Acton Academy Charleston

How do children teach one another in a learner-driven environment? Well, some of it comes from a natural human desire to make friends and help others. At Acton Academy Charleston we spend a great deal of time on team-building activities - especially at the start of the school year. We also model ways that our learners can collaborate and provide opportunities for them to support each other every week. Acton Academy is the school you wish you went to!

We are a community of learners who support one another on our Hero’s Journeys. Imagine a school where you can find a calling and change the world: Acton Academy Charleston! AAC is a K-12 school currently offering rolling enrollment for children ages 5-11.

What’s special about Acton Academy Charleston? We believe that children are capable individuals who can teach one another new skills. We also believe that interest in a subject is more important for mastery than a random age or class level expectation. How do you explore new ideas and acquire skills? Our learners challenge themselves each day while having fun with friends!

Everyone needs to practice their skills in order to improve. Our Guides model this truth by working on personal and professional projects throughout the year- even over the summer. Some of our learners recently volunteered their time to enable our Guides to hone their skills by working with actual Eagles ( a nickname for the children at Acton Academy Charleston).

Thank you, learners, for your kindness, patience and generosity !

Visit www.actonacademycharleston.org to find out more.

Ok, it’s only July but we are already excited for the next Acton school year starting in August! We are building furniture and practicing our Guide skills. Our new Discover Studio is slowly being transformed for our lower elementary learners. Interested in a one-room schoolhouse for the 21st century? Schedule your tour today: [email protected].

Do you want your daughter to thrive? Girls often adapt more easily to a traditional learning environment, but don’t they deserve the same growth opportunities as boys? Imagine a school that equips all learners with reasoning skills through Socratic discussions, self-direction through setting short and long-term academic goals, responsibility through maintaining our learning space, and consequences by holding one another accountable. Acton Academy Charleston offers an environment where your daughter or son can practice growth mindset and learn from mistakes. If you want your child to learn to be, learn to learn and learn to do then contact us today to set up a tour! (843) 960-2803. www.actonacademycharleston.org.

Are you looking for a different kind of schooling? We just wrapped up 2023-24 and are still accepting applications for next year, K-5! We have open spots for 3 boys and 4 girls in our two multi-age studios.

From the owner, Pam Coleman: Acton Academy Charleston is my passion project. I opened the school for my grandchildren and for families in Charleston who are looking for transformational learning, families who want their children to find a calling and change the world. Since so many parents are having to make difficult spending choices in this inflationary economy, I have made the decision to decrease the cost of tuition. If you want your children to experience learner-driven education, we want to help your family to join the Acton tribe of lifelong learners despite current economic circumstances.

Contact us to set up your tour soon! www.actonacademycharleston.org

This post is for families of elementary school age children and for members of our community who believe that children should be encouraged to make discoveries, grow their curiosity, have adventures, find joy in a variety of ways, and practice being heroes.

My name is Pam Coleman and I founded Acton Academy Charleston for the families in our community who who believe that children are far more capable than they are given credit for today. Should small humans spend their school days stuck at a desk waiting for a bell to ring? I certainly didn’t want that kind of schooling for my granddaughter and I know that many other families would agree.

How do I know that children can thrive at an Acton Academy? Well, there are more than 300 schools that are Acton Academy Affiliates around the world. Entrepreneurs like Seth Godin endorse the Acton model. In a Jordan Peterson podcast last year the esteemed psychologist and author spoke with Acton Academy founder Jeff Sandefer about their shared vision for education and how Acton Academy embodies their ideals of self-directed learning, character development, and real-world skills.

Over this past year I have seen for myself that children really can teach and motivate themselves at Acton. They can lead and participate in deep discussions- even at 5 or 6 years old!

Our Discover Studio, which is a K-2 group, enjoys art, music, yoga, and cultural studies in addition to core skills and lots of free play time. They can now set their own goals for math, reading, and writing. They lead group discussions and can regulate themselves within a daily schedule. Truly, these young people are on a Hero’s Journey. Can you imagine what they will be capable of 10 years from now?

Are you looking for a school where your child can thrive? Acton Academy Charleston offers Education Reimagined! We are growing until we can serve learners in K-12. We are currently accepting applications for K-5. Contact us at [email protected] to get your free Information Kit and to schedule a Tour!

