Acellus Academy vs Power Homeschool: Which One Is the Best Fit for Your Homeschool?
- Jan 14
- 7 min read
If you’re looking at Acellus, it’s easy to assume Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool are basically the same thing—because the student experience looks very similar.
Choosing an online homeschool option can feel overwhelming—especially when two programs look almost identical on the surface. If you’re trying to decide between Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool, you’re probably asking the right questions: Do we need an accredited school or just curriculum? Who keeps records? Will this work for my child’s learning style? And if we’re in South Africa, will this support future university plans?
In this post, I’ll break down the real differences in a clear, parent-friendly way so you can choose the best-fit pathway with confidence.
But they are designed for two different purposes:
Acellus Academy https://www.acellusacademy.com/
a WASC accredited American online private school (with official school records and an accredited American High School Diploma pathway).
Acellus Academy is a K-12 online private school located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school is owned and operated by the International Academy of Science, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Acellus Academy provides instruction online through distance education via the Acellus Learning System.
There are required special lessons.
It includes tutor support and your child has a teacher on every subject that you can access for support as needed. If your child struggles the teacher can email or live chat with the student.
AA can issue your child with an accredited American High School Diploma at the end of gr. 12 (if you meet their requirements).
Self-paced: You change the classes, schedule, goals, and adjust the pace and amount of daily steps yourself.
Parent App with Course Progression and Monitoring: Here, you can view an overview of each student’s goals and daily progress, helping you identify areas they may need more support. You can also see detailed insights into their courses, completion percentages, grades, and GPA.
Automated record keeping, progress reports, and attendance.
Power Homeschool https://www.powerhomeschool.org/
Parent-led homeschool courseware (no teacher support). The parent is responsible to supervise the student’s learning since they are operating their own “homeschool” from home. Since Power Homeschool is a courseware delivery tool, and not a school, they do not issue a high school diploma to students.
Power Homeschool is a K-12 homeschool program intended to aid parents in homeschooling their own children. Parents may choose courses from numerous courses (grades PreK-12). Students are able to learn at their own pace under the supervision and assistance of their parent.
Self-paced: You change the classes, schedule, goals, yourself.
The special lessons are optional and ungraded. If your child struggles you provide assistance or outside resources.
It scores all online lessons and keeps records making it very easy to create your own transcripts (school report at the end of a grade).
Parent App with Course Progression and Monitoring: Here, you can view an overview of each student’s goals and daily progress, helping you identify areas they may need more support. You can also see detailed insights into their courses, completion percentages, grades, and GPA.
So the real question becomes:
Do you want an accredited school to “carry” the high school admin and issue an official American High School Diploma… or do you want flexible curriculum that you manage yourself?
Quick summary: Acellus Academy vs Power Homeschool
Choose Acellus Academy if…
You want an accredited school behind your child’s learning (official transcripts, diploma route).
Your teen needs a clean high school paper trail for future transfers/ college/ university applications.
You’re in South Africa and you want the strongest “American High School Diploma” pathway for future university processes (more on this below). (Stellenbosch University)
Choose Power Homeschool if…
You want affordable, flexible curriculum and you’re comfortable staying in the “parent-led homeschool” lane.
Your child is in primary/middle school, or you’re using it to catch up gaps and build consistency.
You’re okay with being the teacher-of-record and handling any extra support/tutoring yourself.
If you are aiming for the GED or the NCV as a school exit and you want a flexible online curriculum that is parent-led.
Side-by-side comparison: AA vs PH
Feature | Acellus Academy | Power Homeschool |
What it is | Accredited online private school (Acellus Academy) | Parent-led homeschool course provider (no teacher support) (Power Homeschool) |
Diploma | Can lead to an accredited high school diploma (if requirements met; graduation fee applies) (Acellus Academy) | No official school diploma (parents homeschool independently) (Power Homeschool) |
Transcripts/records | Official transcript request options available (Acellus Academy) | Parents can request a transcript showing completed/current courses (Power Homeschool) |
Support model | School structure + support/administration as an enrolled private school (Acellus Academy) | Parent supervises and ensures progress; no teacher support (Power Homeschool) |
Course load | Tuition tiers list up to 6 courses at a time in Basic (more in higher tiers) (Acellus Academy) | Up to 6 courses at a time (per FAQ/enroll pages) (Power Homeschool) |
Price (important!) | Basic: $249/month; Scholarship option shows $79/month (Acellus Academy) | Standard: $99/month; Scholarship: $79/month (Power Homeschool) |
Credit transfer into Acellus Academy | Transfer policies exist (official transcript needed; grade minimums; school can decline; 12th grade must be completed with Acellus Academy) (Acellus Academy) | You can generate/obtain records, but acceptance depends on the receiving school’s transfer policy (Power Homeschool) |
What feels the same in both (why families confuse them)
FEATURES INCLUDE:
Pre-recorded video-based lessons presented by qualified teachers
Acelles Gold Edition with gold credits for extra rewards and motivation.
