Frequently Asked Questions

How is Acton Academy ABQ affiliated with Acton Academy?

Acton Academy ABQ is part of the network of over 300 Acton Academies around the world. We follow the same Learning Design (curriculum) and learning model as the other members of the network.

What grades do you offer?

Acton Academy Albuquerque currently offers Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Where is your school located?

Acton Academy ABQ is located at 3100 Menaul Blvd NE, in Albuquerque. We are near the intersection of Menaul and Carlisle.

How long is Acton Albuquerque in session each year and what is the school calendar?

We typically start school in the second half of August and are finished before the end of June. As with most schools, we are in session at least 180 days a year and have breaks approximately every 6 weeks Our flexible learner-driven program allows families to travel together anytime without significant disruption.

Find our school calendar here: Calendar

What is your tuition?

Annual tuition for all studios during the 2023-2024 school year is $10,450. In addition, a non-refundable registration deposit of $500 is due upon enrollment. Sibling discount of 20% is provided for each additional student from the same family. Limited need based financial aid (up to 50% of tuition) is available for qualifying families.

Do you enroll students mid-year?

We do occasionally enroll students mid-year depending upon available space and whether we determine the student is capable of thriving.

Is the Acton Academy a Montessori school?

We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy (especially the Spark Studio), but we are not a Montessori school. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands-on projects, and the Socratic Method for discussions.

Is Acton Academy ABQ a religious school?

Acton Academy Albuquerque is staffed by Christians who are asked to sign a basic statement of faith. This is not asked of our students or families. Matters of faith and belief may be discussed by students or in Socratic sessions, it is not a forbidden subject. We believe that respectfully hearing and discussing many points of view is a part of the learning process. Specific doctrinal or religious teaching is left to individual families.

Who was Lord Acton?

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." At the ActonAcademy, we celebrate his defense of economic, political and religious freedom

What do you mean by a hero's journey?

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.

What is an "independent learner"?

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 — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.

Does Acton Academy ABQ serve special needs children?

We are not able to serve children with serious learning challenges. However, we have been able to serve some learners in cooperation with outside resources on a case-by-case basis.

Will children be grouped into grades?

We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.

What is a “learner driven classroom”?

At Acton ABQ, the students run the Studio (classroom) by agreeing together what their rules are for behavior and treatment of one another. These are called their “Studio Covenants” and “Rules of Engagement”. These rules and covenants are prominently displayed in the studio and often revisited as learners work through challenges and discover better ways of interacting with one another. Students also budget their time and choose their areas of focus for certain portions of the day. We believe strongly that students achieve more when they have control of their learning.

Why a learner driven classroom?

At Acton Albuquerque, 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

How do you use technology in the classroom without students having too much screen time?

At Acton ABQ, 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. It should be noted that there is no use of individual technology in the Spark Studio (ages 4-7) and limited use in the Elementary Studio (ages 6-12)