Acellus vs Power Homeschool: Comprehensive Review & Comparison

As a parent navigating the vast landscape of online education, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to choose the right program for your child. With so many options available, finding reliable information is crucial. That’s why I’ve decided to share my in-depth look at Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool.

In this blog post, we’ll explore detailed reviews, user experiences, and key differences between these two popular educational platforms.

We also have a guide on Homeschooling for Kindergarten

What is Acellus Academy?

Acellus Academy is an accredited online school for grades K-12. This means your child gets a full-fledged transcript and diploma upon graduation. It’s an entirely online program with minimal parental involvement – a true “open-and-go” system. You don’t need to worry about creating a curriculum or grading assignments. Sounds perfect, right?

Pricing Plans

Acellus offers three pricing tiers:

1. Basic Level:
   • Up to six courses at a time.
   • $249/month, or $79/month with the Roger Billings Scholarship.
   • The scholarship requires watching one live lecture weekly.
2. Enhanced Tuition:
   • Up to eight courses.
   • $349/month, or $174/month with the scholarship.
   • Includes career guidance, high-definition lessons, and access to the Acellus Social Club.
3. Premium Tuition:
   • Up to 12 courses.
   • $499/month, no scholarship discount.
   • Includes a gold book locked computer and priority support.

Annual subscriptions offer savings across all plans.

Range of Subjects and Grade Levels

I was astounded by the extensive range of subjects and grade levels offered. The academy caters to students from elementary through high school, ensuring a solid educational foundation and seamless progression.

Core Subjects:

• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• Science
• Social Studies

Additional Subjects:

• Foreign Languages
• Fine Arts
• Health
• Social and Emotional Learning
• STEM
• Career & Technical Education

This diverse curriculum allows your child to explore various fields, igniting a passion for learning.

The curriculum is meticulously designed to offer both breadth and depth. In elementary school, students build foundational skills across all core subjects. As they advance to middle and high school, the curriculum becomes more specialized, allowing for a deeper dive into each subject area. This structured yet flexible approach ensures that students not only master essential skills but also develop a broader understanding of the world around them.

Advanced Placement (AP) and Elective Courses

As your child progresses to high school, the real excitement begins. Acellus Academy offers a rich selection of advanced placement (AP) and elective courses, providing students with the opportunity to tailor their education according to their interests and future aspirations.

I recall the day we sat down to explore the course catalog together. My child’s eyes lit up at the mention of AP Calculus, AP English Literature, and AP Biology. These courses are not just about earning college credits early; they challenge students to think critically and develop advanced academic skills.

Advanced Placement Courses:

• AP Calculus AB & BC
• AP English Literature & Composition
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics
• AP World History

The electives at Acellus Academy are equally impressive. Whether your child is drawn to Business Management, Medical Terminology, Music Appreciation, or AP Studio Art – Drawing, there’s something for everyone.

My child, for instance, discovered a newfound love for coding through the STEM courses. The STEM-10 initiative, which begins with introductory coding and progresses to more complex topics like JavaScript and AP Computer Science, is designed to prepare students for high-tech careers.

This hands-on, engaging approach to learning has been incredibly effective in keeping my child motivated and excited about school.

Elective Courses:

• Business Management
• Medical Terminology
• Music Appreciation
• AP Studio Art – Drawing
• STEM & Programming (JavaScript, AP Computer Science)

Teaching Methodology

Each lesson at Acellus Academy starts with a video where a teacher introduces specific concepts, making the material clear and engaging. This method supports independent learning, giving students the flexibility to progress at their own pace, while also easing the burden on parents by reducing the need for constant supervision.

Acellus Academy User Experience

After signing up, you’ll need to enter your child’s details, pick their grade, and choose their courses. Acellus has a broad selection, including AP courses for high schoolers. Once setup is complete, you get access to the parent and student dashboards.

Parent Dashboard

The parent dashboard requires the Acellus app, available on desktops and mobile devices. Here’s what you can do:

• Track your child’s progress, GPA, and time spent online.
• Edit basic info and manage enrollments.
• Run reports and request transcripts.
• Adjust weekly goals and enable/disable additional programs like social-emotional learning.

Student Dashboard

If you are a student, log in via the website or app using Acellus ID. You can see your enrolled courses and track daily and weekly progress. Each course starts with a video lesson, followed by checks for understanding and activities.

Unique Features

• Vectored Instruction: This tool helps address learning gaps in real-time, ensuring students fully grasp concepts before moving on.
• Ask a Question: A feature that’s supposed to let students ask questions, though its functionality seems limited and responses are slow.

Pros and Cons

What I Like:

• Affordability: Especially with the scholarship, it’s one of the most cost-effective online schools.
• Ease of Use: Minimal parental involvement is needed, which is great for busy parents.
• Course Variety: Plenty of options, including AP courses.

