Reclaim childhood. Rekindle human freedom.

Acton Upcountry exists to equip young people to courageously create the lives they would love to live. A learner-driven learning center for ages 7-12 in Upcountry Maui, Hawaii.

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Matt Greenfield, Rethink Education
"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, Rethink Education
Heather Staker, Ready to Blend
"The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school."
Heather Staker, Ready to Blend
Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart
"Acton Upcountry is one of the most important education developments in the world."
Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart
Gary Vaynerchuk, Entrepreneur
"This is the kind of school I wished I had as a kid, to grow up super entrepreneurial."
Gary Vaynerchuk, Entrepreneur
Play

Experience how we're transforming education in this documentary.

What makes Acton Upcountry different?

01

Young people doing challenging work at their own pace.

Step 1: Young people doing challenging work at their own pace.

02

Collaborating on real-world projects.

Step 2: Collaborating on real-world projects.

03

Earning points for effort and badges for mastery.

Step 3: Earning points for effort and badges for mastery.

04

Sharing learning in a tightly bound community.

Step 4: Sharing learning in a tightly bound community.

05

Using the latest technology to master reading, writing, and math.

Step 5: Using the latest technology to master reading, writing, and math.

06

On a Hero's Journey, with challenges, adventures, fellow travelers, and guides.

Step 6: On a Hero's Journey, with challenges, adventures, fellow travelers, and guides.
The Elementary Studio

The Elementary Studio

Learner-driven communities run by heroes-in-the-making

Self-management and self-governance are celebrated daily by learners who use 21st Century skills to tackle real world projects, inspired by classic heroes in a tightly bound community with extremely high standards.

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Play
01:21

The Hero's Journey

Courage to Grow book cover

Learn more about how Acton Upcountry turns learning upside down.

A remarkable book that captures the powerful journeys of Acton Upcountry's founders, students, parent community, and — I hope — the future of education around the globe. Any school, whether traditional or innovative, will gain insights from this magical place.

Ted Dintersmith

Education Author, Film Producer, and Philanthropist.

Accredited by:

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As seen in:

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Our Mission

We believe each person who enters our doors deserves to find a calling and change the world.

Heroes Journey World Changer
Student and teacher collaboration

I would never have believed children could learn so much from each other...

Until I saw it with my own eyes. The lessons of self-management and self-governance have prepared our fifth-grade daughter to be a lifelong learner.

Parent, Elementary Studio

Begin your Family's Journey

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