Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum

Hillsdale College Grades K-12 2026 redesign Updated August 2026

Who it 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.

How it scores

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
Parent involvement
?

How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1hands-off
  2. 2light
  3. 3shared
  4. 4leading
  5. 5parent-taught
Read the parent involvement 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
Independence
?

How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1adult-led
  2. 2guided
  3. 3semi-independent
  4. 4mostly independent
  5. 5fully independent
Read the independence guide
Time commitment
?

How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1under 15 min
  2. 215 to 25 min
  3. 325 to 40 min
  4. 440 to 60 min
  5. 560+ min
Read the time commitment guide

At a glance

Faith content None
Approach Spiral
Format Textbook Free downloadable teacher guides, student texts, primary sources, maps, and images, used in print or on screen. An optional online video course and a paid printed edition exist. It is built for classroom teachers, so a homeschool parent adapts it.
Used as Spine
Philosophy ClassicalTraditional
Best for Independent workers

What parents consistently praise

  • 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

What parents report 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

How it shifts by grade

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.

Additional notes

Free from Hillsdale College (create a free account). It carries a traditional, patriotic civic framing, which is political rather than religious. First released in 2021, then redesigned and expanded for America's 250th in 2026.

Cost

PriceFree (optional printed edition sold separately)
ConsumableNo
Per child / year$0 (free download)
Check price Hillsdale College

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Compare head to head

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources (forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and long-form reviews) together with the publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time.

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