Frequently Asked Questions

Each family is unique, though there are some similarities we've seen between the families who are happiest and most successful in this model. Check out the list here.

We encourage families to be intentional about their decision to apply to Acton Academy West! Please read our site and other materials, watch the videos, read the books, and participate in a couple events.

Acton Academy West is part of the network of over 200 Acton Academies around the world. We follow the same exact Learning Design (curriculum) and learning model that our owners helped create at the original Acton Academy campus.

Acton Academy West is currently enrolling young learners ages 3 -11 (pre-k through 5th grade) in our two studios. As the group matures, we will grow into middle school and high school studios.

Acton Academy West is located an hour from Zion National Park and some of the most natural beauty in the world, in the heart of St. George, UT.

Acton Academy West begins at 8:30 am each day (drop-off starting at 8:00 am) and finishes at 3:15 pm. We operate on an 11-month calendar, but our flexible program allows families to travel together during the year, without sacrificing any learning.

The school calendar is based on a series of 5- to 6-week project sprints called "Quests", each with a theme – like Rockets, Robots, Medical Biology, or Detective Chemistry. Each Quest is a grand adventure, culminating in a high-stakes public Exhibition for family and friends. Seven 5- to 6-week sessions, followed by 1 to 2 weeks off to refuel and for holidays, make up the school year.”

Our flexible program allows families to travel together throughout the year, without sacrificing any learning.

Please see tuition information here.

Our pre-k "Spark" studio is modeled after the teachings of Maria Montessori. In our Elementary "Discovery" Studio we respect and incorporate Maria Montessori's philosophy, but we are not a Montessori school. In addition to Montessori methods, we use the latest interactive technologies, hands-on projects and the Socratic Method for discussions.

We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.

Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don’t know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.

We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia if they receive special training and believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.

We believe each of our students will find a passion - something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child's eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a Hero's Journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.

Running Partners are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running Partners encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening and providing affirmation.

We believe that children learn best when working with those younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age.

At Acton Academy West we believe in learning to be and learning to do and an important part of this is encouraging kids to take responsibility for their own behavior and hold those around them to a high standard. When something isn’t working, we want our students to work together to solve the problem, not look for an adult to solve it for them. This creates a sense of independence and confidence that will serve them well in all areas of life.

Yes the school is accredited through the International Association of Learner Driven Schools.

At Acton Academy, we believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we are able to 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. The two are highly complementary.