← Home · Curriculum · Honors STEM · Plans

Honors STEM Pathway (grades 9–12)

Not accredited? That's OK: in most states you issue the homeschool diploma and transcript. We're not accredited. Here's what that means →

An optional, harder track for high schoolers who want engineering, physics, computer science or another math-heavy path. Same lessons you already have, plus deeper problem sets, derivations, lab write-ups and two new courses: Honors Calculus and Honors Physics: Mechanics.

Status (November 2026): Unit 1 of Honors Calculus and Unit 1 of Honors Physics: Mechanics are open now as a free preview. More units are being added through the 2026–27 school year; each course page shows exactly what's ready.

Who it's for

Students who finished Algebra I with about 85% or better (or pass the placement check).
Students who like solving hard problems and explaining how they got the answer.
Any student can leave the track at the end of any term, with no penalty. Their standard courses keep counting.

The 4-year plan

Grade	Honors math	Honors science	Engineering / tech
9	Honors Algebra I or Honors Geometry (proof-heavy)	Honors Biology (lab reports, data analysis)	Intro Programming (Python), 0.5 credit
10	Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra II	Honors Chemistry (full stoichiometry, lab design)	Engineering Design & CAD (free tools like Onshape or Tinkercad), 0.5 credit
11	Honors Algebra II/Trig → Honors Precalculus	Honors Physics: Mechanics (required on the track), with optional AP® Physics 1 exam prep	Applied Mechanics lab: statics, simple machines, truss build, 0.5 credit
12	Honors Calculus (limits, derivatives, integrals), with optional AP® Calculus AB exam prep	Honors Physics II (calculus-based mechanics), with optional AP® Physics C: Mechanics exam prep	Senior Engineering Capstone: design, build, test, report, portfolio and defense

What makes it "Honors"

About 25–35% more problems, and harder ones, each week.
A weekly proof or derivation set (show why, not just what).
Lab write-ups in Claim–Evidence–Reasoning form with error analysis.
A cumulative test every month and one portfolio piece every quarter.
Optional SAT/ACT math and CLEP prep modules.

How to start

Open Calculus Unit 1 or Physics Unit 1 and try Lesson 1. It's free.
If it feels right, keep the student's normal grade plan and add the Honors course for math or science.
On your parent-issued transcript, list it as, for example, "Honors Physics: Mechanics." You decide whether to weight it.

Try Honors Calculus Unit 1 Try Honors Physics Unit 1

Cost

The Honors STEM Pathway is included in every plan. There's no extra charge.

Plans: $35/month per student or $69/month per family (see plans). Optional live 1:1 tutoring: $25 for your first hour, then $35/hour, or 4 hours for $130 (tutoring).

Trademark note: AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Life Academy. Life Academy does not offer AP® courses. Our Honors courses include optional AP® exam prep. Homeschool students can register for AP® exams as independent test-takers through a participating school; seats are set by each school, so we can't promise one.

Life Academy is online K–12 lessons that you run at home, plus optional live 1:1 tutoring. It is not accredited and it is not a school. You, the parent, issue the homeschool transcript and decide how to label and weight Honors courses. See our accreditation guide. Questions? Email hello@lifeacademyhomeschool.org.

Questions

Is this an AP® program?

No. Life Academy does not offer AP® courses. Honors Calculus and Honors Physics include optional AP® exam prep, and students can sit AP® exams as independent test-takers at a participating school.

Does the Honors track cost extra?

No. It is included in the $35/month per student and $69/month per family plans.

Will colleges accept Honors credit?

Life Academy is not accredited. You, the parent, issue the transcript and choose the course labels and weighting. Many families add AP® exam scores, SAT/ACT scores or CLEP results as outside evidence.

Can my student leave the track?

Yes, at the end of any term, with no penalty. Their standard courses keep counting.