What if children are far more capable than we ever imagined?

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Acton Academy Lakeside is an innovative, accredited, and learner-driven Christian school with three studios:

Spark Studio (ages 4 to 7): full-day and half-day

Exploration Studio (ages 7 to 11)

Middle School (ages 11-14)

Our mission is that each child who enters Acton Academy Lakeside will find a God-given calling that will change the world.

Our students are independent learners who find joy in learning, in a tight knit community in a character-focused environment.

Acton Academy Lakeside is education for the 21st century.

We seek to help bring up the next generation of doers – leaders, creators, innovators, inventors and discoverers.

The world is changing rapidly. Careers that our young learners will do when they enter the real world don’t exist now. Acton Academy helps empower learning for the 21st century with hands-on projects, Socratic discussions, and mastery of core skills. Our learners will be equipped with critical thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, self-awareness, independence, servant leadership, and growth mindset to tackle what lies ahead.

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education

-Einstein

What is magical about Acton Academy Lakeside?

Are you ready to bring a new way of learning to your family?

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Student centered, student led

We believe that young people are capable of far more than they are tasked with today. We empower young people to own their learning. We don’t use high-stakes tests, grades or homework. Instead, we help students set goals, manage their time, and work at their own pace on foundational, core subjects (reading, writing, math) while engaging in real-world projects on science, art, technology, and civilization. This is learning to do, learning to be, and learning to learn, not memorizing facts to pass tests.

hands-on LEARNING with a purpose

People learn best by doing. Every day learners participate in hands-on projects that require creating, creativity, collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking. From launching a startup business, programming a robot, or working in the garden to learning human biology by “diagnosing” a patient and learning marine science by exploring the underwater world like Jacques Cousteau – students are learning real-world skills by doing important projects with a purpose.

guided, not taught

Instead of boring lectures from the front of the classroom, our Guides lead small groups in Socratic discussions, help students set goals, and empower them to discover their own learning path. Using a combination of hands-on learning and technology as a tool, learners can master topics at their own pace. Small groups, caring adults, accountability, and lots of freedom means young people are empowered to learn.

mastery focused

Learners have the opportunity to learn at their own pace, allowing them to excel quickly in areas of strength and to take the time to learn thoroughly before moving on in others. This allows each student to be continually challenged by their work. At Acton Lakeside, we empower students to live meaningful lives by providing an environment where they discover their unique strengths, learn real-world skills, and grow in good character

We are so grateful to have found Acton Academy! Everyone is so supportive and amazing. Our son is thriving and we couldn’t be happier. Watching his growth and confidence develop and having such a tight knit group of friends.

I can see so much growth in him compared to the beginning of the year. My kids are loving learning, playing, and creating daily at Acton! An incredible bonus is that they are making friends that build them up and accept them for who they are and what they are working towards.

My heart is warmed beyond measure for the love and support the guides have shown (name). I just sob with gratitude even writing this. We know he is in the best place possible for him. We are humbled to be a part of this amazing community.

We are grateful for all that you do to create a true learner driven environment for our children. Know that all the preparation and your intentionality as Acton Owners is recognized even if not always acknowledged!

Just wanted to say thanks – our children are mopping the floor of their own volition and said “it’s school at home.” Whatever you all are doing there, please keep it up!

Videos About Acton Philosophy

Acton founder Jeff Sandefer with Dr. Jordan Peterson

TED: Let’s Teach For Mastery — Not Test Scores

A Day in the Life of Acton Students

Your Children Are Schooled to Be Factory Workers

TED: Do schools kill creativy

A MUST Watch Interview With Laura Sandefer

books on acton

Courage to Grow, by Laura Sandefer, co-founder of Acton Academy Austin
Unschooling Rules: 55 Ways to Unlearn What We Know About Schools and Rediscover Education, by Clark Aldrich
The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined, by Sal Khan
Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education, by Sir Ken Robinson
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google that Will Transform How You Live and Lead, by Laszlo Bock, Former Head of People Operations at Google
The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How., by Daniel Coyle

A character-focused education

The young heroes of Acton Academy Lakeside are learning 21st century skills like servant leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, grit and perseverance, critical thinking, and social intelligence. We use Socratic discussions, hands-on projects, and adaptive technology to empower learners to lead their education experience. With a tight-knit community, we realize that each child is brimming with potential, endowed with a unique set of passions, gifts, and interests, and capable of more than we could ever imagine!

We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to right habits, right habits forge character, and character determines destiny. Building character, integrity, and respect is enforced through Socratic discussions, character call-outs, and quests. We focus on inspiring students to develop a sense of personal accountability and standing strong in their convictions even as you respect others around you.

We appreciate the perspective of others and realize that we are stronger as a community. We teach students to lead by listening and loving our neighbors so that now and forever, they can work together with the person beside them.

Empower learning for the 21st century with hands-on projects across STEAM topics, Socratic discussions, and mastery of core skills. Our learners will be equipped with critical thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, self-awareness, independence, servant leadership, and growth mindset to tackle what lies ahead.

There are big challenges in the world that need vision and courage to go after them. Therefore, we encourage our learners to dream big! Every day, week, session, and year involves goal-setting. Through this process learners are equipped to think big and learn how to break bold dreams into incremental SMART goals.

It’s ok to fail (and fail). Everyone fails now and again, and the successful person has the ability to get back up and persevere. Be gritty. Growth mindset praise and an environment that encourages failing forward helps learners realize the path to success can be full of setbacks.

Acton Academy Lakeside is founded by Christian believers and studio Guides sign a statement of faith. Our mission is to help all learners that enter our doors to find their God-given calling that will change the world. Every child has unique passions and talents that they will explore at Acton. We believe each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose rooted in Christ, in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. However, our community embraces learners from all religious backgrounds. We welcome everyone to join Acton Academy Lakeside and treasure diversity of thought and perspectives.

Nourishing our mind, body, and soul through fitness and nutrition will help us realize our full potential. Acton is a junk food free campus, plus we use biophilic design and the latest neuroscience research to optimize spaces and environments for wellbeing. Students will be equipped to cherish the physical world and our life on Earth. We encourage a connection with and reverence for nature with an organic garden and weekly time in nature.