Welcome to a revolutionary, new school!

 

Ignite a passion for learning

It’s time to move beyond industrial age education. Acton Academy is a school designed for learners growing up in the information age.

 
 

  1. Check out our information kit

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2. Watch Disruptive Education: A short documentary on acton

 
 

3. Traditional SCHOOL vs. Acton Approach

TRADITIONAL APPROACH
ACTON ACADEMY APPROACH
WHY THIS WORKS
Grade levels
Mixed Age
Older and younger learners work collaboratively.
Fosters a growth mindset for younger learners; Allows older learners to practice leadership skills; All learners can move to bigger challenges whenever they’re ready.
Academic Grades, Tests and Quizzes
Mastery
Learners move at their own pace as they master skills.
Ability to learn at his/her own pace. Complete a unit, lesson, or even grade level and move up when you're ready. We don't punish failure. We think it's key to success!
Excessive homework
No homework
None, nada, never.
Forced homework = loss of joy for learning; Instead, learners can use the time to pursue their own passion.
Teacher Led Lectures
Socratic Discussions
Guides don't lecture or answer questions!
Guides focus on fostering discussion that leads to critical thinking and learners discover knowledge themselves and develop a life-long love for learning.
One-size fits all curriculum
Individual Learning Plans For EACH Learner
Learners set their own goals, work at their own pace (e.g., They can move ahead in certain math topics while taking longer on others)

4. GET INSPIRED WITH MORE Information

Videos about Acton

Research behind the Acton Academy Principles

 

Acton in the news

Book Reading List for Parents

 

Laura Sandefer’s Blog

Order a copy of Courage to Grow

5. Take the Next Steps

6. Message from our family to yours

Have you ever questioned the education system?

We did too.

A simple search revealed school rankings rely on standardized test scores, so we dove deep—reading books, watching TED Talks, and connecting with educators. The consensus? The current system is outdated and needs a fundamental shift.

Then we discovered Courage to Grow, the story of Acton Academy. Inspired, we visited the Austin campus and saw something extraordinary: a joyful, student-driven community where learners thrived.

We knew we had to bring it to Columbus—for our daughter and others. In August 2021, Acton Academy Columbus was born. Today, our young heroes at Acton are developing into curious, independent learners who find great joy in creating, learning, and collaborating in a tight knit community.

If you believe education should be joyful and meaningful, join us on this life-changing journey.

—Varun, Nadia, and Zuvi