If you’ve been in the secular homeschool world for any length of time, you’ve probably come across Miacademy. It is an online learning platform often mentioned alongside programs like Power Homeschool or Time4Learning. I recently took a deep dive into Miacademy’s website and offerings, and I can say with confidence: this is not a platform I would ever recommend to secular homeschooling families.
How Miacademy Is Structured
Miacademy is a subscription-based, online homeschooling platform designed for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. A separate high school version exists under a different site that I did not preview. Miacademy offers a range of subjects with the goal of being flexible and engaging, but beneath the surface, there are major concerns about quality, transparency, and inclusivity.
Miacademy provides courses in:
- Math: Lessons include videos, explanations, visual models, games, and problem-solving. However, lesson progression is inconsistent, with some levels stuck reviewing basic concepts.
- Language Arts: Covers phonics, vocabulary, reading, writing, and grammar. Handwriting is not included from what I saw.
- Science: Grades 1–4 get general overviews; grades 5–8 offer earth science, life science, and astronomy. Evolution is glaringly absent from the scope and sequence (a dealbreaker for any science curriculum claiming to be comprehensive).
- Social Studies: U.S. History I & II, Ancient World History, U.S. Government, and geography. The content leans towards eurocentric.
- Electives: Art, music, life skills, foreign languages, and multiple biblical studies.
Instructional Approach:
- Video Lessons: Short clips under 10 minutes. Some are narrated slideshows, others feature basic green screen style presenters.
- Assessments: Multiple-choice quizzes and tests follow lessons.
- Printable Materials: Offered for some subjects (Note: the production value of these printables is not what I would expect from a professional company)
Parent Dashboard:
The parent dashboard allows you to assign and manage courses, set grade minimums, restrict games and community access, and track progress. While this might seem useful, it doesn’t compensate for the broader failings of the curriculum.
Student Experience:
Students use a gamified dashboard to complete assignments, earn rewards, and join a moderated online community.
Note: The platform has a documented history of removing student content that is pro-LGBT, despite not breaking any rules.
Flexibility and Customization:
Miacademy allows cross-grade access, flexible pacing, and rewards customization.
Trial and Pricing:
Miacademy does not offer a free trial. A discounted first-month rate is available, but you must still pay upfront. At about $42/month per child at the time I looked, this is one of the pricier options out there.
Where Miacademy Falls Short
Lack of Academic Rigor
One of the most consistent concerns I had was the lack of academic depth, especially for middle school learners. Lessons are short, and assessments are easy to pass with minimal comprehension. Subjects like science and social studies often feel fragmented rather than cohesive. In many cases, content seems closer to trivia than a scaffolded curriculum.
Advanced topics seem to be rarely introduced, and they’re oversimplified when they are. Math and language arts tend to just repeat earlier concepts rather than encourage deeper understanding or analytical thinking. While this might work for remediation or for younger learners, it seems insufficient for students seeking challenge, preparation for high school, or meaningful skill-building.
Whitewashed and Colonizer-Centric History
History is presented through a Eurocentric lens that omits indigenous voices, glosses over systemic oppression, and fails to offer inclusive narratives. This is not just a gap, it’s an educational disservice, false narratives, and complete erasure. The social studies curriculum resembles the same sanitized, white-centered approach that many of us remember from outdated public school textbooks.
Inadequate and Inaccurate Science Content
One of the most glaring issues with Miacademy’s science curriculum is the total absence of evolution. The word “evolution” doesn’t appear anywhere in their scope and sequence documents. For a program that markets itself as comprehensive, this is a red flag. It reflects a rejection of foundational scientific principles and undermines students’ scientific literacy. In an age where scientific misinformation runs rampant, this omission is unacceptable.
Biblical Studies Class?
Although Miacademy describes itself as non-religious, there are signs of religious influence.
To be fair, they don’t hide the fact that it offers a “Biblical Studies” course.But that transparency doesn’t make it any less concerning, especially for families specifically looking for secular options.
On their website, Mia Academy describes parts of the course as a study of “the Jewish Bible”. This wording alone reveals the Christian-centric lens they’re using by flattening Jewish scripture into a Christian framework. It’s not respectful of Jewish traditions, and it certainly isn’t neutral or academic in tone.
Even if you don’t enroll your child in the Bible course, the fact that it’s featured so prominently says a lot about Mia Academy’s priorities and worldview. When a platform offering “academic” courses centers religious instruction like this, you have to ask: how much of the rest of the curriculum is shaped by the same lens?
Lack of Transparency
Miacademy offers vague course descriptions and very limited samples. It’s difficult to find clear scope and sequence documents or detailed content previews. This lack of transparency makes it hard for families to evaluate whether the curriculum aligns with their values or academic expectations, particularly when there’s no free trial.
As a homeschool parent, I want to know:
- Is evolution taught?
- Are marginalized voices and histories included?
- How are topics like colonization and social injustice handled?
- Will my child see their identity respected?
Without paying some amount of money upfront, you wouldn’t gain access to answers outside of this review
Outdated Gendered Platforms
The umbrella company, Miaplaza, is also known for their gendered platforms. “Always Icecream” for girls and “Clever Dragons” for boys are marketed separately, complete with gender-stereotyped content and aesthetics (think pink princesses vs. blue knights). Miacademy is their co-ed version, but that doesn’t erase the harm of building entire ecosystems around binary gender roles. This isn’t just outdated, it’s harmful. Kids deserve better.
High Cost, Low Value
At $42 per month per child (at the time I looked), Miacademy is one of the pricier all-in-one options. Given the limited academic rigor, lack of transparency, and questionable secular status, many families may find that it doesn’t justify the cost.
Dull and Disengaging
Despite gamified elements, the core content feels dated and uninspired. For gifted or neurodivergent learners who thrive on creativity, challenge, and novelty, this can quickly become frustrating. If I could sum it up in one word, it is boring. There’s no spark, no creativity, no heart. I’ve seen free resources with more engagement than this paid program.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for better secular and inclusive options, here are two worth exploring:
FunCation Academy A flexible and supportive platform for grades K-12. They offer varied, inclusive content and an understanding, responsive staff. This platform has a large library of classes (core and elective), including ones for middle and high school. Prices for the K-12 MyPath program start at $24.99 at the time I looked (with lots of other options available).
Schoolio A hybrid print/digital curriculum with strong secular content and an inclusive, diversity-aware approach for grades K-8. They were created with neurodivergent learners in mind. Offers parent-friendly customization and clear content outlines. Unlimited material is $39.99 per month per student, but they offer a generous sibling discount and annual discounts.
Final Thoughts
Miacademy does not mark itself as secular, and frankly, it shows. From the absence of evolution in its science curriculum to the inclusion of a full Biblical Studies course, this platform leans into religious content while trying to fly under the radar. Add in their history of censoring LGBT-affirming content and a company that includes gendered websites like Always Icecream for girls and Clever Dragons for boys, and it becomes crystal clear: Miacademy is not a safe or inclusive environment for families. These aren’t just oversights, they’re systemic choices that reflect fundamental values that are at odds with inclusive, evidence-based education.
I’m sharing this review not to shame families using Miacademy, but to provide insight for those who share my concerns and priorities. Homeschooling is about finding the right fit, but we deserve platforms that meet our standards without compromise.
Have you tried Miacademy or one of the alternatives? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Let’s help each other make better, more informed choices for our kids.
Rabbit Hole Learning 
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