Lessons with 3Di: Using detailed 3D models, 3Di allows students to explore concepts at the molecular level or slow down mechanical processes for clear explanations.
Interactive practice problems
Help videos for difficult concepts
Reviews, Tests & Exams
Memorization drills
Digital books
Onsite lesson plans & Scope & Sequence of subjects available on the website
Prism Diagnostics & Vectored learning: identify and fill in learning gaps in the go. When a foundational deficiency is diagnosed, Vectored Instruction goes as far back as necessary, even pulling from prior grade-levels if required, to fill in the missing foundational knowledge.
Writing tutor: designed to tutor students as they write, giving immediate feedback on grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and even writing style.
Both are built around the Acellus learning experience, so families often see overlap like:
pre-recorded video-based lessons
practice + tests + exams
built-in learning supports (diagnostics / writing support features referenced in tuition descriptions)
That similarity is real. The difference is not “how the lessons look”—it’s who is responsible for the schooling outcomes and documentation. Acellus Academy has the added benefits of tutor support and they can issue the official accredited American High School Diploma.
Choosing based on your child (real-world fit)
1) If your child needs high structure + external accountability
Acellus Academy usually fits better, because it’s positioned as a private school with formal enrollment processes and official records.
2) If your child thrives with flexibility and low-demand pacing
Power Homeschool can be great—especially if you’re hands-on and can add support where needed (tutor, OT strategies, body-doubling, co-working, etc.). It’s explicitly described as parent-supervised, without teacher support.
3) If your child has learning gaps
Looking to diagnose and fill in learning gaps - both Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool offer “Vectored Instruction and the Prism Diagnostics” as targeted support. Acellus Academy includes tutor support and real live teachers for every subject that you can access as needed. With Power Homeschool the extra tutor support layer will be parent-led.
Choosing based on your goals (this matters more than grade level)
Goal A: “We need an accredited and official American High School
Diploma issued by a school”
That’s Acellus Academy, not Power Homeschool. Acellus Academy publishes graduation requirements and fees for issuing the diploma.
Goal B: “We just need solid curriculum and we’ll homeschool independently”
That’s Power Homeschool—it’s described as a service providing lessons without teacher support, where parents supervise and manage the homeschool.
Goal C: “We might transfer into Acellus Academy later”
You can, but don’t assume credits automatically transfer. Acellus Academy notes transfer is based on an official transcript, minimum grades, and they can decline credits; they also require completing 12th grade through them (minimum credits/time enrolled).
For South African homeschool families 🇿🇦 (high school planning)
If your child may apply to a South African university, remember:
A matriculation exemption is a legal requirement for first-degree study at SA universities and is handled through USAf’s Matriculation Board. (Universities South Africa)
Stellenbosch specifically flags that American High School Diploma applicants must understand the conversion and exemption process. (Stellenbosch University)
USAf also has a dedicated page for the United States of America pathway and guidance for American High School Diploma situations. (Matriculation Board)
Practical takeaway: If your teen’s end goal is university in South Africa, families typically prefer the clarity of an accredited school-issued American High School Diploma + official transcript pathway (which points you toward Acellus Academy rather than Power Homeschool). (Acellus Academy)
My “best fit” recommendations (simple)
Best for primary / middle school
Power Homeschool if you want affordability + flexibility and you’re comfortable being hands-on.
Acellus Academy if you want the “school” container even while they’re younger (especially if you may need formal records).
Best for high school (Grades 9–12)
Acellus Academy if your teen needs an accredited school pathway and you want an official diploma route.
Power Homeschool if you’re intentionally homeschooling independently and will manage documentation, support, and post-school planning yourself.
Need help choosing the best fit for your child?
If you’re still torn between Acellus Academy vs Power Homeschool, you’re not alone.
On paper they can look similar—but the best choice depends on things like:
your child’s learning style and support needs
whether you need an accredited school + diploma pathway
your long-term plan (especially if you’re in South Africa and thinking about university applications)
how much structure you want vs how much flexibility your child needs
whether you want parent-led homeschooling or a school-led model
Sometimes one quick conversation can save you months of stress, switching programs, or feeling unsure you’re “doing it right.”
If you’d like help mapping out your child’s best-fit pathway (and making sure your choice aligns with your family’s goals), you’re welcome to book a session with me here:
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