Ezra Learning vs A.C.E. PACEs
A.C.E. PACEs are self-instructional print workbooks a child works and scores himself, bought by level and subject; Ezra is an online curriculum for Grades 1–9 priced for the household. Here is how they compare, line by line. Facts checked October 14, 2026; sources at the end.
What each one is
Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) PACEs is the curriculum of Accelerated Christian Education, which began in 1970 and describes itself as a "Bible-based, character-building" program. Each course is divided into booklets called PACEs, like the units of a textbook: the child writes his goals at the start, works through the booklet, takes the Checkups, a Self Test and a PACE Test, and the company says the curriculum is self-instructional and needs "minimal supervisor instruction." It runs from kindergarten to Level 12 in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Word Building and Bible, with electives, and is sold by level: A.C.E. lists the Level 3 complete level — PACEs, score keys and resource books for seven subjects — at about $439.30, or $261.60 for the PACEs alone, with tax and shipping extra. Homeschoolers can order independently or enroll through Lighthouse Christian Academy for an accredited diploma.
Ezra Learning covers Grades 1–9 in Mathematics, English, Spelling, Bible and Geography, with about 6,900 hands-on practice skills and 1,220 narrated lessons, each with a printable sheet. Scripture (Berean Standard Bible) is read word for word in every strand of every subject; there are no cartoons, games or characters. The Family plan is $15 a month per household, up to six children, and the first two sections of every subject and grade are free.
A.C.E. PACEs fits best when…
Choose A.C.E. PACEs if you want a child who works on paper at his own pace with no screen, you want Science, Social Studies and all of high school from one program, you want the option of an accredited diploma through Lighthouse Christian Academy, you like a goal-setting routine with built-in Checkups and tests the child scores himself, or you want Scripture memory and character traits taught through the booklets.
Ezra fits best when…
Choose Ezra if your children are in Grades 1–9, you want a lesson taught by a voice with a drawing rather than read from a page, you want practice the child does with his hands that grades itself and shows you a report, you want a Bible verse read aloud in every strand of every subject and no illustrated characters anywhere, and you have more than one child — the price is for the household, with nothing to buy per level.
The facts, line by line
 | A.C.E. PACEs | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 1–9 | Kindergarten–Level 12 |
| Subjects | Math, English, Spelling, Bible, Geography | English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Word Building, Bible, electives |
| Price | $15 USD a month for the household (up to six children) | Per level, per child: Level 3 complete about $439.30 (PACEs only $261.60), 7 subjects |
| Free to start | Two sections of every subject and grade, always free | Free online diagnostic test through aceconnect; no free trial of the PACEs |
| How a lesson is taught | Narrated by a voice, drawings only, watch-only | The child reads the PACE booklet and teaches himself; the parent supervises |
| Practice | Hands-on: drag, tap, sort, build, drop a pin | Written work in the PACE; Checkups, a Self Test and a PACE Test in each booklet, scored from the score keys |
| Scripture | A Bible verse in every strand of every subject, read aloud | "Biblical principles are woven throughout" with "an emphasis on Scripture memory"; Bible courses |
| Printables | A PDF sheet for every lesson + a library of 147 books and packs | Consumable PACE booklets; ePACE digital version through aceconnect |
| High school | No | Levels 9–12; accredited diploma through Lighthouse Christian Academy |
| Science | No | Yes |
| History | No | Social Studies |
| Parent reports | Per child: minutes, mastery, needs-a-hand, PDF report | The child scores his own work from the score keys; the parent checks and keeps the records |
| No screen needed | Lessons and practice are on a screen; sheets print | Yes, the printed PACEs are on paper; ePACE is the digital option |
| Cartoons, games, characters | None | Illustrated characters (Ace, Christi and friends) in "character strips" throughout the PACEs |
Facts checked October 14, 2026 on the two sites. Prices and plans change; the links at the end go to A.C.E. PACEs's own pages, and we correct this table when we are told it is out of date.
What it costs your family
The biggest practical difference is how the price is counted. A.C.E. PACEs is priced per student. Ezra is priced per household, so a second, third or fourth child costs nothing more.
Ezra: $15 × 12 at the introductory price (normally $19 a month). A.C.E. PACEs: $439.30 a year per child, for the Level 3 complete level (PACEs, score keys and resource books for 7 subjects) — the price A.C.E. itself calls approximate; the chart multiplies by the number of children. A.C.E. lists Level 3 PACEs only at $261.60; the complete levels run from $223.50 (Level 12, 4 subjects) to $518.40 (Level 2, 8 subjects), tax and shipping extra. The diagnostic test is free online through aceconnect.
How a lesson is taught
An A.C.E. lesson is a few pages of a PACE booklet that the child reads and works on his own. At the start of each PACE he writes his goals for the day; the booklet explains the concept, he does the exercises, and at set points he takes a Checkup, then a Self Test, then the PACE Test, scoring his own work from the score keys under the parent's supervision. A.C.E. says the curriculum is self-instructional, needs minimal instruction from the supervisor, and lets a child move quickly or slowly through a level as he needs. The curriculum puts an emphasis on Scripture memory and presents ninety character traits of Jesus in poems, songs and "character strips" through the booklets. The strengths of paper are here: no screen, no subscription, and a routine the child can run himself.