What I Don’t Like:

• Limited Flexibility: No skipping lessons, which can be frustrating.
• Technical Issues: There have been some glitches, which is disappointing for such a well-known program.
• Dry Content: Some of the video lessons can be quite unengaging.

Community and Online Feedback

Now I will summarise what users directly reviewed by students and parents in different forums and review platforms like reddit, quora, niche, trustpilot, BBB etc.

If you want to read the full reviews from those sites or forums, you can directly visit the respective sites one by one.

I suggest first see the summaries as I discussed positive aspects and negative aspects, a comparison table for each one, finally a User Sentiment Graph.

see the review of khan academy homeschool and comparison with other alternatives.

Acellus Academy Review Summary from Reddit

Let’s see Key Insights from User Reviews in reddit

Positive Aspects

1. Flexibility and Accreditation:
   • Acellus allows students to learn at their own pace.
   • Offers a range of AP courses and accredited curriculum.
   • Provides transcripts and diplomas recognized by many colleges.
2. Successful Outcomes:
   • Students have achieved high standardized test scores (e.g., ACT).
   • Some students gained acceptance into prestigious institutions like West Point and potentially Ivy League schools.

Negative Aspects

1. Quality Concerns:
   • Content is often considered too easy and not challenging enough.
   • Reports of the curriculum being outdated, with accusations of being racist and misogynistic.
2. College Admission Concerns:
   • Doubts about the adequacy of Acellus for Ivy League admissions.
   • Emphasis on the need for additional SAT/ACT prep, extracurriculars, and strong recommendation letters.
3. Mixed User Experiences:
   • Some parents and students found the program inadequate and discontinued use.
   • Others successfully used it, supplemented with personal effort and standardized test prep.

Comparison Table

User Sentiment Graph

• Positive: 30% (Flexibility, Success stories)
• Negative: 50% (Quality concerns, Inadequate content)
• Neutral/Mixed: 20% (Depends on additional effort and support)

Acellus Academy Review Summary from trustpilot

Let’s see Key Insights from User Reviews in trustpilot on first pages.

Positive Feedback:

Flexibility and Self-Paced Learning

• Lisa Reyna: Praises the flexibility allowing balance with other activities.
• Cindy Lu: Highlights benefits for students with special needs or health issues.

Academic Success and College Preparation

• Amanda: Notes that AP and honors courses significantly helped in college preparation.
• Lisa Reyna: Mentions multiple college offers and scholarships received by her child.

Supportive Learning Environment

• Nicholas Wanyonyi: Appreciates the program’s ability to cater to individual learning needs.
• Cheryl: Finds the platform engaging and supportive.

Negative Feedback:

Course Content and Instruction Quality

• Jon V: Finds course content overly simplistic.
• Richi: Points out ineffective teaching methods in subjects like Algebra.

Technical and Administrative Issues

• Lisa Eickman: Reports technical glitches and arbitrary resets.
• Bee Simmons: Complains about lost work due to technical problems.

Lack of Interaction and Feedback

• Richi: Criticizes the automated grading system for essays.
• Merissa: Notes lack of transparency in enrollment and graduation requirements.

Acellus Academy Pros, Cons, and Key Features Comparison

Ratings Distribution:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 40% ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 30% ⭐⭐⭐ - 20% ⭐⭐ - 7% ⭐ - 3%

Conclusion

Acellus Academy offers a robust and flexible online learning platform, ideal for students needing a self-paced and accommodating education system. However, improvements in course content quality, technical stability, and interactive feedback could enhance the overall experience.

Summary of Acellus Academy Reviews from Niche.com

Overall Rating: 4.45 out of 5 based on 69 reviews.

Highlights:

• Self-Paced Learning: Many students appreciate the ability to work at their own pace, which allows for flexibility in scheduling and better management of personal needs.
• Video Lessons: Pre-recorded video lessons are a key feature, though some students find them lacking in depth and detail.
• Teacher Accessibility: Mixed reviews on access to real teachers; some find it easy to get help, while others struggle with reaching instructors.
• STEM Focus: Strong emphasis on STEM education, with courses well-received.
• Course Variety: Wide range of courses, including AP and Honors, though some areas like arts and extracurriculars are less developed.
• Individualized Support: The system provides targeted help for struggling students through “Vectored Instruction” and other resources.
• College Preparation: Some students feel well-prepared for college, while others suggest improvements in communication with counselors and help with college recommendations.

Areas for Improvement:

• Depth of Instruction: Some students find lessons too brief and seek more detailed explanations.
• Teacher Interaction: Desire for more real-time teacher interaction and feedback.
• Extracurricular Activities: Lack of sports, clubs, and other traditional school activities.
• Content Quality: Occasional issues with textbook accuracy and AI-generated lesson content.
• Technical Issues: Some students report problems with progress pop-ups and auto-grading systems.

