Our Philosophy
We believe every child is a genius who can find a calling and change the world. Our job is to build an environment where that can happen.
Learn to learn, learn to do, learn to be
At Acton Academy Buckhead, children don’t sit through lectures. Guides ask questions instead of giving answers, so learners do the thinking. They set weekly goals, track their own progress and take responsibility for their work.
What a day looks like
- Core skills: self-paced reading, writing and math, using the best adaptive tools available.
- Socratic discussion: learners debate real dilemmas and practice speaking, listening and changing their minds.
- Quests: hands-on projects in science, business, art and more, each ending in a public exhibition.
- Outdoor play: daily time outside, because growing up still needs open space.
A community run by learners
Learners write their own rules, hold each other accountable and resolve conflicts with guidance, not punishment. They earn badges by showing real mastery, not by sitting through hours.
Part of a global network
Acton Academy Buckhead is part of the Acton Academy network, with hundreds of schools worldwide. We are fully accredited by the International Association of Learner Driven Schools (IALDS) and the Georgia Accrediting Commission, so every learner receives an accredited transcript accepted anywhere.
A note from our founder
I’m Andrew Shahan. As a student in Georgia’s public schools, nobody encouraged me to own my education. I learned to follow orders and cruise through. When I got to college and was finally responsible for my own learning, I struggled. I started Acton Academy Buckhead so children here learn to own their education long before they need to.