Beast Academy

Beast Academy is an elementary math curriculum from Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), built for children who are ready for more than the arithmetic drills of a standard school program. The site describes it as "the elementary math curriculum that ignites the joy of problem solving" and says it "brings the joyful, rigorous AoPS problem solving approach to elementary learners." The AoPS menu sums up the audience as "students ages 6-13", and the site's description pitches it as a curriculum for grades 1 to 5 that can "challenge and inspire your gifted learner."

The parent company appears on the page as "a global leader in advanced K-12 math education" that "trains the intellectual leaders of the next generation by preparing motivated students for college and career success." Beast Academy is its program for the youngest students, and the reasoning behind it is stated plainly: "At Beast Academy, we believe in teaching advanced math concepts early, so students build a problem solving foundation for more advanced math and science classes in the years to come."

Three ways to learn

Families choose between three formats, or combine them. The site's own wording is that a student can learn through "engaging online learning, illustrated books, or both", with live classes as a third route.

The Interactive Platform is the self-paced online product. The homepage calls it "an online playground of self-paced, interactive challenges that build a foundation for complex problem solving", and the online menu says it gives access to "online math lessons and challenges for Levels 1-5." The headline on the homepage lists what is inside: "Comic-style stories. Mind-bending puzzles. 1000+ lessons and videos." The comics carry the teaching. In the site's words, "Through our interactive online platform and captivating comic-based storylines, students tackle tough challenges that move them to math mastery."

The Comic-Style Books are the print side. "Beautifully illustrated books teach math and science concepts with 100s of practice problems, puzzles, and games." The math books run in five levels, each tied to an age band: Level 1 (ages 6-8), Level 2 (ages 7-9), Level 3 (ages 8-10), Level 4 (ages 9-12) and Level 5 (ages 10-13). There are also science books for Level 3 and Level 4. After Level 5, the books menu points students on to Art of Problem Solving's own titles under "Beyond Level 5". Across books and online lessons together, the site counts "20,000+ problems, puzzles, and skill games", so that "students never run out of content."

Live Classes put the curriculum in front of a teacher. The homepage says students can "Take Beast Academy lessons through small, video-based classes with an expert instructor", for Levels 2 to 5. Under the heading "Prefer a Live Instructor?" it explains the setting: "Our virtual campus combines Beast Academy curriculum with a live, video-based classroom. Students are guided by expert instructors and learn alongside 10–16 curious peers." That class size makes the live option a small group rather than a lecture, and suits a child who works better with a teacher and classmates than alone on a screen.

How the curriculum teaches

The program's stated philosophy is "Mastery, Not Memorization." The team writes that it "designed the curriculum we wish we had growing up", one that is "monstrously engaging, rigorous, and comprehensive", and that "Students learn higher-order reasoning skills and how to think critically." The aim is problem solving rather than speed on routine sums.

A second theme is persistence. Under "A Problem-Solver's Skill Stack", the site says: "BA students regularly tackle tough problems. In doing so, they gain a skill stack that extends far beyond math alone. They gain resilience, creativity, and perseverance that can be used in any field of study." The comics and the "monster math" setting are how the program keeps hard problems approachable for a seven-year-old.

Families and teachers get supporting tools from the resources menu: placement tests to find the right starting level, planning guides, printables, a playground area and a section called "All Ten". A help site, an FAQ, an "Ask Us!" contact route and a "Get Started" guide cover support.

For schools

Beast Academy is not only a home product. The site has a "For Schools" section, and its account menus show the school side in detail: reports for all students, schools, classes and individual students, plus account management for the subscription, schools, staff, classes and students, and a rostering section. A homepage notice says that "School accounts are moving to beastclassroom.com", a separate site for school users. Families can also pay through ClassWallet, with limits the site spells out: "Monthly subscriptions are not available for purchase through ClassWallet. However, our Yearly and Bundle options are available." Live classes and gift subscriptions cannot be bought through ClassWallet.

Plans and buying options

The site shows monthly and yearly subscriptions for the online platform, bundles that "Combine books with our online curriculum" under a "Bundle & Save!" offer, individual books, and gift subscriptions. Additional students are added from the online menu. The homepage publishes no prices.

On satisfaction, the homepage states that "97%" of customers "are satisfied with Beast Academy", and the site's description calls the curriculum "award-winning".

The wider AoPS pathway

Beast Academy is one of three AoPS programs, which matters for a family planning several years ahead. AoPS Online offers "Math texts, online classes, and more for students in grades 5-12", and AoPS Academy runs "Small live classes for advanced math and language arts learners in grades 1-12" on physical campuses and a virtual campus. The homepage puts it this way: "Through our three programs, AoPS offers the most comprehensive honors math pathway in the world." A child who finishes Level 5 has a clear next step inside the same company.

Who it suits

Beast Academy suits parents of curious or advanced children aged 6 to 13 who want math to be about reasoning and puzzles rather than worksheets, and who like the idea of comics doing the explaining. It works for a family that wants to stay offline most of the time (the books stand alone), for one that prefers a self-paced screen product, and for one that wants a live teacher and a small class from Level 2. Schools get rostering, staff accounts and class reports, and families paying through ClassWallet can buy yearly plans and bundles.

It is less of a fit for a family looking for a plain grade-level textbook, since the program is built around challenge and the site addresses itself to gifted and advanced learners. Level 1 students have the books and the online platform but not the live classes, which start at Level 2.