Collage of students playing and learning at Acton

What makes Acton Academy so different?

  • Acton Academy uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting, and teamwork. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners.
  • We believe children learn best by doing. Whether it’s launching a startup business, creating a tidepool habitat, playing a musical instrument, painting a mosaic, or programming a robot, Acton students are building real-life skills in the classroom every day.
  • We believe the learning experience is much richer when the teacher (“Guide”) offers insightful questions and facilitates hands on learning. Guides use the Socratic method, always responding to students’ questions with new questions. This exchange hones students’ critical thinking skills.
  • Acton Academy is “student led.” This means young people take ownership of their education and peer relationships. Acton students learn to think independently, take responsibility and embrace challenge. They are being prepared to bring their own unique genius to the world.
  • We believe in the power of apprenticeships. Beginning in middle school, our students obtain summer internships in a field they are passionate about. Acton students have interned with doctors, entrepreneur bakers, plumbers, attorneys and graphic designers. What will your child choose?
  • We encourage our students to develop personal virtues such as honesty, hard work, responsibility, kindness and empathy. Armed with purpose and good character, we believe our students will launch into adulthood prepared to find their calling and change the world.

Are you frustrated with the old, traditional educational model that teaches students to spit out facts and pass state-mandated tests?

Watch this documentary video to see how Acton Academy is turning education upside down.

Our Promise to You

Your Child Will:

  • Begin a Hero’s Journey.
  • Learn to be a curious, independent, lifelong learner.
  • Develop a deep respect for economic, political and religious freedoms.
  • Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on Earth.
  • Discover his or her most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems.

Learning Environment

  • Field trips and guest presenters to extend learning beyond the classroom.
  • Outdoor space with playground, open grass area, and community garden.
  • Student led PE with different activities every week.
  • No homework or frequent testing.
  • Fun and enriching family activities to foster a strong school community.

Connect with Nature

We believe children should be outdoors and have access to nature in a deep, meaningful way. Forest School is a growing movement to bring the gift of nature to our children. During their Forest School hours, students will learn to make detailed observations of natural phenomenon in their nature journals and to design and conduct experiments to answer their scientific questions.

We have secured a woodland lot for the children to design and learn in. Your children can undertake projects like: designing and building a treehouse, setting up and organic vegetable garden, keeping chickens for eggs and many more. Being located next to Yangmingshan National Park also means our students will have access to hundred of miles of hiking trails for further outdoor learning!

21st Century Learning

  • The latest in educational technology for self-paced mastery of reading, writing and math skills.
  • Deep Socratic discussions about heroes, history and self-governance to hone critical thinking skills and the ability to powerfully think, write and speak.
  • Hands-on project based Quests to master the tools and skills needed to solve problems in the real world.
  • Written promises and covenants that form a tightly bound community of individuals learning to form authentic friendships and honestly resolve interpersonal problems.

Our Philosophy of Learning

We believe that:
Clear thinking leads to good decisions,
Good decisions lead to the right habits,
The right habits lead to character and
Character becomes destiny.

A Learner-Driver Community

  • Students create and sign a Contract of Promises describing how each individual will act and the consequences for violating community norms.
  • Mentor teams encourage younger and older students to listen, affirm, set goals and hold each other accountable.
  • “Learn to Be” badges that celebrate character and completing leadership challenges.

Measuring Mastery

Young heroes celebrate the mastery of tools, skills and character by earning badges, assembling portfolios and taking part in public exhibitions.

  • Parents use badges to track academic progress in Core Skills like reading, writing, math and spelling and character development in “Learn to Be” Badges.
  • Electronic and hard copy Portfolios capture rough drafts, photos, video and other creative work.
  • Public exhibitions at the end of most Quests allow young heroes to present work to experts, customers or the public for a real world test.

Personalized Tools

Every year at Acton, we build small businesses from the ground-up.

Watch the video to learn about our business fair.

Are you ready for an Acton Academy Audition?

To begin the audition process, please introduce yourself and we will e-mail you our simple to complete entry checklist!