Novare Science

Publisher: Novare Science & Math, Round Rock, TX Founded: 2012 by John D. Mays Website: novarescienceandmath.org Scope reviewed: General Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, Introductory Chemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, the General Chemistry and Accelerated Studies lines

What it is

A classical-Christian science publisher founded by John D. Mays, a former classical-Christian-school teacher and academic dean. Novare's distinguishing pedagogical claim is the Mastery-Integration-Kingdom (MIK) framework — content mastery (retaining what was taught), integration (connecting disciplines and prior learning), and Kingdom perspective (situating science within a Christian framework and the history of ideas). Texts are academically serious, mathematically honest, and structured around a classical-Christian worldview that is explicitly not young-earth-creationist-dogmatic.

Rubric assessment

1. Pedagogical soundness. Strong. The MIK framework is the publisher's genuine innovation, and it produces texts that actually test retention from prior chapters (most science texts test only the current unit) and that require students to articulate integration across concepts. Mathematical problem-solving is taken seriously at all levels; the books expect students to show work and to explain reasoning, not just bubble-in.

2. Academic rigor. High. Novare texts are among the most rigorous in the Christian homeschool market and are used by several classical-Christian schools as their spine. Introductory Chemistry and Chemistry are widely regarded as among the strongest chemistry options in the homeschool space; Physics is similarly regarded. Biology goes deeper into cellular biology and genetics than most homeschool biology texts. AP preparation is feasible with supplementation.

3. Worldview / bias. Christian, classical, and deliberately open-earth-friendly. Mays has written at length about why Novare does not teach young-earth creationism as scientific fact — he treats YEC, old-earth creationism, and theistic evolution as live options within Christian orthodoxy and does not require the student to adopt one. The texts present mainstream scientific dating (cosmological, geological, paleontological) while maintaining a Christian philosophical framing of science as a discipline. For families seeking a Christian framework that respects mainstream-science conclusions on age-of-Earth and evolution, Novare is the leading homeschool option. For families committed to YEC, Novare will feel inadequate or dangerous; Wile/Berean Builders is the better fit in that case.

4. Implementation cost. Higher than average. As of April 2026, student texts run $65-$95; solution manuals $30-$45; digital resource access adds $20-$40; lab kits from Nova Laboratories (Novare's partner) run $100-$300 per course. Full course investment is $200-$450 per high-school course, comparable to Apologia or Berean Builders.

5. Parent experience. Moderate-to-high lift unless the family uses a video or online option. Novare now offers video instruction through Novare Academy and partner programs, which meaningfully reduces parent load for parents not confident teaching chemistry or physics. Without video, the parent is expected to know or learn the material; the texts are readable but assume a discussion partner.

6. Student experience. Strong for serious students, demanding for average ones. The texts are written as textbooks — thorough, paced for mastery, mathematically honest — which means a coasting student cannot coast. For college-prep-serious households this is the point; for others the pace can feel overwhelming.

7. Contrast with Apologia and Berean Builders. This is the core editorial note for this review: Apologia and Berean Builders (Wile) are explicitly YEC; Novare is explicitly classical-Christian without YEC dogmatism. That positional difference is the single most important fact for a family choosing among them. A family that wants classical-Christian framework and accepts mainstream-science dating will find Novare to be the cleanest fit in the homeschool market. A family that wants YEC explicitly taught will find Wile's work the cleanest fit. Novare and Berean Builders are not pedagogically similar programs with different worldview skins; they are philosophically different programs whose differences are load-bearing.

8. Community / longevity. Growing steadily. Thirteen years running, used in a respected subset of classical-Christian schools (ACCS-member schools particularly), improving video infrastructure, stable publisher. Smaller convention presence than Apologia but well-known in classical-Christian circles.

Where we see it shine

Classical-Christian households, serious homeschool-co-op science programs, households where the parents are scientists or engineers and want their kids taught science at real-book rigor with a Christian philosophical framing that doesn't require YEC assent.

Where we see it underdeliver

YEC-committed families (philosophical mismatch). Struggling-student households where the rigor is punitive rather than productive. Budget-conscious households where the lab kits and texts stack quickly.

Verdict

The best classical-Christian, non-YEC-dogmatic science curriculum in the homeschool market. Strongly recommend for that specific fit; recommend against only when YEC is a non-negotiable.