We will launch with an Elementary and Sparks Studio if we have enough interest. After the ES and Sparks Studio are established, we will grow to meet the learners’ needs, launching a Middle School and High School as learners need them. Learn more about our studios here.

Learn more about tuition and fees here.

Acton Academy Blue Ridge is not a Montessori school but we use the best of Montessori methods: mixed-age classrooms, student choice within limits, large blocks of work time, learning through “discovery,” and freedom of movement in the classroom. Then we go two important steps further by using the best 21st century eLearning tools and adhering to the Socratic method of instruction which emphasizes asking and answering the right questions to stimulate critical thinking. Our students don’t just memorize facts, they learn how to learn, learn how to do, and learn how to be.

Attending an Acton Academy is not just a new path for the learner but for the learner’s family, as well. The Acton mindset is one of open-mindedness, fearlessness, and the ability to own failures and celebrate successes. As an Acton parent, each academic year, you will be required to attend approximately four parents’ nights and two Journey Meetings with your child; you will also be invited to attend each session’s last-day exhibition. 

Students 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. Learn more about what types of families are the best fit here.

We begin each year on the Tuesday after Labor Day and run through the middle of July. The school calendar is based on a series of 4 to 6-week project sprints called “Quests,” each followed by a weeklong break to refuel and for holidays. These quests are a grand adventure based on a theme – like Rockets or Detective Chemistry – and culminate in a public exhibition for family and friends.

Each day begins at 8:30 am (drop-off starting at 8:00 am) and ends at 3:15 pm.

• Mornings are reserved for Core Skills
• Afternoons are for hands-on Quest projects in the shoes of a real-life hero
• 15-minute Socratic discussions bookend the work periods and provide a time to reflect, think deeply, and bond as a group
• Plenty of time is open for free play and exercise throughout the day
• Learn more about the daily schedule here.

We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities or those who need specialized attention. However, some young people who experience ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and some minor forms of autism have thrived in an Acton environment. If you believe Acton Academy Blue Ridge may be a great fit for your family, please inquire and we will personally assess together your unique situation.

Although we don’t have grade levels, each learner’s core curriculum work is tracked, managed, and saved.  All of this work translates into a transcript, which we are always able to provide you.

We measure learner progress in several different ways:

1. Learners set Daily, Weekly, and Session goals for which they are accountable.
2. Robust real-time data from our online learning tools is available for both parents and guides to find out exactly what students are learning and where they may be struggling and need guidance. Students do not advance in a topic until they have shown mastery.
3. Learners each have a paper portfolio to showcase their best work.
4. Although we never “teach to the test,” standardized tests are given each Fall and Spring to provide benchmark data.

At Acton Academy Blue Ridge, 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 two hours each day in the Elementary Studio. This frees up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. There is even less use of individual technology in the Spark Studio.