Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum vs History Quest
The sharpest difference is approach: Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum is Spiral, History Quest is Blended. Four more separate them, so this is not a close pairing.
At a glance
Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum
Grades K-12
Owners report it suits
Independent workersHistory Quest
Grades 1-6
Owners report it suits
Multi-age familiesReluctant learnersWhere they differ
| Attribute | Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum | History Quest |
|---|---|---|
Rigor
?How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Prep load
?How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Screen time
?How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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| Approach | Spiral | Blended |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Independent workers | Multi-age familiesReluctant learners |
| Method | ClassicalTraditional | ClassicalEclectic |
| Grades | K-12 | 1-6 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Parent involvementboth shared
- Time commitmentboth 25 to 40 min
- Faith contentboth None
- Formatboth Textbook
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum runs 6 grades further than History Quest. If you want one program to carry the subject for the long haul, plan on leaving History Quest around grade 6 and choosing again.
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.
History Quest
Grades 1-6
Levels are Early Times, Middle Times, and United States, each a single chronological pass built for the repeating classical-style rotation. Fifth and sixth graders can read the text alone.
Cost
| Cost item | Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum | History Quest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (optional printed edition sold separately) | $18-52/component |
| Consumable | No | Partial |
| Per child / year | $0 (free download) | ~$50-90 (core text plus study guide), less buying digital and reprinting student pages |
What parents report
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
History Quest
Consistently praised
- Reads like a good story, not a textbook
- Fully secular and globally balanced
- Study guide is open-and-go and scheduled out
- History Hops make eras stick
- Audiobooks save busy parents time
Reported as challenges
- Modern Times world volume still missing
- Coverage is selective, especially Middle Times
- Activities need supplies and prep time
- The U.S. course reads progressive to some
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 CollegeWho History Quest fits
Secular families who liked the Story of the World format but want more content and a fully secular voice, taught to a mix of ages. Families needing a finished four-volume world cycle or a hands-off independent course should wait or keep looking.
Read the full History Quest entry Check price Pandia PressSome 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?
Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum compared with
History Quest 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 August 2026.