Acton Academy Twin Falls - Twin Falls, Idaho

Andrea T.

We highly recommend Acton Academy in Twin Falls. The philosophy is refreshingly unique, and we would love to see other like-minded families join us here.

We have a very strong opinion on the public school system, which we feel is severely broken in today's world. Our experience with public school, where we enrolled our son for three years (K-2), left us deeply concerned. While many teachers are wonderful and passionate, there are many aspects that don't allow children to thrive. Our son was coming home each day, hating the 6+ hours he spent in the classroom and associating that with hating learning. Which is why we went on the hunt for something different.

With a strong and passionate fire lit under us to provide better, we found Acton Academy. By comparison to public school and in his own words, "At Acton, we are like flowers in a garden bed. At public school, we are like weeds in a graveyard." To understand what he means, you need to know a little bit about the philosophy at Acton Academy.

Acton Academy is not just a different school; it's a revolutionary approach to learning. It focuses on cultivating curiosity, building character, and developing real-world skills. At Acton, learning is about discovering the "Hero's Journey" – the unique path of self-discovery and growth that each individual embarks upon. This journey teaches valuable life lessons and fosters a deep understanding of oneself and the world.

While core subjects like reading, writing, and math are essential, they are not taught in a traditional, rigid manner. Instead, "Heroes" (students) use a variety of educational tools to master these subjects at their own pace. This learner-driven approach empowers students to understand concepts deeply before moving on and instills valuable self-motivation and goal-setting skills.

The traditional education system seemed to stifle our son's creativity and erode his self-confidence. The lack of focus on physical well-being, time to play and get outdoors, and having to be on the same 'conveyor' as everyone in his class made us think the Acton model would be a better fit for him.

Here are a few of the things we absolutely love about the Acton model:

- Mixed ages in the studio and peer-to-peer supported learning - is more realistic to the world. When you teach/help with something, you learn it better yourself.
- Entrepreneurship mindset - whether you are a business owner or an employee, this way of thinking is highly beneficial for allowing you to grow and succeed.
- Socratic method - the idea of teaching Heroes how to actually think, learn, problem-solve, have civil discourse, and communicate are highly beneficial life skills.
- Building character and curiosity is so much more valuable than memorizing facts to test and then forget.

Beyond the model, the Acton Academy in Twin Falls is truly special because of the people. The owners, guides, and families within the community are incredibly supportive and passionate about each child's growth and well-being. The campus itself is inspiring, with ample space to run, climb, and play, with plenty of time dedicated to being outdoors. The inclusion of farm animals provides valuable learning experiences about responsibility and hard work. Alongside Heroes as young as 3 years old in the Sparks' studio and those as old as 15 years old in the Nova's studio, there are times when all learners and their families have the chance to get together for community engagement or personal betterment activities that drive an overall pride in being a part of something so unique and special.

The success our son has experienced at Acton extends far beyond academic grades. He is gaining invaluable life skills and a growth mindset that will serve him well throughout his life. We are incredibly grateful for the nurturing and inspiring environment that Acton Academy provides and wholeheartedly recommend it to any family seeking an education that prioritizes both academic and personal growth.

Joseph A.

Our preschooler is in Acton Academy and loves it. And we do do. Wonderful staff, and she's really learning a lot in a unique and empowering learning environment!

Sarah D.

This school has been gradually improving (as any new school would). My child is in the pre-K class. I had some concerns while she was attending. Mainly cleanliness of the class and organization (within the class and general learning). In April a new teacher was hired and all of those things drastically improved. My child's class is clean and organized and learning seems to be a lot more structured. There's a lot of hands on learning and experiments (which is great). The outdoor area is awesome with lots of little play areas, nature, goats, etc.
The teachers definitely care about what they are doing and are constantly trying to improve the school and the children's/parent's experience there. I can clearly see the effort, and I appreciate that.
I'd also like to point out that my daughter has always come home with new information and knowledge of numbers, letters, even some math.

Telane R.

This is not the Acton you are looking for. When I first moved to Twin I was excited to enroll my children here, as I had heard about Acton from different podcasts and interviews. However as time went on, I found Acton Twin Falls to be lacking in many of things I had hoped for. When researching further and talking with other parents who had visited other Acton campuses I came to discover that this school not a true Acton, but Acton in name only. Overall, the school is mediocre at best and the tuition is disproportionately high for the what you are receiving.

Audreyana V.

My son absolutely loves going to school at Acton Academy! His teacher Ms. Hannah cares so much about all of her students and is simply fantastic. She has a natural gift for teaching and is super patient with all the kiddos. I can not express enough how wonderful it is as a mother to know when I drop my son off that he is going to have a wonderful day!

Cindy M.

Acton Academy is not your standard school setting. It is a unique school with many fun learning experiences and activities that goes beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. Students are encouraged to develop their creativity and independence. They explore many other areas of learning like Spanish, Art, Cursive, Music, Plant & Earth Science, Architecture, History, Astronomy and many more subjects with hands on activities. Our Granddaughter is thriving at Acton Academy! I highly recommend!

Melissa P.

Acton Academy is a wonderful option for children! I have nieces and nephews who attend this school and it is a great learning environment! I love how children are able to study their own interests and learn in a way that makes sense to THEM. Children’s brains retain so much more when they are able to experiment with learning outside of a rigid schedule/sit-at-a-desk all day system. I would recommend this school to any family!

Mike P.

I love Acton Academy. I love their teaching/learning philosophy. As a retired educator I understand that way to much of education these days is about memorizing the right answer and spitting it back out for the test. At the Acton Academy, heroes, their students are taught to think, not just memorize facts. They are allowed to be appropriately self directed in their learning. They also learn from each other's learning. Right after lunch, students meet and share with other students what they have been studying and learning. I love that idea. Students sharing what they are learning with "hero" peers. Talk about learning that is relevant to them, their age, and their experience! That makes learning exciting to them. I highly recommend Acton Academy. I would encourage you to check it out and see if it is a good fit for your son or daughter.