Location: Northwest Austin
8508 White Cliff Drive
Austin, TX 78759
Students served: Spark Studio serving ages 5–7; Discovery Studio serving ages 7–11
Current enrollment: Rolling admissions; see this page for upcoming deadlines; maximum of 50
Model/philosophy: Acton Academy Northwest is a student-led, self-paced, private accredited school. The school uses online adaptive software for math and language, project-based learning, Socratic discussion groups, and examination of the Hero’s Journey and how it applies personally to each student. Every child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way. The school’s mission is to inspire each child to find their calling and develop the passion to pursue it. The founders believe that “learning to do” and “learning to be” are even more important than “learning to know.”
Special features: Online adaptive software for math and language, project-based learning, Socratic discussion groups, examination of the Hero’s Journey and how it applies personally to each student, no homework, service learning opportunities, and outdoor education. Located on 1-acre property off Old Spicewood Springs Road and 360. Will be building out a large, separate makerspace for learners to explore and spend plenty of time outdoors!
Pandemic plan: Read this school’s COVID-19 response here.
Schedule: 8:30am–3:15pm, Monday–Friday; Acton Academy Northwest Austin follows an 11-month calendar that allows for students to have extended breaks throughout the year and maintains their interests and retention by shortening the summer break.
Tuition: $1,210 per month for 11 months
Contact: Angela Griffiths Lucas, Head of School | angela@actonacademynwaustin.org
Each listing in this alphabetical directory gives you a snapshot of a small, independent, alternative school in the Austin area.
This frequently updated list spans several pages, with navigation buttons at the bottom. Clicking on the name of a school will take you to its own website. To easily find schools by geographical area, see our Alt Ed Maps page. If you know of a school that’s missing from this directory, please drop a note here, and see Alt Ed Austin’s criteria for “alternative” and “school.” You may also be interested in our directories of other recommended schools (which are mostly larger or more specialized or religiously oriented), as well as special programs for children and adults.
Full disclosure: Alt Ed Austin founder Teri Sperry has ties with several of the schools listed on this site. Her child, now in graduate school, attended two of them years ago. She has friends who direct, teach at, or are otherwise involved in others. Some programs choose to advertise from time to time on Alt Ed Austin as Sponsoring Partners. She firmly believes that all of the schools featured on this site (including the ones to which she has no personal connection and those from which she receives no advertising fees) are good choices for some kids, each for different reasons.
