Founder and Head of School Kristah Slate said she started Acton Academy Cy-Fair in 2019 with 12 students at the Foundry Church near Jersey Village, 8350 Jones Road, Houston. She anticipates an enrollment of 100 students at that campus in the 2021-22 school year with another 25 at the new Cypress campus in its first year.
Slate said students are typically self-motivated and that they are given freedom to explore their passions. Apprenticeships and internships start as early as middle school, she said. The 21st-century learning center is designed for students as young as 5 through high school.
“We focus on nontraditional, learner-driven and project-based learning, so we're focusing on developing skills in the area of academics, but also social and emotional—really giving kids the opportunity to have joy and rigor in their education,” Slate said. “We’re developing skills like communication, critical thinking [and] creativity, that puts education, and what kids are learning in books, brings it to life.”
Jeff and Laura Sandefer launched the first Acton Academy in Austin in 2008, and the network of schools has since grown to more than 250 locations worldwide.
Slate said the new Acton Academy campus will host open house events July 13 and 27. 713-882-7699. www.actoncyfair.com