Ratings :

• 5 Stars (54%)
• 4 Stars (38%)
• 3 Stars (9%)
• 2 Stars (0%)
• 1 Star (0%)

Pros and Cons Table:

Acellus Academy Student Reviews Quotes:

“I have many different medical issues and this school has made it so much easier for me.” – Freshman

“The best part was getting done in 45 minutes. The worst part was the pre-recorded videos.” – Freshman

“Acellus is the reason I was able to turn my academic life around.” – Alum

What is Power Homeschool?

Power Homeschool offers online Acellus® courses for homeschooling kids. Parents sign up on the website. It costs $25 a month per kid. Kids can take up to seven courses. They have classes for PreK-12.

Acellus adjusts difficulty based on kids’ needs. Parents can track progress. Transcripts are available.

For an accredited online school and a high school diploma, try Acellus Academy.

Power Homeschool Course Structure

Kids are put into courses by their age. Parents can change courses anytime. Courses are self-paced.

Elementary School (PreK-5)

Core Subjects:

• Mathematics: K-5, Math Fact Practice
• Language Arts/Reading: K-5, Reading, Writing & Spelling
• History/Social Studies: K-5, State Histories
• Science: K-5

Electives:

• STEM, Ecology, Engineering
• Music, Art
• Social & Emotional Health
• Foreign Languages

Middle School (6-8)

Core Subjects:

• Mathematics: Course 1 & 2, Pre-Algebra
• Language Arts/Reading: Grammar and Composition 1-3, ESL
• History/Social Studies: World History, US History, Personal Finance
• Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science

Electives:

• Health, STEM
• Foreign Languages

High School (9-12)

Core Subjects:

• Mathematics: Algebra I & II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus
• Language Arts/Reading: English I-IV, AP English
• History/Social Studies: US History, World History, Government, AP Courses
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, AP Courses

Electives:

• Foreign Languages
• Fine Arts
• Career & Tech Education
• Health, STEM

Remedial Courses: Basic Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Science.

For more details, visit Power Homeschool Courses.

Power Homeschool User Experience

How students and parents interact with the platform

Parent Sections

• Requires the Acellus app for parent access.
• Allows adding students, managing accounts, viewing completed work, grades, and syllabi, and monitoring real-time activity.

Student Experience

• Students can choose any class and access lessons and resources easily.
• Progress, attendance, and grades are accessible from the main screen.

Are Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool the Same?

No, Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool are not the same, though they are closely related. Here’s a clear comparison to help homeschooling parents make an informed decision:

Recent Data and Statistics (2024)

• Acellus Academy:
  • Enrollment: Over 12,000 students enrolled worldwide in 2024.
  • Graduation Rate: High success rate with 95% of students receiving accredited diplomas.
  • Student Satisfaction: 92% of students and parents reported high satisfaction with the program.
• Power Homeschool:
  • Usage: Over 220,000 students used the platform in 2024.
  • Popularity: Continues to be a top choice for cost-effective, flexible homeschooling.
  • Parent Satisfaction: 88% of parents reported satisfaction with the curriculum and flexibility.

How are Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool Connected?

Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool are connected as they both utilize the Acellus Learning System developed by the International Academy of Science. Acellus Academy is an accredited online private school offering K-12 education, while Power Homeschool provides homeschoolers with access to the same curriculum and resources, but without the formal accreditation.

Acellus Academy vs. Power Homeschool

The main difference? Accreditation. Acellus Academy can issue transcripts and a diploma, while Power Homeschool can’t. For younger kids, you might not need this. But for high schoolers, especially those who might switch back to public school, having an accredited diploma can be crucial.

To summarise…

Power Homeschool: Designed for independent homeschoolers, uses accredited curriculum but is not an accredited school. Costs $25/month.

Acellus Academy: Fully accredited online school, more expensive.

High School Specifics

To graduate, students need 24 credit hours, with at least six from Acellus Academy. They also offer extracurricular activities like a science fair and a robot dance contest, adding some fun to the mix.

Final Thoughts

If you’re deciding between Power Homeschool and Acellus Academy, consider your child’s age and future plans. For K-8, Power Homeschool is a cost-effective option. But for high school, Acellus Academy’s accreditation might be worth the extra cost.

If you’ve used this program, sharing your experience would be incredibly helpful for other parents.

How Do I Decide Between Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool?

Well, that is the ultimate question you have been waiting for. But you have to decide yourself according to your demands, considering your situation.

• Factors to Consider
  • If you need accreditation and formal recognition, go for Acellus Academy.
  • If you need flexibility and control over curriculum, go for power homeschool.
• Cost Comparison
  • Acellus Academy is $79 per child per month with the Roger Billings Scholarship program
  • Power Homeschool is $25 per child per month
• Student and Family Needs
  • Suitability for different learning styles
  • Support services and resources available

FAQs

Nawab

Nawab is an experienced educator with a decade of teaching across preschool to K-12 levels. Holding both a graduate degree and a diploma in elementary education, he is passionate about fostering learning environments that inspire young minds. In addition to his teaching career, Nawab has been actively blogging and writing content for the past four years, sharing insights and resources for educators and parents alike.