An Ezra lesson is a short narrated slideshow: one voice reads every word while a simple line drawing builds up on the slide — no cartoons, no characters, no questions asked of the child inside the lesson. The lesson ends with a Bible verse read aloud, and every lesson has a printable sheet for the child to do on paper. Then the child goes to the practice skills of that strand, which are hands-on: drag the pieces, tap the picture, build the number, sort the words, drop a pin on the map.
Where the Bible sits
Both programs are Christian. A.C.E. says "Biblical principles are woven throughout the A.C.E. curriculum with an emphasis on Scripture memory", that "ninety character traits of Jesus are presented in poems, songs, activities, and character strips", and that its program is "Bible-based" and "character-building"; Bible Reading and Biblical Studies are courses of their own. The Bible version used is not stated on the pages we read. In Ezra, Scripture is not a subject on the side. Every strand of Mathematics, English, Spelling and Geography closes with a verse from the Berean Standard Bible, read aloud word for word, and a Scripture practice skill sits at the end of every strand. Bible is also a subject of its own in every grade, with a character strand (obey right away, tell the truth, no quarrelling) in each. The verses are never paraphrased.
What A.C.E. PACEs has that Ezra does not
Kindergarten and Levels 10–12, with an accredited high-school diploma through Lighthouse Christian Academy. Science and Social Studies as full courses, and electives from Spanish to typing and music. A goal-setting routine the child runs himself, with Checkups, a Self Test and a PACE Test in every booklet. Scripture memory and ninety character traits of Jesus taught through the PACEs. A free online diagnostic test. A digital ePACE edition. And printed booklets that need no screen or subscription.
What Ezra has that A.C.E. PACEs does not
A Bible verse in every strand of every subject, read aloud word for word from the Berean Standard Bible, and a Bible subject of its own in every grade with a character strand. A narrated lesson the child can press play on, with a simple line drawing on every slide, so a child who reads slowly is not teaching himself from the page. Practice the child does with his hands — dragging, sorting, building, dropping a pin on a map — generated endlessly, graded on the spot, with a parent report that shows mastery, minutes and where he needs a hand, so no score keys and no self-scoring. No illustrated characters, games or rewards. Spelling and Geography as subjects of their own. A printable sheet for every lesson and a library of 147 books and packs. One price for the household, however many children and whichever grades. And two free sections of every subject and grade, so a family can see all of it before paying anything.
Questions families ask
Are A.C.E. PACEs cheaper than Ezra Learning?
For one child in Level 3, A.C.E. lists the complete level — PACEs, score keys and resource books for seven subjects — at about $439.30, or $261.60 for the PACEs alone, with tax and shipping extra. Ezra is $15 USD a month, $180 a year, at the introductory price. A.C.E. is bought per child and per level, so two children are two levels; Ezra is one price for the household, so two children are still $180.
Does Ezra Learning cover high school?
No. Ezra covers Grades 1–9. A.C.E. runs to Level 12 and, for families enrolled with Lighthouse Christian Academy, gives an accredited high-school diploma, so a family with a student past Grade 9 needs A.C.E. or another program for those years.
Does Ezra have Science or History?
No, on purpose. Ezra teaches Mathematics, English, Spelling, Bible and Geography. A.C.E. has Science and Social Studies PACEs in every level.
Is A.C.E. Christian?
Yes. A.C.E. says biblical principles are woven throughout its curriculum with an emphasis on Scripture memory, and teaches ninety character traits of Jesus through its PACEs. Ezra is Christian as well, and reads a verse from the Berean Standard Bible in every strand of every subject.
Do the PACEs have characters?
Yes. A.C.E. says its students read about and learn from illustrated characters, and names Ace and Christi in its course titles; the character traits appear in "character strips" through the PACEs. Ezra has no characters, cartoons, games or rewards; every picture is a simple line drawing of an object.
Can I try either one for free?
A.C.E. offers its diagnostic test free online through aceconnect; the PACEs themselves are not offered as a free trial. Ezra keeps the first two sections of every subject and grade free, with no time limit and no card.
Are these facts current?
They were checked on October 14, 2026 on aceschooloftomorrow.com (where aceministries.com now points) and ezralearning.com. Prices and plans change — A.C.E. itself calls its level prices approximate; the links under Sources go to A.C.E.'s own pages, and we correct this page when we are told it is out of date.
Where the facts come from
- Frequently asked questions (level prices, homeschool options) — aceschooloftomorrow.com
- About us — aceschooloftomorrow.com
- A.C.E. School of Tomorrow home page
- Ezra Learning: pricing and curriculum pages, October 14, 2026.
A.C.E. PACEs and Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E. School of Tomorrow) are names of their owners, used here only to identify their products. If you represent A.C.E. PACEs and a fact here is wrong, write to hello@ezralearning.com and we will correct it.
See Ezra for yourself
Two sections of every subject and grade are free. No card, nothing to install.
Start free