Beautiful Feet Books vs Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum

The sharpest difference is faith content: Beautiful Feet Books is Light, Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum is None. Three more attributes come apart too.

At a glance

Beautiful Feet Books

Grades K-12

Owners report it suits

Multi-age families

Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum

Grades K-12

Owners report it suits

Independent workers
Skip to who fits

Where they differ

Attribute Beautiful Feet Books Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum
Rigor
?

How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1gentle, below grade
  2. 2relaxed
  3. 3on grade
  4. 4demanding
  5. 5advanced
Read the rigor guide
Prep load
?

How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1open-and-go
  2. 2minimal
  3. 3moderate
  4. 4involved
  5. 5heavy
Read the prep load guide
Screen time
?

How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1fully offline
  2. 2mostly offline
  3. 3blended
  4. 4mostly digital
  5. 5fully digital
Read the screen time guide
Faith content Light None
Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. Multi-age families Independent workers
Method Charlotte MasonClassical ClassicalTraditional
Grades K-12 K-12

Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.

Where they match

How each one plays by grade

Beautiful Feet Books

Grades K-12

Most courses come in a lower (K-3) and an upper (4-6 or 5-8) edition, with high-school guides for several. Younger kids narrate orally; older ones write paragraphs and essays.

Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum

Grades K-12

Grade bands K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 each cover the American story at greater depth. K-5 leans on a teacher reading and guiding; the 6-8 and 9-12 American history and government units support more independent reading and writing.

Cost

Cost item Beautiful Feet Books Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum
Price $30-60 guide, $145-290 pack Free (optional printed edition sold separately)
Consumable No No
Per child / year ~$145-290 for a new pack, ~$60-120 using library or used copies, less per child when reused $0 (free download)

Where to buy

What parents report

Beautiful Feet Books

Consistently praised

  • The book list is excellent
  • Open-and-go study guide
  • One guide runs several ages at once
  • Guide and books reuse for every kid
  • Kids remember the stories

Reported as challenges

  • Books sold separately, so sourcing takes effort
  • Rough on reluctant readers
  • No tests, grades, or answer keys
  • Thin on modern world history in the middle years

Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum

Consistently praised

  • It's completely free
  • Rich primary sources and lesson plans
  • Deep, content-heavy American history
  • Strong civics and government track
  • Well-organized for a teacher

Reported as challenges

  • Written for classrooms, not open-and-go for parents
  • Prep-heavy to adapt at home
  • Reading and reasoning load is high for younger kids
  • Patriotic framing won't suit every family

Who Beautiful Feet Books fits

Fits Charlotte Mason, classical, or eclectic families with willing readers who value narration and discussion over worksheets, especially those teaching several ages together. Reluctant readers, families who want a single all-in-one box, and anyone who needs built-in tests and grades will find it a poor match.

Read the full Beautiful Feet Books entry Check price Beautiful Feet Books

Who Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum fits

Rigorous, primary-source American history and civics at no cost, for families who don't mind adapting classroom lesson plans, especially in middle and high school. Parents wanting open-and-go materials, gentle elementary history, or a curriculum that avoids a traditional civic framing should keep looking.

Read the full Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum entry Check price Hillsdale College

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Still deciding?

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed August 2026.