We operate on a ten-month calendar, comprised of 5-6 sessions followed by one week “rest” breaks. The yearly calendar works with the natural ebb and flow of mental and physical energy required for learning, with giving time to rest after working hard. Our calendar also allows families to travel together during the year, without sacrificing any learning. We do not take attendance, and your child will be excused from school at any time, with the exception of the week before and the week of our exhibitions. 2026-2027 Calendar

The annual tuition ranges from $12,440 to $14,306. The registration fee is $350. For more information related to payments, please read our 2026-2027 Tuition Agreement.

While the schedule varies slightly each week depending on Quest activities, mentor visits, and special projects, each day begins with a Socratic discusssion and goal setting, followed by 2 hours of core skill work before lunch. After lunch and free time, learners begin their afternoon with a Socratic discussion followed by either Quest, Civilization, P.E., Art, or Grow Curiosity. Each day ends with the learners reflecting on their day, cleaning up the studio, and Character Call Outs – a tradition where the learners provide positive feedback to each other.

Although there is no way to guarantee our learning environment best suits your child until your child spends time in the studio, we do our best to educate families during the audition process, so you can make an educated decision. We also schedule trial days and view the first 6 weeks as a probationary period, since it takes time to acclimate to a learner-driven studio.

We serve learners ages 5-12 years old between the Spark studio (ages 5-8) and the Discovery studio (ages 8-12).

What is the difference between the Spark and Discovery studios?

The Acton model was not designed for younger learners, so we describe the learning as a hybrid between Montessori and play-based learning, with exposure to Acton themes, tools, and systems. The Discovery studio is a pure Acton-model studio which requires self-led learning, Socratic guiding, and the beginning of the learner’s Hero’s Journey. 

Yes, Acton Academy Frisco is accredited by the International Association of Learner Driven Schools, which is recognized by the Texas Education Agency.

Due to our use of Socratic guiding and the independence required to self-direct in the studio, learners who are capable of “learning to learn” without direct instruction tend to thrive in our environment. If your child needs one-on-one attention, additional support, such as therapeutic or special education programs, we are happy to connect you with more suitable learning environment options.  

Because our model is mixed-age and self-directed, fit is essential. Our audition process helps us partner with families to determine if a learner will thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Historically, we have used Khan Academy, Beast Academy and Montessori Math for Math, Lexia Core 5 for reading and grammar, Spelling Safari for spelling, and Typing Club for typing. Each summer we reevaluate the programs we use and look for new offerings for learners to test.

To keep our children safe, each family must agree to the requirements in our Technology Agreement, which outlines the technology setup and use of technology in the studio.

Each learner must bring a charged laptop, headsets, and charger to the studio and abide by the technology guardrails. 

What opportunities are there to learn outside of technology?

Balancing screen time with experiential learning and tactile learning is a priority. Learners will read books, practice handwriting and journaling, use flashcards and workbooks, Montessori tools, and mentoring or collaborating with peers. In addition, our quests rely on hands-on projects to keep learners engaged. 

Spark learners (ages 5-7) use a paper checklist to track their progress. Discovery learners (ages 7-12) use “Journey Tracker” an online platform designed specifically for Acton Academy where learners not only track their progress, but also set S.M.A.R.T. goals, submit work, provide peer reviews, access studio announcements, and receive 360 reviews.

Similar to Montessori studios, our learners benefit from a mixed-age studio and work in a variety of grade levels due to our self-paced program. We use “levels” to identify where a learner is within a program to use as a reference point.

Our commitment to serving our families begins with receiving transparent feedback. Each quarter we survey both parent and learner to rate us on how well we accomplish our goals and live up to our promises. We share these results with the community. These surveys are our most important metric to measure the success of the learning community.

Our goal at Acton Academy is to inspire and equip our students for any endeavor they choose to pursue after high school, whether it be starting their own enterprise, seeking employment, or attending any selective university. It is our belief that developing self-discipline, independence, and grit are important character traits for a successful learning experience in college. With respect to the admissions process, we can only imagine what it will look like in the future. Our heroes will graduate with a transcript, GPA demonstrating mastery, and a digital portfolio that will reflect their diverse learning experience, including their development in creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, passion projects, written works, presentations, 360 peer reviews, leadership, and problem-solving experience. Finally, they will graduate with our Launchpad’s exclusive “Next Great Adventure” project which represents 2 years worth of work, apprenticeships, self-discovery, mentorships, deliberate practice in a skill required for their project, entrepreneurship, and any licenses or credentials obtained.