We are growing! Is your family looking for a K-5 school where children learn at their own pace and where both excellence and joy are integrated into each day? Email us at [email protected] to request your FREE Information Kit and to schedule a tour.

What is school for? Acton Academy Charleston is where children learn how to be a good friend.

What is school for? Do you want your child to be exactly like every other child at school?
At Acton Academy Charleston we value each human as a unique individual. We encourage children to to be leaders and to find what makes them special.

Come and tour Acton Academy Charleston to find out how our learners practice being a good friend and a careful listener. Critical thinking and kindness are part of our curriculum from elementary school up through high school graduation!
www.actonacademy.org

We support businesses that help children pursue their passions!

Meet our Sponsor of the Month: Acton Academy Charleston!

Are you looking for a school where joy in learning is more important than tests and grades? Then check out Acton Academy Charleston, now accepting applications for 2024-25.

At Acton Academy Charleston improvement is praised, which leads to an appreciation of excellence from within. Using trial and error experimentation includes experiencing the joys and fallouts of the learning process.

Schedule a Tour or request an Information Kit to discover more about a learner driven approach. Call or text (843) 960-2803 or email [email protected] and let them know when your family would like to visit! Could the Hero’s Journey for your family include Acton Academy Charleston?

“I tried to teach my child with books,
he gave me only puzzled looks.
I tried to teach my child with words,
they passed by him often unheard.
Despairingly, I turned aside,
‘How shall I teach this child,’ I cried?
Into my hand he put the key,
‘Come,’ he said, ‘play with me.’”
– Anonymous

Imagination, play, games and creativity are all all integrated into the day at Acton Academy Charleston. Visit www.actonacademycharleston.org to request your free Information Kit and to schedule a Tour!

Do you have a curious child who no longer enjoys going to school? Are you tired of the tests, endless homework assignments and your child being told that she or he isn’t good enough?

At Acton Academy Charleston we believe that everyone deserves to learn in an environment that brings joy. Our learners set their own goals and are inspired by games, peer learning, and real world projects. They work hard during the day, so we don’t assign homework. These are some of the elements that make Acton Academy Charleston unique.

Request our free Information Kit today and then schedule a tour! We are currently accepting applications for learners ages 5-10. www.actonacademycharleston.org

Every Friday afternoon our learners choose group games to play so they can have fun while practicing teamwork. Don’t you wish your school had emphasized strategic thinking over memorizing soon-to-be-forgotten “facts” for tests?

“TELL ME AND I FORGET, TEACH ME AND I MAY REMEMBER, INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN.” -Benjamin Franklin

Text 843-960-2803 to set up your tour of Acton Academy Charleston today!

Our learners are enjoying their cultural study of Peru this session. Whenever possible, we offer hands-on, multi-sensory experiences related to the topic under exploration. Soon our Eagles will be using their new maracas to practice rhythms during music!

Imagine a school where you get to work with your friends to learn and practice skills each day, instead of competing for grades…visit the Acton Academy Charleston website to find out more!

Acton Academy Charleston, a learner-driven school in West Ashley, is now enrolling K-5! Request your FREE Information Kit at www.actonacademycharleston.org. We have adaptive learning, Socratic discussions, and practice real-world skills. Find out if we are a fit for your family’s education journey.

At Acton Academy Charleston we want children to enjoy learning. They have many opportunities to physically move around the school over the course of the day, which helps them focus when they do need to sit and concentrate on core skills. After school, our learners have time for family or to pursue their special interests - we don’t give homework !

How much time do you spend reading a book each week (paper or electronic)? I found one study that says the average American reads for only about 15 minutes a day on weekdays, 18 minutes on weekends. We believe that children should develop the habit of reading for pleasure and interest at an early age. Every day our learners explore books on their own and/or listen to stories. They even read with partners!

Do you remember the first time you shared a dorm room or apartment with people who knew nothing about organization, hygiene or how to clean? At Acton Academy Charleston our learners practice the skills that they will need in life in addition to individualized core skills such as math and reading. Come take a tour at our innovative school in West Ashley to learn more!
www.actonacademycharleston.org

Our Acton Academy Charleston tribe of learners loves outdoor play. They build homes from natural materials, examine ladybugs, and create all kinds of games from their imaginations. Thank you for our play structure, Just for fun Playgrounds!