How is the Acton Johnson City Campus affiliated with the Acton Academy Network?
Acton Academy Johnson City is an official affiliate in the network of over 300 Acton Academies worldwide.
What grades do you offer?
Spark Studio (ages 4-7) Full-time or Part-time M/W or T/TH schedules are available.
Elementary School Studio (ages 7 to 11) Full-time
Middle School School Studio (ages 11 to 14) Full-time
Studios to add as we grow
Launchpad Studio (ages 14 to 18) Full-time, not enrolling yet.
Do you offer Preschool?
Yes. Starting in July 2025, we are accepting Preschool-aged children in the Spark Studio as long as they are fully toilet-independent. In this student-led, Montessori-prepared environment, children learn reading, writing, and math in addition to afternoon Anji play.
How do I know which studio my 6-8 year old should be in?
Children are ready for the Discovery Studio when socially ready and reading well, usually at about a second-grade reading level. Assessments are made on a case-by-case basis. They may stay in the Spark studio until ready, but not past age 8.
What spots do you have open?
We have spaces in our part-time and full-time Spark (ages 4-7), our full-time Elementary Studios (ages 7 - 11), and our emerging Middle School Studio, ages 11-14 (they are being trained and qualified with the ES learners to acclimatize to the culture, and then we will split them off, probably mid-year, dependent on academic and social/cultural readiness).
Where is your school located?
Our new campus is at 412 E. Unaka Ave, Johnson City, TN. We are blessed to partner with Little Social. When we expand, we plan to be in the North Johnson City/Gray area.
What is your calendar and daily schedule?
We begin each year in the middle of July and run through the end of May. Eagles are in session for five to six weeks, followed by a week-long break to rest and recharge. Each day begins at 8:30 am (drop-off starting at 8:00 am) and ends at 3:15 pm. We stagger drop-off and pick-up to reduce congestion. 2025-2026 Calendar
What is your tuition?
Our tuition is less than that of the large private schools in our area. As a micro-school, we have less overhead, so we can charge less. Please contact us for specific tuition information.
We are working on being qualified to receive vouchers. We will update as soon as we know for sure!
A small number of need-based scholarships are available annually. To be added to the waiting list, complete the full application process.
2024/2025 school year only: ask us about our Founding Family Discount.
Will you be accepting vouchers?
We are working through the paperwork now to accept vouchers. We are unsure if we will receive them this spring or next, so keep watching for updates! We will post here as soon as we know. We will also announce it on Facebook.
What is your schedule like?
We operate year-round in 4-6 week sessions. After the session is finished, we are off for one week. Exceptions are Christmas Break for 2 weeks and Summer Break for 6 weeks. 2025-2026 Calendar
The school day is in session from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily, with drop-off starting at 8 a.m.
May I visit campus or get a tour?
We do not offer tours during the school day to protect the Hero's learning environment. Complete the application to meet for an in-person visit to our campus after school hours. Applicants who have completed the interview process will be able to shadow students at the school to ensure it is a good fit before official enrollment.
Is Acton Academy Johnson City a Montessori school?
We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy and use many of her tools and methodologies in the Spark Studio (ages 4-7), but we are not a Montessori school. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands-on projects, and the Socratic Method in a student-led environment.
Is Acton Academy Johnson City a religious school?
We are a secular environment open to Christian believers, seekers, and non-believers alike. We stress the historical importance of Christianity to the development of Western Civilization. We welcome children of all faiths and honor their beliefs and practices (including prayer) in the studios. We support religious freedom and its expression in our school and respect all faiths. We, the founders, are Christian, but no statement of faith is required.
What is your policy on public displays of affection (PDA) and romantic relationships?
We discourage "boyfriends" and "girlfriends" of any gender at Acton Academy Johnson City and do not allow for public displays of affection - kissing and hand-holding, etc - or teasing about liking each other, etc. Brief hugs are acceptable if they have permission from the other person. Our "no touching" policy is that we don't touch others without permission, or it is an agreed-appropriate game, like basketball, tag, or flag football.
Guiding Beliefs on PDA:
We believe that when they are not old enough to be married, it is not healthy to pair off exclusively in relationships. Many studies support this as well. Early pairing off discourages the healthy relationships with all boys and girls that they should be learning to maintain. It also causes premature emotional trauma when relationships cannot be sustained and breakups occur. Trauma is not healthy for any time of life, but it is especially damaging in childhood. The time for pairing off exclusively is when they are old enough to support an independent relationship. This will vary for all children, but regardless, Acton Academy will expect all romantic relationships to happen away from school at every age, lol! (I hope you can appreciate the humor here!)
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 each of us has a unique calling in life and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose 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"?
An independent learner can research questions, follow written instructions, solve problems, admit that they don't know something, and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock using resources for help before asking the guide. They also participate in Socratic discussions and strive for mastery.
What do you mean by a "running partner"?
Running Partners are classmates who meet regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. They 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 others younger and older than themselves rather than being split into groups based solely on age. Therefore, in addition to an individualized curriculum, students of all ages work together in groups.
Does Acton Academy Johnson City serve special needs children?
We are not trained to serve children with severe learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with mild problems. We believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed and that all children learn best in a self-paced environment. To enroll, children must be self-toileting, socially functional, verbal, and independent of parental support at school.
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 learn to use this gift to serve others and fulfill a passionate need. 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.
Why do you focus on teaching the "American Experiment"?
We believe that liberty, justice, and the ideals of the American Revolution are the cornerstones of civilization. In addition to experiential learning, we will study American documents and their true meaning as we examine other cultures and forms of government.