Acton Academy Kennebunkport

Our family is so grateful to have an Acton Academy in Kennebunk! It is such a beautiful gift to the community. We were looking for an alternative to the traditional public school for our two boys and it has been a wonderful experience for both of them so far. They have experienced so much growth both personally and academically. We love that our kids spend time during the week outdoors exploring and interacting with nature. We feel tremendous support from the guides and owners of the school and know that they care deeply about our children's well being and truly want the best for them and are able to meet them where they are. We have complete faith and confidence in what they are doing and could not recommend this school enough.

Acton Academy has been such an incredible experience for our family. We have seen our daughter grow by leaps and bounds, discovering a sense of self and purpose. Acton has truly engaged her natural curiosity and empowered her to take control of her learning, and we can't wait to enroll our son! Kids are capable of some pretty amazing things, and Acton Academy has really provided a foundation for them to achieve them.

Acton Academy is a game changer for children's education. We joined the school in September of 2021 and our children are taking control of their education, learning at their pace, exploring their interests, learning to use their voices to share their thoughts, listening to and learning from other classmates. They are also learning to be resilient kids spending one full day in the woods, learning from nature. Acton brings the subjects they are learning about to life. The students just earned a trip to NYC to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island after learning about US Citizenship at school. Parents chaperoned the trip and one of my biggest takeaways was how all the kids from the youngest to the oldest look out, care for and encourage each other. It was magical to watch. Our children are being heard and their ideas are valued. Their self confidence and love of school grows each day. The Acton community is strong and a joy to be a part of!

Acton Academy (Kennebunkport) has given our youngest child (11yo) the opportunity to grow and thrive, in ways we didn’t think we’re possible in a learning environment. The foundation of meeting every student (learner) exactly where they are at and offering opportunities for self-directed, translatable and applicable learning has transformed her experience from being a “task” and “burden”, to an exciting, fun and desirable opportunity. No longer is my child “behind” or “ahead” but instead, exactly where they are supposed to be. The process and progress is transparent, measurable and clear. SMART goals are established (by my child) and success is not dictated by arbitrary grades but by constant feedback, reflections and opportunities to apply and demonstrate learning. As often as strengths and success are encouraged and celebrated, so too are areas of weakness and opportunities for growth. Unlike traditional learning settings where failure is penalized, at Acton, failure is not only expected, but normalized and encouraged as part of a healthy growth process. Character development and demonstrating “hero qualities” are as fundamental as engaging in Core Skills and opportunities for leadership and peer to peer support make up the daily fabric. Acton Academy has given our learner an opportunity to creatively and confidently flourish.

We transitioned our daughter to Acton mid 2021 because the hybrid model in our district was not working for her. Initially we were attracted to the outdoor aspect of Acton, but then quickly realized it was so much more. Our daughter is learning life skills, self sufficiency, and real life education. Immersive experiences over the school year are an added bonus.