Derek Owens

Derek Owens Grades 7-12 Updated July 2026

Who it 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.

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 Mastery
Format Online Recorded video lectures that students follow while filling in printed lecture notes by hand, then work homework and tests on paper. Papers are graded by a real person and scanned back, usually fast. A half-price parent-graded option is available.
Used as Spine
Philosophy Traditional Video-led/self-paced
Best for Advanced/giftedIndependent workers

What parents consistently praise

  • 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

What parents report 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

How it shifts by grade

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.

Additional notes

You only pay for months enrolled, so finishing early costs less. The human-graded model and pay-by-month structure are the sharpest contrasts with UnLock and Mr. D.

Cost

Price$65/mo online, capped at 9 months
ConsumableNo
Per child / year~$585 fully graded, ~$310 parent-graded
Check price Derek Owens

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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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