Is Saxon Math Right for Your Student? An Honest Review of Saxon Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Advanced Math
Saxon Math is one of the most widely used homeschool math curricula, and it's earned both devoted fans and thoughtful critics. If your student is beginning Saxon Algebra 1, moving into Algebra 2, or preparing for Advanced Math, you may be wondering what to expect from Saxon's high school program.
In this review, I'll discuss what Saxon does well, where it can be challenging, and which students tend to benefit most from its approach. Whether you're researching Saxon for the first time or your family has been using the curriculum for years, understanding how these high school courses are designed can help you decide whether they're the right fit for your student.
What Makes Saxon Different
Saxon's defining feature is incremental development with continual review. Instead of teaching a topic in a concentrated unit and moving on, Saxon introduces concepts in small increments, revisiting them across dozens of future lessons. A student might see the first introduction to factoring in one lesson, then encounter a factoring problem or two in the problem sets of the next twenty lessons, long after the "unit" would have ended in a traditional textbook.
This spiral approach is the most important factor to understand when deciding whether Saxon is a good fit. Everything else—both the strengths and the weaknesses—flows from this design choice. If you understand this one design philosophy, the rest of the curriculum makes much more sense.
For many homeschool families, the decision to use Saxon was made years before high school. Students who have completed Saxon's elementary and middle school programs are already familiar with its incremental lessons and continual review. The high school courses build on that same philosophy, introducing more advanced mathematics while maintaining the familiar lesson structure. What changes isn't the teaching approach—it's the depth and complexity of the mathematics.
What to Expect in Saxon Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Advanced Math
Although Saxon's teaching approach remains consistent across its high school courses, the content becomes increasingly sophisticated at each level.
Saxon Algebra 1
Algebra 1 introduces core algebra skills such as solving equations, working with exponents, graphing linear relationships, systems of equations, radicals, and polynomials. Unlike many traditional curricula, it also begins introducing geometry concepts that continue throughout the high school sequence. Students build a foundation in algebraic problem-solving while continually reviewing arithmetic and pre-algebra skills.
Saxon Algebra 2
Algebra 2 expands on the concepts learned in Algebra 1 and introduces more advanced topics, including functions, logarithms, sequences, probability, statistics, and trigonometry. Geometry instruction also continues to be integrated throughout the course rather than being taught in a separate textbook. The continual review remains a major feature, with students regularly practicing earlier algebra skills throughout the course.
Saxon Advanced Math
Advanced Math is essentially Saxon's precalculus course. Students study advanced algebra, trigonometric functions, analytic geometry, matrices, conic sections, and other college-preparatory topics. By this stage, Saxon's cumulative review helps students retain skills from previous courses while preparing for calculus and other advanced mathematics.
The Pros
Retention Through Repetition
Because concepts keep resurfacing, students don't get the chance to learn something for a test and then forget it. By the time a student finishes Saxon Algebra 2, they've practiced first-semester algebra skills dozens of times over.
Built-In Review Is Automatic
Parents don't need to plan cumulative review—it's built into every problem set. This is especially helpful for households where math isn't taught daily or where consistency is hard to maintain.
Strong Procedural Fluency
Saxon does an excellent job of building speed and accuracy with algebraic skills such as solving equations, simplifying expressions, factoring, and working with exponents. Students who complete Saxon often become fast and accurate problem-solvers.
Self-Contained and Consistent
The lesson format changes very little from lesson to lesson, which is reassuring for students who like predictability and for parents who aren't confident teaching math themselves.
The Cons
Concepts Can Feel Disconnected at First
Because a topic is broken into small pieces spread across many lessons, students may become proficient at a specific type of problem before fully understanding why the method works or how it fits into the bigger picture.
Limited Conceptual Development
The lessons tend to demonstrate a process and then provide opportunities to practice it. Saxon is not a curriculum built around exploring the "why" behind a rule—it's built around practicing the "how" until it becomes automatic. Students who frequently ask "Why does that work?" may find the explanations insufficient.
Dense, Text-Heavy Lessons
Saxon's page layout is straightforward but can feel like a lot of reading for a math book. Visual learners or students who benefit from diagrams, color, or alternate presentations may find it less engaging.
The Pace Can Wear Students Down
Daily problem sets are often lengthy, and because old material keeps reappearing, a student who is confused about something early on will keep encountering that confusion for weeks. Gaps don't disappear on their own—they resurface, lesson after lesson.
Who Saxon Tends to Work Well For
Students who like routine and predictability.
Students who benefit from frequent repetition and continual review.
Homeschool families who want a curriculum that requires minimal day-to-day lesson planning.
Students who are comfortable with independent, workbook-style learning.
Who Might Struggle With It
Students who need to understand the reasoning behind a method before they can apply it.
Visual learners who benefit from diagrams, color-coding, or alternate explanations.
Students who get discouraged by long, repetitive problem sets.
Students transitioning from a very different curriculum style and expecting a more unit-based approach.
My Bottom Line
Saxon Is Likely a Good Fit If:
Your student benefits from repetition and continual review.
They are comfortable practicing skills regularly.
You want a structured, open-and-go curriculum.
Consistency and retention are more important than extensive conceptual exploration.
You May Want to Consider Alternatives If:
Your student needs strong visual instruction.
They frequently ask conceptual "why" questions.
They struggle with repetitive practice.
They learn best through discussion, discovery, or hands-on exploration.
Can Saxon Be Used Successfully?
Absolutely. Thousands of homeschool families have used Saxon successfully over the years. Its structured lessons and continual review have helped many students build strong procedural skills and long-term retention. Like any curriculum, however, it's not the perfect fit for every learner. The key is matching the curriculum to the student's learning style.
Supplementing Saxon Math
For families who appreciate Saxon's structure but want additional conceptual explanations, supplemental resources can be especially helpful. Sometimes hearing a concept explained a different way is all a student needs before it clicks.
That's why I created lesson-by-lesson Saxon Guides for Saxon Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Advanced Math. Many of the topics in these courses overlap directly with my Algebra Essentials and Precalculus courses, where I place additional emphasis on the underlying concepts—not just the steps needed to solve the problem.
If you're working through Saxon and want a second explanation for a specific lesson, the Saxon Guides connect each lesson to the corresponding free video lesson and guided notes on my website, making it easy to find extra support exactly when it's needed.
Note: The Saxon Guides correspond to the classic 3rd editions of Saxon Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Advanced Math. If you're using a different edition, lesson numbers and topic sequencing may vary.
Saxon can absolutely prepare students for calculus and other advanced mathematics while building strong procedural skills. Whether it's the right primary curriculum ultimately depends on how your student learns best and how much conceptual grounding they need alongside the repetition. For the right student, Saxon's continual review can be a tremendous strength. For others, pairing it with additional conceptual instruction can make all the difference.