Homeschool

The Best Math Programs for STEM-Oriented Families

Mathematics can be a wonderful yet challenging subject in children’s academic lives, and many families are eager to help them grow their skills in the field. Enrolling your kids in STEM programs is a step in the right direction. 

1. Russian School of Mathematics

Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) has been operating for over 25 years, serving over 70,000 students throughout North America. More than 250,000 of its alumni were able to attend the best universities in the world thanks to soaring confidence and grades.

The team is hosting a STEAM program from July to August at the RSM Newton & RSM Arlington locations in Massachusetts. For a $590 tuition fee, you can access a weekly program designed to spark curiosity and creativity in young learners through hands-on activities in math, science, engineering, chess and art. The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, on select weeks from July to August.

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Math summer class programs, tiered and selective competitions program
Review: “My older child went to RSM for four years, and my younger child has attended this school for three years. The program is well organized, and the teachers really know how to do their jobs. Kids have homework every week, practice problems and they can access references for every lesson. Mr. Karlen Tsatinyan is a fantastic teacher. RSM makes the difference!”

2. Singapore Math Live

Singapore Math Live was conceptualized in 2015 as a video support program for high school math courses. It was born from a passion to help homeschooling families who wanted to uncover and grow their math potential. 

Singapore Math Live now has more than 900 support videos. Certain media are directed to instruct students, but there are also resources for parents. Everything is accompanied by a syllabus with 34 weekly assignments. 

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Primary math, dimensions math
Review: “My child and I are definitely benefiting from this program. The math is simple enough but it helps me as the teacher to understand it better and be able to teach it in a way that doesn’t confuse my child. It has helped me be consistent in how I teach math so that as we continue to go up on levels we can actually build on what we’ve learned before. Thank you for this program.”

3. Kumon

Kumon mixes individualized instruction, self-learning, worksheets and instructors to create a curriculum that will help your kids grow. Let your child take a placement test to assess where they are in their math learning journey. 

Kumon operates on the principle of practicing math for just 30 minutes a day. Students can attend class at a nearby center twice a week and then have assignment sessions at home on the other days. Its worksheets are comprehensive, whether you’re working on advanced algebra or probability and statistics. 

Suitable for: Grades K-12, specifically pre-college
Key features: In-person tutoring sessions, math worksheets
Review: “My daughter has been going to Kumon for the past four years. I’ve seen such great math and English improvement. I just started my son who is in kindergarten and I’ve seen a huge improvement on his reading skills. Anh has been a great director who cares so much about the kids and works above and beyond to give the kids much understanding of the kumon concepts.”

4. Zearn

Zearn is on a mission to prove that math is for everyone and that it’s more than memorization. The nonprofit educational organization has helped more than 1 million middle school students nationwide. In 2023, about 90% of 1,000 surveyed teachers said they would recommend other teachers use Zearn Math, thanks to its core instruction and built-in support.

Suitable for: Grade K-8
Key features: Visual and interactive videos with real-time feedback and assistance
Review: “I can’t even believe that a resource such as Zearn is free. The students love it as it is not so childish like other platforms used before such as Prodigy Math. The only things that I am missing as an educator is better feedback on how the students are doing, to understand better where they really struggle. Definitely a five-star resource. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ZEARN team!”

5. MathAltitude

MathAltitude is an independently owned and operated organization that helps parents in honing their children’s learning process in mathematics. Its programs were developed in collaboration with professors in the U.S. and Russia for a success-driven solution. Individualized instructions allow people to adapt to each kid’s studying style. 

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Math courses for elementary school, middle school and high school, SAT prep, summer program, online classes
Review: “My daughters have been going to Math Altitude for almost eight years. Teachers and staff are very good. My daughters are never bored — they are always challenged. They communicate every detail with parents, which keeps us informed of how the kids are doing and what we can do to help them achieve better. They also offer competitive exam help, which motivates kids to take math to the next level. Absolutely recommend this place to kids.”

6. Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers some of the best math programs that promote personalized learning. You can let your child practice at their own pace and get comfortable with understanding math. The resources themselves are also free, so you can cover and practice a variety of subjects. About 90% of the teachers who have utilized the platform would verify it as effective. 

Suitable for: High school and college
Key features: Free world-class courses for math of all levels, including get-ready courses for advanced learning
Review: “I have a pretty positive opinion of Khan Academy since I used it to help me learn some material from courses I’m struggling with. The most useful thing is that there are also quizzes that Khan Academy provides, which help the user really know how they are doing.”

7. Prodigy Math

Prodigy is a unique math program that uses gaming technology to mix playtime with homework. Students experienced twice the level of math enjoyment under its curriculum, with over 96% of parents and teachers satisfied with its educational impact. Take online learning to a new level with the quests, battles and rewards that will come each student’s way. 

Suitable for: Grades K-8
Key features: Math-based learning games
Review: “I love that Prodigy is fun for students. Students who did not like math before love math now. Prodigy helps students grow in math in a fun way.”

8. IXL Learning

IXL Learning is a comprehensive learning platform that empowers students to master essential skills. Let children run through fun and interactive questions that will hone their skills. Built-in support and motivating awards are available to enhance the learning experience. There’s also a diagnostic tool that parents and tutors can use to gauge a child’s proficiency. 

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Skill-based courses sorted out per grade 
Review: “IXL has made a huge impact on my students. They jumped so deep into ALL of the math skills and would comment how much easier things were to learn compared to the start of the school year. It was nice to see them find skills on their own that they wanted extra practice on. It’s so nice to see kids drive their own instruction and learning.”

9. Math-U-See

Math-U-See is an extension of Demme Learning that focuses on improving the math learning process. Its educators work on helping schools integrate a math curriculum with distinctive integer blocks and video lessons for a comprehensive learning experience. There are free virtual events and resources for homeschooling families.

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Integrated manipulatives, curriculum guides
Review: “I recommend it highly for children who struggle in math or have math anxiety. It’s a great confidence-building program for these kids, because it breaks each concept into smaller parts and focuses on one small chunk at a time until it’s fully mastered.”

10. Think Academy

Think Academy was created by passionate education experts in 2003 on the basis of modernizing teaching methods and helping the students of today. You can enroll children as young as 5 years old to kick-start their math learning journey. Students can attend classes for just three hours every week and feel a difference in their academic excellence.

Suitable for: Grades K-12
Key features: Math learning courses for early childhood and other stages of the academe, summer camp 
Review: “Best math institution in the Bay Area, teachers are super professional and nice to kids. We have been here for two years and will continue to attend it. The content of each semester is super helpful. Kids love to learn and learn well.”

Finding STEM Programs

Finding the right STEM program in a world filled with educational resources can feel like a tall order. Here’s the methodology that helped with narrowing down the best institutions.

Expertise STEM is a wide field that encompasses a variety of subjects. It’s important to look for course providers that focus on honing your mathematical skills.
Reputability Has your chosen math program helped other kids excel at the subject? Are there teachers who have had a positive experience in using the product?
User-friendliness Some families can be new to the idea of educational technology. It’s important to find platforms with user-friendly interfaces and helpful instructors. 

Try Out the Best Math Programs

Everyone needs a little help to grow their skills, whether it’s geometry, algebra, calculus or more. Learn about the best math programs available and see what would be a good fit for you and your child. Encourage and guide them to use those resources and understand the subject better.