (K–6) | $120 | One-time | — |
| Pre-Algebra or Algebra I box set | $120 | One-time | — |
| Student book, single (K) | $38.75 | One-time | — |
| Teacher's guide (K) | $62.50 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial, but AOP posts free readiness evaluations you can print to check placement before buying.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
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Horizons Math FAQs
Is Horizons Math a spiral curriculum?
Yes. Each lesson introduces something new and reviews earlier topics, so skills come back again and again in more depth. Kids who prefer mastering one topic at a time may like a mastery program such as Math-U-See better.
Is Horizons Math advanced?
Yes. Reviewer Cathy Duffy calls the scope purposely advanced; the kindergarten book is closer to many first-grade programs. Use AOP's free readiness evaluation to place your child by skill rather than age.
Do I need the Horizons Math teacher's guide?
Yes. The teacher's guide holds the daily lesson plans, teaching notes, answer keys and extra worksheets. Horizons expects a parent to teach each lesson, so skipping the guide means skipping important instruction.
Is Horizons Math Christian?
It is published by Alpha Omega Publications, a Christian homeschool publisher, and sold as part of its Christian curriculum line. The math lessons themselves focus on math skills.
What grades does Horizons Math cover?
Box sets cover kindergarten through grade 6, followed by Pre-Algebra (grade 7) and Algebra I (grade 8).
How much does Horizons Math cost?
As of October 2026, each box set is $120 on aop.com. Manipulatives and some worksheet packets are extra, and each additional child needs new student workbooks.
Can I use ESA funds for Horizons Math?
Curriculum like this is commonly allowed in ESA programs such as Arizona ESA and Florida FES-UA, but each program decides. Save Horizons Math to your Edulist wishlist and check the programs in your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: