Denison Algebra 2 Review: Why We Chose It for High School Homeschool Math
If you’ve been following our homeschool for a while, you already know that one of our most unconventional curriculum choices is our math program.
We use Denison Algebra.
For some homeschool families, that immediately raises eyebrows.
I’ve heard every version of the concern over the past few years:
“Isn’t that the curriculum for kids who aren’t good at math?”
“Will it prepare students for college?”
“Is it rigorous enough?”
“Shouldn’t you use something more traditional?”
Those are fair questions.
They’re also the exact questions I had before we switched.
Now, after completing Algebra 1 and Geometry with Denison and preparing to start Algebra 2, I feel like I can finally give an honest review—not just of the curriculum itself, but of what it has actually looked like in our homeschool.
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Why We Left Our Previous Math Curriculum
This wasn’t a planned change.
We had every intention of staying with our previous curriculum through high school.
Instead, we hit a wall.
My daughter had always been capable in math.
Then one difficult year changed the way she saw herself.
She wasn’t struggling because she suddenly couldn’t do math.
She was struggling because she stopped believing she could.
As parents, it’s easy to convince ourselves that perseverance means finishing what we started.
Sometimes it does.
Sometimes perseverance means recognizing that the environment—not the child—is the problem.
Changing curriculum wasn’t giving up.
It was removing a barrier.
Looking back, I would make the same decision every single time.
What Makes Denison Algebra Different?
The phrase you’ll hear most often is:
“Math for kids who don’t love math.”
I actually think that slogan causes a lot of confusion.
People assume it means easier math.
It doesn’t.
What I think it really means is that the teaching style is approachable.
Lessons are taught through video by Mr. Denison, whose style is calm, conversational, and reassuring. Rather than expecting students to remember every concept from previous years, he reviews what they need and builds from there.
That approach dramatically lowered the frustration level in our homeschool.
Instead of dreading math, my daughter began expecting success.
That’s a powerful shift.
What Comes with Denison Algebra 2?
The complete course currently costs about $185 and includes:
- A spiral-bound student textbook
- Parent guide and test booklet
- Solutions manual
- Online instructional videos
- Video solutions
- Grading resources
- One year of online access (with extra grace time built in)
One small detail I genuinely appreciate is the spiral binding. It sounds minor, but if you’ve ever wrestled with thick homeschool workbooks that refuse to stay open, you know how much easier this makes daily lessons.
What I Like Most
After using multiple levels, a few things consistently stand out.
The teaching style
Mr. Denison teaches like someone who remembers what it’s like to struggle with math.
There’s no shame if a student forgets something.
He expects review to be part of learning.
Confidence grows alongside competence
The biggest win in our homeschool hasn’t been a test score.
It’s hearing my daughter confidently say she’s good at math again.
That’s something I wasn’t sure we’d get back.
It fits our long-term plan
Our high school plan is to complete:
- Algebra 1
- Geometry
- Algebra 2
- Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry
From there, we expect to transition into dual-credit college math. For our family’s goals, this sequence provides the preparation we’re looking for while keeping math approachable and sustainable.
The Biggest Downside
No curriculum is perfect, and I think honest reviews should include the negatives.
The biggest limitation of Denison Algebra is the lack of extra practice.
Students complete the lesson, the assignment, a review, and then move on to the chapter test. There aren’t automatically generated worksheets or large banks of additional problems.
For many students, that’s perfectly adequate.
For students who need repeated practice to master new concepts, you may find yourself supplementing with outside resources.
This hasn’t been an issue for us, but I completely understand why it could matter for another family.
Should Every Homeschool Family Use Denison?
No.
And I don’t think there is a curriculum I would recommend to everyone.
Every homeschool is different.
Every child is different.
Every family has different goals.
If your student thrives with highly independent textbook learning, another curriculum may fit better.
If your child needs a calmer pace, direct instruction, and wants to rebuild confidence without lowering expectations, I think Denison is well worth exploring.
One thing I appreciate is that Denison offers free sample lessons for every course. Before spending any money, you can work through the first lessons together and decide whether the teaching style is a good fit.
Final Thoughts
One of the greatest gifts homeschooling gives us is flexibility.
We aren’t locked into one curriculum because someone else chose it.
We get to respond to our children’s needs as they grow.
For us, switching to Denison Algebra wasn’t about finding the “perfect” curriculum.
It was about finding the right curriculum for this season.
Three years later, I still believe it was one of the best educational decisions we’ve made.
And if one day it stops being the right fit?
We’ll change again.
Because my goal has never been to stay loyal to a curriculum.
My goal is to stay loyal to my kids.
