Side-by-side comparison
Saxon Math vs Singapore Math (Dimensions Math)
A side-by-side from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Singapore Math Inc..
Singapore Math and Saxon are often discussed as the two "rigorous" homeschool math options, but they come from opposite teaching traditions. Singapore brings the methodology that made Singapore the top-scoring country in international math assessments; Saxon brings forty-plus years of American spiral review. The families searching this comparison are typically deciding between conceptual depth and procedural retention.
Singapore Math (Dimensions Math is the current flagship) uses the concrete-pictorial-abstract (CPA) progression: students first manipulate physical objects, then represent concepts with bar models and diagrams, and only then move to abstract numbers and symbols. The bar model is Singapore's signature problem-solving technique — students draw rectangles to represent the quantities in word problems, making relationships visible and solvable. Coverage is PreK–8. Grade-level bundles run $123–$169 and require the Teacher's or Home Instructor's Guide. The parent does a meaningful amount of teaching, especially in early grades, because the conceptual approach requires real instruction rather than just supervising worksheets.
Saxon is the opposite: textbook-led, drill-heavy, and built for retention through constant review. Each lesson is a small piece of new content surrounded by a long problem set mixing everything from earlier in the year. Saxon runs K–12 (through Calculus) at $95–$148 per grade. The format is dryer and more procedural than Singapore, but it scales: students can largely self-direct from 5/4 onward, especially with Nicole the Math Lady's video supplement.
Singapore's strength is mathematical thinking. Saxon's strength is procedural mastery. Many strong homeschoolers use Singapore in elementary then switch to a different program in middle school; others use Saxon throughout.
At a glance
The specifics
| Saxon Math | Singapore Math (Dimensions Math) | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Singapore Math Inc. |
| Established | 1981 | 1998 |
| Price | $95–$148/grade | $123–$169/grade |
| Grades | K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 | PreK, K–2, 3–5, 6–8 |
| Subject | Math | Math |
| Method | Traditional, Spiral | Mastery |
| Format | ||
| Worldview | Neutral | Secular |
The verdict
How to choose
Choose Singapore Math if you want your child to deeply understand why math works, you're willing to teach math (not just supervise), your child is a strong visual or conceptual learner, or you want the bar model technique that pays off in algebra and word problems. The CPA method builds genuine mathematical intuition.
Choose Saxon Math if you want a single program from kindergarten through calculus, you value standardized test performance and procedural fluency, your child needs heavy review to retain concepts, or you'd rather a curriculum your child can mostly self-teach from middle school onward. Saxon scales better as kids get older and parents step back.
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