Frequently Asked Questions
Annual tuition, regardless of age: $9,500
- Many families choose to pay this in ten monthly installments.
- Each sibling receives $500 off their yearly tuition (we LOVE families!)
- Tuition may be adjusted annually for inflation and availability.
Annual Enrollment Fees for the upcoming year:
| Time Period | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-March | $500 | Regularly $997, with $497 available in earned discounts |
| April-June | $600 | Regularly $997, with $397 available in earned discounts |
| July-December | $997 | $997 (no discounts) |
Nope, not really! There are some additional costs to take into account, however, as your family is responsible to provide and manage the following:
- Chromebook + headphones (8+ years old)
- Healthy Lunch
- Healthy snacks
- Water bottle
- Transportation
Occasionally parents may need to send $5-15 for unplanned field trips or studio celebrations.
We currently have three locations serving the North Houston area:
Woodlands/Magnolia
33227 Forest West St.
Magnolia, TX 77354
Now serving ages: 5-18
Creekside/Tomball
8202 Creekside Timbers Dr.
Tomball, TX 77375
Now serving ages: 5-16
Klein/Champions
4820 Strack Rd.
Houston, TX 77069
Opening Fall 2025, ages 5-12
To find a sister Acton Affiliate Community in your area, see actonacademy.org.
Or… you can move here! We love our growing global community, as many families have relocated to join our ALA community.
- Weekly Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:15-3:15)
- Before and after school care is not currently available, but may be offered in the future.
- Annual Calendar: Mid-August- End of May
- NOTE: We take a week off every six weeks (each six weeks in school is called a 'session')
- Sample Calendar: a 2024-2025 ALA Calendar
- Summer sessions may be offered in the future
- Acton Academy graduates are welcomed into colleges all over the world based on their excellence in character, leadership, and academics.
- All of our ALA graduates (who have chosen a college path) have been accepted to the school of their choice.
- Some heroes have taken the initiative to apply for leadership and/or academic scholarships and have received scholarship awards.
The key distinctive feature of an Acton Education is called the Next Great Adventure (NGA) Experience, which happens during a learner's final years of high school. Here are some of the opportunities available through the Acton NGA:
- PLAN FOR SUCCESS: Create a realistic, after-high-school success plan
- APPRENTICESHIPS: Complete hundreds of Industry-specific & career-focused apprenticeships with masters in your field of interest
- INTERVIEWS: Interview people you admire and learn from their life experiences.
- SKILL-BASED FOCUS: Practice and refine skills that are valuable in 'real-world' work and life environments.
- MASTER COMMUNICATION & FOLLOW-THROUGH by participating in a formal speech exhibition and managing your own schedule, work, and professional appointments
Yes! ALA graduates have a special ceremony, receive distinguished awards, and have a complete high school transcript available as they head out to make a difference in the world.
Yes! All of the NGA experiences are available in addition to the learning that is offered in a traditional school setting. Remember, academic learning looks different at Acton but covers the subjects found in a conventional school.
Generally, our Acton learning environments have between 17-23 learners, overseen by an adult guide. Younger ages generally have an additional full-time or part-time guide.
The adults that work in an Acton Learning Environment may look like they are taking on the role of a traditional teacher, but the role of a Socratic Guide at Acton is distinct:
- The goal of a Guide is to help learners develop critical thinking and leadership skills by guiding them to discover answers and solutions on their own.
- They act as mentors, motivators, and facilitators, encouraging learners to take ownership of their learning journey.
Key responsibilities of a Guide include:
- Asking thought-provoking questions rather than providing answers.
- Supporting learners in setting and achieving personal and learning goals.
- Creating a learner-driven environment where learners are responsible for their progress.
- Encouraging collaboration, problem-solving, and independent thinking.
Acton Leadership Academy is best suited for learners who thrive in a learner-driven environment, where they take responsibility for their own education and set personal goals. It's ideal for families who want their children to develop independence, critical thinking, and leadership skills, rather than following a traditional, teacher-led curriculum.
...AND...
we see each of these as areas to be improved upon over a lifetime of learning. If your child doesn't already have these skills (many of us adults are still working on them!) it DOES NOT mean that your child can not bring the skills they already have and begin to develop these other skill at Acton Leadership Academy. The most important characteristic of the learners who thrive at Acton is their willingness to work hard, grow through failure and keep trying.
No, Acton Leadership Academy is not exclusively for gifted children. It serves a wide range of learners who are motivated to learn and grow. The model is flexible and personalized, allowing learners to work at their own pace, whether they are ahead or need more time in certain areas.
