How is Acton Academy Mississauga affiliated with Acton Academy?
Acton Academy Mississauga is part of the network of over 300 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.
What grades do you offer?
We currently operate a Discovery Studio for ages 6 - 11. We are currently accepting auditions for our Sparks Studio (for 4 and 5 year olds), which will open soon. We have plans to soon open a Middle School Studio (11-14), and a Launchpad Studio (14+).
Where is your school located?
We are located at 274 Queen Street South in Streetsville Ontario (inside Streetsville United Church).
How long is the school year?
At our school, the academic year typically runs from September to the end of June. The year is broken down into 5 or 6 week learning arcs, followed by a week of rest (usually aligned with weeks involving statutory holidays).
What is your tuition?
Tuition for the 2024-2025 year is $12,000 per learner, payable in monthly instalments. Please contact us for more information, as well as before/after school and summer break options.
Is the Acton Academy a Montessori school?
We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy 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 Mississauga a religious school?
No it is not. We believe in political and religious freedom and leave it to families to decide what to teach. We are open to Believers, Searchers and Non-Believers alike and expose children to the importance of mindful spirituality. We address historical importance of many religions to the development of our culture.
How is Acton Academy Mississauga different?
Acton Academy Mississauga is turning learning upside down in every sense of the experience. Learners are in control of their environment and of their own learning.
In an Acton studio, you will find:
- No homework
- No teachers lecturing
- No grades
- No tests
- Real world projects and experiments
- Socratic discussions
- Learner self-governance
- A guide, rather than a teacher
- Apprenticeships to gauge interest in aptitudes
- Achievement of badges and portfolios of completed work
Will an Acton education prepare my learner for college or university?
Our promise is to prepare and equip all learners for whatever future they choose. We will support them as they progress on their hero’s journey. You may wish to read more about project-based learning at this link: How my project-based school prepared me for Columbia.
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 Acton Academy, 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 without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.
What do you mean by a "running partner"?
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.
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 learner driven plans, all ages of students work together in groups in each studio.
Does Acton Academy Mississauga serve special needs children?
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.
What do you mean by "every child can change the world"?
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.
Is Acton Academy Mississauga an accredited school?
Acton Academy Mississauga is accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools. Acton Academy Mississauga has been assigned a BSID number by the Ministry of Education in Ontario and is listed as a private school on the Ministry's website.
What is a Guide and what do they do?
Guides are game makers that inspire learners to embark on their hero's journey. They offer real world challenges, tools, processes and frameworks to nurture the learner driven studio. They offer mirrors for learners to be accountable to themselves and to their fellow learners. And guides never answer a question…EVER!
