Curriculum review
Acellus Academy
by International Academy of Science · Est. 2001
About
What it is
Acellus Academy is a fully accredited online K-12 school operated by the International Academy of Science, a nonprofit. The school holds WASC regional accreditation, has College Board-audited AP courses, NCAA-approved core courses, and Tier I military enlistment status — one of the strongest credential stacks available in the online homeschool space. The curriculum is delivered through self-paced video lessons combined with enrollment, transcripts, an accredited diploma, teacher support, and Standard and Honors graduation pathways.
Subjects span the full K-12 curriculum: math, ELA, science, social studies, foreign language, electives, AP courses, and Career and Technical Education (CTE). The platform runs on web, iOS, and Android apps.
Pricing as of April 2026 is $249-$499 per month for monthly plans, with annual subscriptions running $2,000-$4,500 per year. This is substantially higher than Power Homeschool (which uses the same video content without enrollment or accreditation) because Acellus includes teacher support, transcripts, diploma, and accredited reporting.
Acellus is officially secular and religiously neutral. However, the 2020 Hawaii Department of Education review found that some Acellus content violated discrimination policies and 'promoted religion' inconsistently — the report documented racial bias, sexism, religious favoritism, and inappropriate content (including the widely covered 'Sweetie Lips' character incident). The Hawaii Board of Education voted to discontinue use. EdWeek, EdSurge, and Honolulu Civil Beat covered the controversy extensively. Cathy Duffy's 2026 review still includes Acellus on her '103 Top Picks' but warns that 'content issues continue to be a problem' and urges families to investigate before subscribing. The high school biology course presents evolution from a strong evolutionary viewpoint, which is a hard 'no' for young-earth creationist families. There is no public affiliate program.
Acellus works best for families needing an accredited diploma without local public or private enrollment, military families needing portable accredited records, college-bound students wanting AP courses, and NCAA-bound student athletes. Families uncomfortable with the unresolved content history, those wanting strong writing instruction, young-earth creationist families, and budget-constrained households should look elsewhere.
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Common questions
Frequently asked
Is Acellus Academy accredited?
Yes. Acellus Academy holds WASC regional accreditation, College Board-audited AP courses, NCAA-approved core courses, and U.S. Military Tier I enlistment status. It is one of the most credentialed online K-12 schools available.
What was the 2020 Hawaii controversy?
In 2020 the Hawaii Department of Education found that some Acellus content violated discrimination policies — including racial bias, sexism, religious favoritism, and inappropriate content. The Hawaii Board of Education voted to discontinue use. The publisher has updated content but Cathy Duffy's 2026 review still warns families to investigate before subscribing.
How much does Acellus Academy cost?
Monthly plans run $249-$499/mo. Annual subscriptions run $2,000-$4,500/yr depending on grade level and pathway. Pricing is substantially higher than Power Homeschool, which uses the same video content without enrollment or accreditation.
What is the difference between Acellus and Power Homeschool?
Identical video content. Acellus Academy ($2,000-$4,500/yr) adds enrollment, accredited diploma, transcripts, teacher support, and credentialing. Power Homeschool ($99/mo) is the parent-led version without those services.
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