Derek Owens vs Mr. D Math
The sharpest difference is rigor: Derek Owens is demanding, Mr. D Math is on grade. Two others separate them as well.
At a glance
Derek Owens
Grades 7-12
Owners report it suits
Advanced/giftedMr. D Math
Grades 6-12
Owners report it suits
Struggling learnersReluctant learnersMath-anxious parentsBoth are reported to suit Independent workers.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | Derek Owens | Mr. D Math |
|---|---|---|
Rigor
?How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
Screen time
?How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
Time commitment
?How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Advanced/giftedIndependent workers | Struggling learnersReluctant learnersIndependent workersMath-anxious parents |
| Grades | 7-12 | 6-12 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Parent involvementboth hands-off
- Prep loadboth open-and-go
- Independenceboth mostly independent
- Faith contentboth None
- Approachboth Mastery
- Formatboth Online
- Used asboth Spine
- Methodboth Traditional, Video-led/self-paced
How each one plays by grade
Derek Owens
Grades 7-12
Prealgebra through Algebra 2 and Precalculus draw the most praise, and AP Calculus is well regarded for test prep. Geometry is the one course owners flag as needing supplementation.
Mr. D Math
Grades 6-12
Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 draw the most owner reports and land gentle to standard. Families wanting more push tend to move up a level or switch by Algebra 2.
Cost
| Cost item | Derek Owens | Mr. D Math |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65/mo online, capped at 9 months | ~$247 self-paced, ~$450 live |
| Consumable | No | No |
| Per child / year | ~$585 fully graded, ~$310 parent-graded | ~$247 self-paced, ~$450 live |
What parents report
Derek Owens
Consistently praised
- Rigorous, real college-prep math
- Fast grading and Mr. Owens answers questions himself
- The graded track is a hands-off math solution
- Fill-in notes make kids do the work
- Honors problems included at no extra cost
Reported as challenges
- Lectures are slow and over-explain
- Some students dislike the fill-in notes method
- The Geometry course has an instruction-problem disconnect
- Bright, fast kids can get bored
Mr. D Math
Consistently praised
- Kids warm up to math and gain confidence
- Clear explanations in plain language
- Live class keeps teens engaged and accountable
- Format and pricing are easy to live with
- Free extra-help sessions and quick email answers
Reported as challenges
- Not rigorous enough for a STEM-bound student
- Self-paced track lets unmotivated kids drag a course out
- Some kids lose focus during long videos
- Computer grading hides whether a student really got it
Who Derek Owens fits
The strongest pick here for self-motivated, math-capable, or STEM-bound teens who need real challenge and an outside grader. Families wanting snappy lessons, an advanced kid who bristles at slow talk-through, or a fully digital auto-graded experience will chafe.
Read the full Derek Owens entry Check price Derek OwensWho Mr. D Math fits
Average or math-averse teens who need confidence and a teacher who isn't mom or dad, especially in families who want the accountability of a live class. Advanced or STEM-track students who want deep rigor should look at Derek Owens or an Art of Problem Solving path.
Read the full Mr. D Math entry Check price Mr. D MathSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
Derek Owens compared with
Mr. D Math compared with
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 July 2026.