Frequently Asked Questions

Our studios operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A typical daily schedule:

• 8:00 am — drop off
• 8:30 am — Socratic discussion
• 8:45 am — hands-on projects (Quest) or writer's workshops
• 10:15 am — debrief (share work and lessons learned)
• 10:30 am — DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)
• 11:00 am — recess
• 11:30 am — lunch
• 12:00 pm — Socratic discussion
• 12:15 pm — silent core skills
• 2:30 pm — studio maintenance
• 2:50 pm — closing reflection
• 3:00 pm — school pickup

We do not currently offer after-school care, transportation, or hybrid/part-time options. Consistent, full-day participation is essential for the collaborative, Socratic experience.

You can view our annual calendar at calendar.actonacademynb.com.

Our schedule differs from the Broward County calendar. We include frequent breaks throughout the year, allowing families to enjoy vacations and rest during off-peak times. We do not offer camps during these breaks — please review the calendar to ensure it aligns with your family's needs.

We welcome students ages 5–18 across our four multi-age studios — Ignite, Discovery, Explore, and Adventure. Placement is based on readiness, and older learners (middle and high school) include a family interview as part of enrollment.

We believe children learn best in a multi-age environment, rather than age-based grade levels. Our learners are generally grouped from 5–7, 8–11, 12–14, and 15–18 (TBD by assessment). Students work through subject mastery in their individualized curriculum, at their own pace.

Learners who thrive are curious, self-motivated, and open to taking ownership of their education. They enjoy hands-on, project-based learning and are willing to set goals, reflect on their progress, and embrace challenges. They value freedom within structure.

Learners who may not thrive are those who struggle with self-direction, need constant supervision, prefer traditional teacher-led classrooms, or need a lot of external motivation.

We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities. The self-paced, learner-driven environment can be challenging for ADHD learners who rely on structured guidance, consistent routines, or constant supervision. Acton does not offer specialized support services such as IEPs or tailored interventions.

Families should carefully consider whether their child can thrive in a model that requires independence and self-direction.

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 their special journey.

We believe in encouraging students 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.

We believe in the power of balance. Using incredible, self-paced e-Learning tools, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. This amounts to on average 45–60 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. The two are highly complementary.

Yes. We are accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools (IALDS). Acton courses and schools are also approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Students set daily, weekly, and session goals in our online system — Journey Tracker. Journey Tracker provides real-time progress data, which we use to identify areas of struggle and close any learning gaps. Students do not move past a skill until achieving mastery. Each student also manages an individual portfolio to showcase their best work.

For learners ages 5–7 using Montessori tools, progress tracking is simple and hands-on: personalized work plans, Montessori tools, guided reflection, and visual progress charts.

While not a Montessori school, 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. We also incorporate 21st-century e-learning tools, hands-on projects, and the Socratic method for meaningful discussions.

For ages 5–7, we integrate Montessori methods with hands-on materials, independence, and self-paced learning.

Acton is not a religious-based school. We honor and respect all religions and the right of every family to practice their faith. We believe teaching religious beliefs is a personal decision best guided by each family. While religion may be explored in the context of history and civilization studies, it is not a formal part of the Acton educational model.

Acton Academy North Broward is an independent school and member of the Acton Academy Affiliate Network, which finds its inspiration from the founding Acton Academy in Austin, Texas. The network maintains active collaboration toward constantly evolving best practices. The original founders are on our board of advisors.

Although we do not currently offer organized team sports, many of our students participate in city leagues, and all are applicable to try out for local school teams via "Tim Tebow laws." Families should contact their local school district or athletic department for eligibility requirements.

Our namesake, Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834–1902), was a Victorian scholar of Freedom who saw liberty not as a license, but as the freedom to do what was right. He was suspicious of power for the sake of power, which led to his most famous quote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." We celebrate his defense of economic, political, and religious freedom.