BIG QUESTION #1: SO, WHAT IS ACTON ALL ABOUT?
Get Inspired
Mission
Acton Academy Northwest Austin exists to inspire each student who enters our doors to find a calling that will change the world.
Philosophy
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.
We focus on the following 3 major learning objectives in whatever we do:
Our Beliefs
We believe that every child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
We believe in a closely-connected family of lifelong learners.
We believe in learning by knowing, learning by doing and learning by being.
We believe in economic, religious and political freedom.
Our Promises
Through Socratic guiding and experiential learning, each member of our community 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 mysteries of life on Earth.
Discover his or her most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems.
Joy + Rigor = Mastery | Mastery + Grit = Excellence
"Embracing rigor is part of saying 'yes' to a Hero's Journey. Deep learning brings a special sense of joy, but the mastery required for a
Hero's Journey goes even further, requiring commitment, discipline and hard work towards a worthy goal."
Our Core Processes
A Hero's Journey
Everybody is born to change the world, however that journey, the Hero's Journey is difficult. We work with heroes to prepare them for the path that lay ahead of them as they find their calling and change the world.
Studio Contracts
The heroes and parents develop contracts, and once acceptable, everybody signs them. This essentially becomes the constitution that everyone is held to. When a contract is broken, processes are developed to correct the situation.
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound goals are created by heroes on a daily basis to keep them on their hero’s journey.
Studio Maintenance
At the end of every day, heroes are tasked to maintain the studio. This task transfers ownership of the studio to the heroes, making it feel like it is their community or another home.
You know you're at Acton Academy if you see:
#1: Evidence of the "Hero's Journey"
- Frequent references to the Hero's Journey and callings
- Use of Growth Mindset Language
- Acknowledgement of the necessity to fail early, cheaply and often to learn
- Parent Meetings at least 3x per year, focusing on parents' own Hero's Journeys
#2: Self-governance and self-management
- Studio Contracts visible on the walls
- Eagles set daily SMART goals
- Eagles hold each other accountable to Contract promises (Eagle Bucks, Growth Mindset language) and take their community issues to Town Hall
- Visible schedule with large blocks of time
#3: Accountability and celebration of progress & hard work
- Public Exhibitions at the end of every session
- Badges approved according to "Standards of Excellence"
- Weekly points and SMART goals
- Customer satisfaction surveys at least twice per month shared with Eagles and parents
#4: Eagles "Learning to Learn"
- Overarching Question posted on the wall
- Journey maps posted on walls (Quests, Writer's Workshop, Civilization)
- Eagles learning clear processes for getting things done, often posted on walls (writing processes, critique processes, conflict resolution processes, etc.)
- Public posting of work and comparison of world-class examples
- Feedback systems and deliberate practice
- Nest Cams to capture visual patterns over time
#5: Eagles "Learning to Do"
- Hands-on Quests to discover gifts
- Socratic discussion in launches and Civilization
- Khan, Dreambox and other game-based tools to allow Eagles to learn at their own pace
- Eagles choosing to "drop everything and read" (DEAR)
- Writer's Workshop and peer-reviewed writing
- Apprenticeships in upper studios
#6: Eagles "Learning to Be"
- Character Call-Outs
- Servant Leader Badges or another way to intentionally develop heroic habits
- Squad Leaders or Running Partners/Teams
- Collaboration Cards or another system for purposeful collaboration
- 360 Peer Reviews or another system for feedback on Eagle's warm-hearted and tough-minded character development
#7: Socratic Guiding
- Guides only respond to questions with another question or a choice
- The flow of the studio doesn't revolve around the Guide; Eagles don't look to Guides as their primary help
- Guide could disappear for extended periods of time and nothing would change
- Studio isn't organized around a teacher desk
- No lecturing, shaming, grades, Fixed mindset language, or announcements in front of studio
#8: Language the affirms the method
- Young people referred to as "Eagles", "Heros", or "Learners" and not as "students", "kids", "boys & girls" or any other form of the diminutive
- Adults referred to as "Guides" not "teachers"
- No reference to grade levels ("fifth grade")
- "Learning" instead of "teaching"
The School Universe: Where Acton Fits In
There are many different types of schools, each with its own advantages and challenges.
Below is a simplified framework for understanding the broad categories of schools that exist currently. This framework is by no means comprehensive and the options you have available to you may vary depending on your geographical location. Think of this as a starting point as you begin to understand and navigate your educational options.
* Traditional Learning Measurements include things like: Grades, Progress Reports, Report Cards, Standardized Tests, etc.
Additional Enrollment + Tuition Information
Year-round Schedule
We follow a “year-round” school schedule that consists of a series of 6-week “Sessions”. So rather than having one large multi-month break in the summer, we have week-long breaks throughout the year and a shortened Summer Break.
Rolling Enrollment
Because of this, we have a “rolling” enrollment process that enables us to consider applications submitted at any time during the year. Once accepted, your learner can start at the beginning of any Session scheduled throughout the year.
Tuition
There is a one-time enrollment fee of $1,000 due upon acceptance to secure your spot. Tuition is set at $1,175 per month for 11 months ($12,900 per year). Sibling and Annual Prepay discounts are available.
