How is Big Sky, an Acton Academy, affiliated with Acton Academy?
Big Sky, an Acton Academy is part of the network of over 300 Acton Academies around the world. We follow the same exact Learning Design (curriculum) and learning model that our owners helped create at the original Acton Academy campus.
What grades do you offer?
We warmly welcome students aged 3 to 12 into our learning community. Currently, we offer classes from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade, with plans to expand our curriculum in the future. We are excited about the potential of introducing a Middle School program as early as the 2024/2025 school year, and ultimately guiding our students through their academic journey up to the 12th grade.
Where is your school located?
Our campus is located at 706 N 14th St, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023.
How long is the school year, and what is the school calendar?
Our school year is designed to provide a year-round educational experience. Typically consists of 5-6 weeks of "On" learning, followed by 1-2 weeks "off" time. This balanced approach ensures that students have regular opportunities to recharge, reflect, and pursue other interests, while maintaining a consistent academic rhythm throughout the year.
Here's a sample calendar
What is your tuition?
Regular tuition is $8,000/year, but we are currently offering scholarships based on financial need to learners aged 9-11. We also can offer multi-child discounts.
Is the Acton Academy a Montessori school?
The Spark (3-6) is a Montessori studio. We incorporate Acton into the Spark studio by having daily socratic discussions. After Spark, the older studios continue to be learner led, as a Montessori would be, but we also use the latest interactive technologies, hands on projects and the Socratic Method for discussions.
Is Big Sky, an Acton Academy a religious school?
We are open to Believers, Searchers and Non-Believers alike and expose children to the importance of mindful spirituality and stress the historical importance of Christianity to the development of Western Civilization.
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 that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose, in order 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"?
Someone who is self-paced and can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.
Will children be grouped into grades?
We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.
Does Big Sky, an Acton Academy serve special needs children?
We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD if they receive special training and believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.
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 use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a doctor, providing healthcare and saving lives; a scientist, conducting groundbreaking research and advancing knowledge; an inventor, creating innovative solutions to pressing problems; a lawyer, advocating for justice and defending the rights of others; 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.
Is Big Sky, an Acton Academy Accredited?
Yes, we are accredited with the IALDS
How are you registered with the state?
We are a Rule 13 exempt school, which is the same classification as a Homeschool in the state of Nebraska
What is the curriculum taught at Big Sky, an Acton Academy?
Each learner is given access to a self-paced, learner-driven education that best suits them. Some apps we have used are Kahn, Dreambox, Lexia, Typing Club, Night Zookeeper, and Nessy. Our tangible curriculum incorporates Montessori, group and individual projects, Story of the World civilization discussion and applicable life skills according to age and development of the learner.