We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities or differences but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia (or other differences) if they receive additional out-of-school support and have parents who are content to be patient with their academic growth. We believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.
If your child is behind in a particular subject, the Acton mode can often allow them to work where they are actually at, with the emphasis on learning well and moving forward from there. Math is especially adaptable, however reading proficiency becomes increasingly important as learners progress into middle school.
Each studio (grouped by age, not by grade) has a very unique approach to learning that is designed specifically for that age group.
- Discovery (Foundation Studio): Ages 5-8
- Voyager (Love of Learning): Ages 8-11
- Navigation (Deep Study): Ages 12-15
- Launchpad (Applied Learning): Ages 15-18
If your child's age indicates that they can be in either studio, we will assess their needs more fully once you complete your visit and audition. Learners can transition to an older studio during the middle of the year if they complete all of the necessary requirements and leadership skills.
Like everything we do, we take a non-traditional approach to grading. Instead of using conventional letter grades, we focus on mastery-based learning and personalized feedback. Here's a general overview of how we assess learner progress:
- Mastery-Based Learning: learners advance by demonstrating mastery of specific skills or concepts rather than based on age or time spent in class. They work at their own pace, and once they have proven they understand a concept deeply, they move on to the next challenge.
- Badges: learners earn badges as they complete different levels of work in core subjects like math, reading, and writing. These badges represent mastery of certain skills and become part of a digital portfolio, replacing traditional report cards.
- Peer and Self-Assessments: learners participate in regular self-assessments and peer reviews. They reflect on their progress, set personal goals, and evaluate each other's work, fostering a sense of accountability and collaboration.
- Exhibitions: Instead of final exams, learners prepare for exhibitions where they present projects and demonstrate their learning to an audience of parents, peers, and mentors.
Our approach encourages self-directed learning, critical thinking, and long-term mastery rather than short-term performance focused on grades.
At Acton Leadership Academy, we believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we can provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar in about 90 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning and outdoor time. These elements are highly complementary.
Additionally, we feel that we are partners with parents who also work to help their children develop balance in every aspect of life, including how they utilize technology.
We encourage the following framework for technology at home and at school:
Technology Is Intended To:
- Be used as a tool, NOT a toy
- Be used to create, NOT consume
NOTE: We are a videogame-free and YouTube (for entertainment) free campus.
Generally speaking, Acton Academy may not work for families who prefer a more traditional, structured educational environment and who expect to see clear markers and measurements common in defining academic "success" and/or "failure."
For example, Acton Leadership Academy may not suit parents who expect:
- Standardized Curriculum: Those who prioritize a conventional curriculum with strict grade levels, frequent testing, and teacher-led instruction may not be comfortable with Acton's learner-driven approach.
- Daily Homework and Grades: Families expecting regular homework, traditional grading, and standardized assessments may find Acton's mastery-based, no-grade system unconventional or insufficient.
- Passive Learning: Students who are used to or prefer passive learning (e.g., lectures, rote memorization, worksheets) might struggle in an environment that emphasizes self-direction, inquiry-based learning, and active participation.
- Strong Focus on Competitive Sports or Extracurriculars: Families that value robust competitive sports programs or a wide range of extracurricular activities might find Acton's offerings limited compared to traditional schools.
- Strict Discipline and High Structure: Parents looking for rigid discipline, highly structured environments, or more direct adult supervision may find Acton's model too flexible and open-ended.
- Learning differences and special needs: Some learning different children may not thrive at Acton, as traditional environments offer a wide range of resources and accommodations for learning differences. Acton does not offer IEPs in the traditional sense, even though each learner's plan can vary and be customized in some ways.
- High exposure to video games, screen time, and social media: These passive forms of entertainment may impact a learner's ability to thrive at Acton Leadership Academy.
- A "drop off" solution to school and growth: The Acton Learning journey is a Family Journey. Our community of intentional parents commit to working on personal and family growth as a part of their ongoing life journey. Together, we complete parent badges and work to continue our own learning journey as a model for our children of lifelong growth.
Yes, the school is accredited by the International Association of Learner Driven Schools.
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Preparation: Continue to learn about the Acton Academy Philosophy. Here is a link to some great resources and our parent Toolbox to help you decide if Acton could be the exciting learning adventure you family has been searching for.
Learn More -
Step 1:
Schedule a visit! Come and see us at one of our locations to get a feel for our culture and environment.
Schedule a School Tour - Step 2: While you wait for your visit day, you can continue with your online audition interview. This is designed to help you decide if our philosophy is right for your family.
Don't see your question?
Don't worry! Get in touch.