+ What is Beacon Academy?

Beacon is a Christian Montessori school and Acton Academy in Stokesdale, NC serving children from pre-K through 7th grade. We meet on campus Monday through Thursday, and children learn from their home on Fridays.

We use best practices from innovative schools and companies around the world to deliver education that prepares young people to become the masters of their own destinies. They learn to build habits for success, work hard and try again when they fail, and have the courage to take a stand for what they believe in.

+ What makes Beacon Academy different?

• Our strong emphasis on whole-child development
• We are purposefully a small school to maintain a strong community
• Our mixed-age classrooms ("studios") give students the opportunity to learn from peers, as well as develop leadership skills
• We use Socratic guiding (using questions to facilitate investigation) rather than traditional teacher lectures
• Our students participate in governing and maintaining their studios, giving them a sense of responsibility and ownership of their environment as well as relevant opportunities to solve problems and collaborate to find solutions
• We use hands-on projects to promote creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Our academic achievement system stresses mastery of concepts, and perseverance through challenging work
• No assigned homework (although, they have been known to bring work home if they are on a roll and don't want to put it down!)

+ Where is Beacon Academy located?

Our campus is in Stokesdale, NC--conveniently located just off of US-158 between Highway 68 and Route 220. Our address is 8430 Southard Rd, Stokesdale, NC.

+ What is the school calendar and daily schedule?

Beacon Academy runs on an 11-month schedule, from August through June. Each school year consists of 6 sessions, with at least one week off between sessions.

Learners arrive between 7:45am and 8:15am, and are picked up at 3:15pm.

+ Why do you only meet on campus Monday through Thursday?

On "Flex-Fridays," the world is our campus! We believe that building strong positive relationships with family members is an integral part of whole child education. Our schedule allows for families to spend more quality time together. On Fridays, learners can continue to work on their academic goals for the week from home, or families can take the time for field trips, fun projects, or developing talents.

+ What is the tuition?

Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Half-day Pre-K: $510 per month ($5,100 annually)
• Full-day Kindergarten: $750 per month ($7,500 annually)
• Elementary: $800 per month ($8,000 annually)
• Middle School: $950 per month ($9,500 annually)

All learners entering kindergarten and above are eligible to apply for NC Opportunity Scholarship. You can learn more at https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/opportunity/

+ What is your admissions process?

We have an intentional admissions process to help families and the school evaluate if their child will thrive in a learner-driven environment. Here are the parts of the process:

1. Take a tour
2. Submit and Application & Teacher/Mentor Survey
3. Schedule a trial date/dates
4. Family visit--an opportunity for us to get to know your family better
5. Enroll & Pay your deposit
6. Onboarding--Welcome to Beacon!

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: Beacon Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin (ancestry) in any of its activities or operations.

+ What is Acton Academy, and how does it relate to Beacon Academy?

Acton Academy is a school that was founded in Austin, Texas in 2008 by Jeff and Laura Sandefer. Over the years they have developed a learner-driven model of education--observing principles from the most successful schools and businesses and integrating those principles in their school. Their methods are now used in over 300 schools in the Acton affiliate network, including Beacon Academy.

+ Is Beacon Academy accredited?

We are accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools.

We are also a Member School of the American Montessori Society.

+ What kind of child would thrive at Beacon Academy?

At Beacon Academy, students learn to be independent drivers of their own education, setting goals for themselves and working hard to achieve those goals. Children who are curious, self-motivated, and respectful can thrive at Beacon Academy.

With increased freedoms and responsibilities, our model can be an adjustment for children transferring from traditional school environments. Other Acton Academy schools have found that it takes about 1 month in the studio for every year spent in traditional classrooms to adjust.

+ How do you measure a child’s progress?

In the elementary studio, we use a badge system to measure progress. Badges are awarded when designated milestones are met with mastery. We use this system because we feel it is important for students to persevere through challenging work until it is mastered--rather than moving on to the next topic regardless of mastery (which is what occurs in traditional education settings with grades).

This system also allows students to work at their own pace, moving quickly in strength areas and taking necessary time in challenge areas, while still holding them accountable for high achievement.

+ Do you serve special needs children?

We are not staffed to serve children with serious learning disabilities, special needs, or who need specialized attention. As a learner-driven community, students must be able to work independently on their goals without distracting others. If you are interested in Beacon Academy and believe it is a great fit for your family, please inquire and we will personally assess your unique situation and the fit of your young learner.

+ How do I know if Beacon Academy is the right fit for my family?

Beacon Academy is likely a good fit for your family if you relate to the following:

(1) You want your child to develop a life-long love of learning in a wholesome environment.

(2) You think that having a growth mindset is an essential ingredient to becoming successful.

(3) You want your child to favor logic and sound reasoning over following the crowd when making decisions.

(4) You believe that the development of high moral character and strong work ethic are more valuable than academic achievement alone.

(5) You understand that children need to take calculated risks in order to build confidence and resilience.

(6) You can back a learning philosophy that recognizes perseverence through struggle (and even failure) as part of the learning process.

(7) You are willing to believe that every child, including yours, has the potential to change the world.