What if children are far more capable than we’ve ever imagined?
Acton Academy Sioux Falls is an innovative, mixed-age learner-driven school serving ages 4-15.
What Makes Acton Sioux Falls So Different?
Traditional
School
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Learn to Know (memorization and tests)
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Grouped by age/rows of desks
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Authority figures and rules
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One-size-fits-all learning
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Teacher-led instruction
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Grades/report cards
Acton Sioux Falls
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Learn to Be, Learn to Do (Hero's Journey and Quests)
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Mixed-age/work collaboratively
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Self-governance, contracts, and peer accountability
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Mastery learning. Learners in charge of their own learning
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Socratic method guiding (answering questions with a question)
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SMART Goals, Eagle Bucks, Weekly Points, Badges, 360 Peer Reviews, Online Journey Tracker
Our Promises
At Acton Academy Sioux Falls, your child will:
- Begin a Hero's Journey
- Learn to be a curious, independent, lifelong learner
- Discover his or her most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems
- Understand the importance of strong character
- Value a healthy lifestyle of mind and body
- Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on Earth
- Develop a deep respect for economic, political and religious freedoms
The Joy of Learning at Acton
We believe that learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be are far more important than merely learning to know.
Learn to Learn
Socratic Discussions and self-paced challenges equip children to be independent lifelong learners.
Learn to Do
Hands-on Quests for Science, Entrepreneurship and the Arts prepare children for Apprenticeships and real world challenges.
Learn To Be
The Hero’s Journey, relational covenants and real world consequences transform difficult decisions into virtuous habits.
Our Process
The Acton Sioux Falls Process is a proven approach to learning grounded in trusting the human spirit and each child's genius. The tools of this upside-down learning design place children at the center of their learning journey, and parents and families embrace the role of loving supporter (which means guide, mentor, boundary-enforcer, consequence-deliverer).
We operate on an 11-month calendar that allows for our students to have extended breaks throughout the year and maintains their interests and retention by shortening the summer break. Our flexible program allows families to travel together throughout the year, without sacrificing any learning.
