Traditional schooling was designed for a world that no longer exists. Tej Acton Academy is a K-8 Learning Lab in Campbell designed for what’s next.

As part of Acton Academy's global network of 300+ microschools, we’ve replaced passive lectures and high-stakes testing with self-paced mastery of core academic skills and real-world projects. In our small, mixed-age studios, every learner is deeply known, valued, and seen. Independence grows through Socratic discussion and intentional character building.

Our learning extends far beyond the studio walls. Friday is Nature & Community Day, a cornerstone of our curriculum that blends environmental immersion with real-world engagement. In our 'Outdoor Classroom,' learners develop sensory regulation and systems thinking through direct observation of the natural world. Simultaneously, we bridge the gap between theory and practice by welcoming community subject experts: from agriculturalists to tech innovators to share insights on our current Session theme, grounding our learners' growth in professional expertise and local connection.

We empower young minds to think deeply, lead themselves, and master the competencies required to solve the meaningful problems of tomorrow. This isn't just school. It’s a supportive launchpad for the future.

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“I am confident that any randomly-selected ten-year-old from Acton would have succeeded instantly where at least some MIT graduates failed.”Matt Greenfield
Founder & Managing Partner, Rethink Education,
Editorial Board of the Yale University Journal of Law and Humanities.

“The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.”Heather Staker
Christensen Institute and President of Ready to Blend. Co-author of Blended.

“Acton Academy is the gold standard in educational innovation. It prepares students to be leaders, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs in the real world.”Don Wettrick
Author and founder of StartEdUp.

"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."Tom Vander Ark
CEO of Getting Smart, former Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.”Heather Staker
Christensen Institute and President of Ready to Blend. Co-author of Blended.

“I am confident that any randomly-selected ten-year-old from Acton would have succeeded instantly where at least some MIT graduates failed.”Matt Greenfield
Founder & Managing Partner, Rethink Education, Editorial Board of the Yale University Journal of Law and Humanities.

“Acton Academy is the gold standard in educational innovation. It prepares students to be leaders, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs in the real world.”Don Wettrick
Author and founder of StartEdUp.

"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."Tom Vander Ark
CEO of Getting Smart, former Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

What makes
Tej Acton Academy different?

01
Young learners master core skills at their own pace. Using adaptive tools, we’ve removed the "one-size-fits-all" ceiling and floor, ensuring every child achieves 100% mastery of a concept before moving forward.
Kids learning at Acton
Acton Campus in Austin
02
Mixed-aged learners collaborate on hands-on "Quests." Whether creating a board game or an original recipe, they produce tangible work that proves their competence, not just a grade on a worksheet.
Girl in Acton Campus
03
Earning points for effort and badges for mastery.
04
Sharing learning in a tightly bound community.
05
Using the latest technology to master reading, writing, and math.
06
On a Hero’s Journey, with challenges, adventures, fellow travelers, and guides.

The Discovery Studio

Where Learners Build Ownership, Executive Function, and Independence

In a Tej Acton studios, we cultivate the "Inner Voice" of high performance. From their first day, learners begin to think:
Agency: “I chose this challenge.”
Meaning: “My work matters to my tribe.”
Accountability: “I am responsible for my own results.”
This mindset isn't left to chance; it is built through a deliberate, age-appropriate progression.

Learn More About Our Studios

01:21

The Hero's Journey

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Two Educational Models

Traditional School
Optimized for standardization and efficiency

1
Traditional schools deliver the same curriculum on a fixed schedule.
2
Traditional classrooms group students strictly by age.
3
Traditional schoolwork is done for a teacher.
4
Traditional schools emphasize coverage and test preparation.
5
Traditional schools measure progress with grades and tests.
6
Traditional teachers control what, when, and how students learn.

Tej Acton Academy
Designed for mastery, independence, real-world performance

1
Tej Acton learners work toward personal learning goals, tracking progress and mastering skills at their own pace.
2
Tej Acton learners collaborate in mixed-age studios, where mentoring, leadership, and social growth happen naturally.
3
Tej Acton learners create real projects, experiments, and presentations for authentic audiences.
4
Tej Acton focuses on deep understanding, problem solving, and applying knowledge in meaningful ways.
5
Tej Acton uses portfolios, mastery transcripts, and public exhibitions that show what a learner can truly do.
6
Tej Acton Guides coach learners to take ownership, reflect, and continuously improve.
2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR QUESTS
1 Build the Tribe
2 Chess
3 Game Design Arcade
4 Cooking, Chemistry and Culture
5 Newton's Toy Engineering Lab
6 Entrepreneurship
7 Future: Testing Real-World Roles

Families who choose Tej Acton share a core conviction: 
- Agency Over Compliance: Children thrive when trusted with real responsibility. We replace passive lectures with "doing," ensuring learners build competence through action, not observation.
- Ownership as Fuel: True motivation is internal. It is born when a learner sets their own goals, audits their own progress, and experiences the direct correlation between effort and mastery.
- Excellence Over Ranking: We value a high-performance culture driven by personal bests and clear, transparent benchmarks. The greatest pride comes from mastering a difficult skill, not just outscoring a peer.
- Socratic Inquiry: In an AI-driven world, the ability to ask the right question matters more than memorizing the right answer. We prioritize critical thinking and open-ended problem solving over following a manual.
- Integrated Growth: We don't separate the "intellectual" from the "human." Academic grit, emotional intelligence, and social leadership are a single, unified skill set.

Choosing Tej Acton is a commitment to long-term capability over short-term comfort. Our families embrace "productive struggle," celebrate perseverance, and trust a proven process that builds the resilient, independent leaders the future demands.
"I value how the instructors instill leadership skills, allowing the students to take initiative in the classroom, encouraging daily discussions, having the students take ownership of their projects and then giving presentations in fron of their peers, family and visitors. My son is having fun while learning many subjects. Homework is not assigned, and now we have quality family time after school and evenings. At his previous school, he received good grades, but it was not enjoyable. I'm so glad  to have found a new path for my son."
Frances
Tej AA Parent
"My 5 year old daughter started going to school for the first time here at Tej Acton. She absolutely loves going to school everyday and can't wait to tell us what she learns everyday. The school is very clean and you can tell the guides were carefully chosen to guide these children on their journey of education. The guides love the kids and are passionate about the children's learning process. Small class sizes are a huge bonus. Would definitely recommend!"
Tram D
Tej AA Parent
"My kids have been attending Tej Acton Academy for four years now and it has been the best thing that happpened to our family. Though our kids attended school in the very sought out Cupertino School District - I was always looking for something that wouldn't strip my kid of their essence and turn them into manufactured, streamlined robots. As a mom, I want my kids to be happy and to know how to handle adversity and come out the other side thriving. When I look at their education from this perspective, I know, without a doubt in my mind, Tej Acton Academy is where they will cultivate this."
Mansi
Tej AA Parent

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