Education Reimagined.

Springfield, Missouri’s only Acton Academy.

 
 
 


Acton Academy Focuses on Self-Directed Core Skills & Real-World Problem Solving in a Collaborative, Student-Led Environment.

 

A Unique Elementary School Studio in Springfield, MO

We are affiliated with the Acton Academy network of learner-driven private schools.

Founded in 2009 as a one-room schoolhouse for the 21st century, Acton draws upon a number of best practices and philosophies from the world of education, leadership, and business and has grown to 250+ locations worldwide.

As the only Acton Academy in Southwest Missouri, we will serve residents of Springfield and Greene County, as well as surrounding areas including Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Rogersville, Fair Grove, & Willard.

During the school day, children are engaged in:

  • Self-directed independent core skills work

  • Socratic discussion

  • Entrepreneurship

  • Financial literacy

  • Experiential learning

Here, learners and their parents embark on a journey to take the chief hand in their own education, develop a love of lifelong learning, and discover their own unique calling which will change the world.

A Day-in-the-Life of an Acton Academy Learner

Learn to Learn

Individualized, self-paced mastery of core skills developed through Socratic discussion.

Learn to Do

Quests rooted in project-based learning, challenging learners in a hands-on environment to foster teamwork, problem-solving and perseverance.

Learn to Be

Education designed with an emphasis upon character growth to equip learners to take responsibility for their education as they become effective critical thinkers.

Learn. Do. Be.

The Acton Academy Learning Model is constructed to foster three educational values: learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.

We believe marking out these values in a child’s life on a daily basis will culminate a sense of confident independence which will serve them well in all areas of their lives.

Our environment is an accelerator for the independent learner who can tackle challenging questions, follow instructions, and solve problems independently.

Young people who are curious, self-motivated, and respectful thrive in our school.

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Our Promise to Your Child

Acton Academy is built upon the mission that every person who enters will discover a calling that will change the world. We promise, through Socratic guiding and experiential learning, you and your child will:

 

  • Each of us has a special calling in life, overcoming tests and trials to discover our purpose. We work to inspire your child to begin his or her own special journey.

  • Learn to be curious, become an independent learner and love life-long learning.

  • Each child possesses precious gifts and we will help instill the dedication it takes to develop those gifts into real talent.

  • We instill not only mastery of skills, but the value of character and virtue in a child’s journey.

  • Children will discover their own gifts, and experience the excellence and wonder of the world around them.

  • Treasure economic, political and religious freedom. Capstone is not affiliated with any particular religion or Christian denomination.

 
 

  • We believe each child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.

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  • We believe in a closely connected family of lifelong learners.

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  • We believe in learning to learn, learning to do and learning to be.

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  • We believe in economic, political and religious freedom.

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What Other Acton Academy Parents Are Saying

"As a parent, I was so grateful to find Heroes Academy. I have watched our child excel academically while she blossoms in her own understanding of what character, integrity and purpose are."

— Kimberly

"Our 8 year old boy who hated all things school now LOVES school and wants it to be a 24 hour school. The love of learning alone is enough to make sending him there worth it, but he is learning so much more than that. The character traits they are building will be more valuable in his life than we could possibly imagine right now."

— Candi

"I have seen so much development in our son, just in the last few months - not just academically, but in the way he responds to adults and even his younger brother. He is also more prone to figure things out on his own rather than coming to me or his mom for everything. We love Acton and love what we are seeing in our son!"

— Anna

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Begin Your Family’s Journey

Find out if Acton Academy is the right fit for your family.

Begin Questionnaire

What is the difference?

Conventional School

Acton Academy

Conventional Classroom Learning Environment

Conventional Schools:

  1. Everyone learns the same information at the same time

  2. One teacher lectures to many students

  3. Teachers assign homework

  4. Students receive letter grades to measure success

  5. School like a factory with bells, shifts, and one-size-fits-all

  6. Rows of desks face a teacher at the blackboard

  7. Memorization of information for test taking

Acton Academy

  1. Young people do challenging work at their own pace

  2. Students engage in peer-to-peer learning with guidance

  3. No assigned homework

  4. Learners work to solve their own problems and govern themselves

  5. School is a journey, with adventure, fellow travelers, guides and challenges

  6. Young people work together and collaborate

  7. Important discussions about becoming a hero and changing the world

FAQs

  • Each family is unique, though there are some similarities we've seen between the families who are happiest and most successful in this model. For more specifics, take a look at the details on our admissions page.

    We encourage Springfield families to be intentional about their decision to apply. Please explore our site, dive into the recommended resources, and attend events as the opportunities arise.

  • Young people who love to learn, are curious, self-motivated, and respectful. Our environment is an accelerator for the independent learner who can tackle challenging questions, follow instructions, and solve problems independently.

  • Our learning environment is a mixed-age studio–a one-room schoolhouse for the 21st century. In addition to individualized curriculum, the young learners work together in groups in order to maximize peer-to-peer mentoring and teaching.

    For Fall 2024, we are enrolling elementary-aged learners. Our vision is for this to become a K-12 school serving all of Springfield, and we’ll add additional studios as this founding group of learners gets older.

  • We will operate on a full-time basis, holding classes Monday through Thursday. Each day will begin at 8:30 and will finish by 3:15 pm. Fridays are for family time or the occasional field trip.

    We will operate on a ten-month calendar; this flexible program allows families to travel together during the year, without sacrificing learning. There are seven, four-to-six week sessions throughout the year. Every new session has its own group of "Quests", each with a theme, like Entrepreneurship, Community Garden, Medical Biology, or Detective Chemistry. Each Quest is a grand adventure, culminating in a high-stakes public exhibition for family, friends, and the community.

Follow Our Journey

 
As a "game-maker in the background" rather than a "sage on a stage," the role of a Capstone: An Acton Academy guide is never front-and-center. Yet, we'd say it's the most essential role in the studio. Much hard work and discipl
Books we love... Spring Edition! Reading is an essential part of a Capstone Hero's journey. Whether seeking out new information, getting lost in a good tale, enjoying a storybook together, or dropping everything to read independently...books are a
At Capstone, Heroes engage in experiential learning expeditions we call Quests. The academic calendar is actually structured around this project-based learning model. A Quest is a five-to-seven week series of challenges connected by a narrative and
After a restful Spring Break, the Capstone Heroes are back in the studio refreshed and ready to roll up their sleeves for their Community Garden Quest! Heroes will become scientists and gardeners for the duration of this exciting six-week project.
If you ask a Capstone Hero, "What grade are you in?" - don't be surprised if you receive an interesting answer! Around here, classrooms are called studios and they're filled with learners of varying ages within a select range. When Heroe
The Capstone Learners invite you to attend their upcoming Session Exhibition: Entrepreneurship! Join us this Saturday, March 25 at the @fmozarks from 8:00AM - 1:00PM for Capstone's Entrepreneurship Exhibition. For the past 5 weeks, the Capstone
Business Community Hero ALERT! We want to thank Elliott, Robinson & Co. @ercpas for being our Entrepreneurship Quest Sponsor! Elliott, Robinson & Co loves and supports entrepreneurs in our community and they have generously supported our y
Capstone Heroes are a few weeks into their Session Five E-Ship Quest - and what an adventure it has been! E-Ship is a game in which the learners seek to find and create a business that is right for them. In an “Entrepreneur-ship,” Heroe
Tomorrow - Saturday, March 4 is Capstone's Coffee Open House! Stop by anytime between 8:30AM and 10:30 AM. Grab a cup of coffee from Sugar Cube - a business owned + operated by one of our very own Capstone Heroes! Embark on a self-directed tour