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Should I Use Illustrative Mathematics K–12 Math?

illustrativemathematics.org·Analyzed 1 hour ago··Based on 12 sources

Illustrative Mathematics provides resources and support for giving their students an enduring understanding of mathematics.

Depends

Depends

Districts and schools adopting a core K–12 math curriculum should shortlist IM: EdReports all-green ratings and free OER files lower the risk.

Rigorous, free-file K–12 math curriculum for districts that will train teachers; overkill for tutors and open-and-go homeschoolers.

Confidence: Medium

K–12

Grade coverage

PreK–5 expansion in progress

All green

EdReports rating

IM 9–12 Integrated v.360; K–5 also approved

Yes

Free curriculum access

OER files downloadable at no cost

None

Published pricing

Print/digital sold via Kendall Hunt by quote

Value for money4

Free OER core; pay only for print and training

Ease of use3

Problem-based lessons demand prep and training

Feature depth5

Full K–12 with narratives at activity level

Support quality3

Certified facilitator network exists but costs extra

Pros

  • All-green EdReports rating for IM 9–12 Integrated Math v.360⁴
  • Free open educational resource files remove upfront cost barriers⁶
  • Complete K–12 coverage across K–5, 6–8, and 9–12 courses²
  • Published district case studies, including Des Moines and Green Dot
  • Khan Academy offers free supplemental courses aligned to IM v.360

Cons

  • Gains require full implementation commitment, not casual adoption
  • Printed and digital program sold via Kendall Hunt at quote-based pricing⁷
  • Professional learning is a separate, paid engagement⁸
  • No public security page published

Gotchas

  • mediumNo published prices; Kendall Hunt print/digital access sold by quote, so budget surprises are likely⁷
  • mediumProfessional learning is priced separately; skipping it stalls problem-based implementation⁸
  • lowGuess: free files mean self-printing; bound student workbooks cost money through Kendall Hunt

Best for

  • Districts adopting core K–12 math
  • Schools wanting EdReports all-green curriculum
  • Budget-conscious districts using free OER files
  • Teachers committed to problem-based instruction

Not for

  • Homeschool parents wanting open-and-go lessons
  • Tutors needing quick worksheets and drills
  • Schools unwilling to fund professional learning
  • Teachers seeking low-prep scripted lessons

Companies that use it

  • Des Moines Public Schools
  • Green Dot Public Schools
  • Downtown College Prep
  • Greeley-Evans School District
  • Homer Plessy Community Schools

Pricing

OER digital curriculum

Free

  • Full curriculum files available online
  • Teacher and student materials downloadable

IM Certified print/digital (Kendall Hunt)

Quote-based

  • Printed student workbooks and teacher guides
  • Per-student pricing set by publisher

Professional learning

Quote-based

  • Facilitator-led training, virtual or onsite
  • Separate cost from curriculum

Security

No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

District case studies report math proficiency gains after committed adoption, and homeschool communities flag IM as a rigorous public-school-style option.

Alternatives

Compare Illustrative Mathematics K–12 Math with each alternative.

Khan Academy IM-aligned courses

Free self-paced practice mapped to IM v.360 units

Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources including district case studies and EdReports news. No third-party user ratings or published prices found.

Sources

  1. Illustrative Mathematics homepageillustrativemathematics.org
    official
  2. IM K–12 Math Curriculum overviewillustrativemathematics.org
    official
  3. IM 9–12 Math curriculum pageillustrativemathematics.org
    official
  4. EdReports all-green announcement, IM 9–12 Integrated v.360facebook.com
    news
  5. K–5 Math EdReports approval press releaseprnewswire.com
    news
  6. District leader's guide to Illustrative Mathematicscemd.org
    review
  7. Kendall Hunt IM distribution and walkthroughk12.kendallhunt.com
    official
  8. IM Professional Learningillustrativemathematics.org
    official
  9. Reddit homeschool curriculum recommendations threadreddit.com
    review
  10. IM impact case studies hubillustrativemathematics.org
    official
  11. IM privacy policyillustrativemathematics.org
    security
  12. IM terms of useillustrativemathematics.org
    security

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