Ascent: An Acton Academy

Location: North Central Austin
5701 Cameron Road
Austin, TX 78723
Students served: Ages 4–12. Spark Studio serves ages 4–6, Discovery Studio serves ages 6–9, and Explore Studio serves ages 9–12.
Current enrollment: 65+; rolling admissions
Model/philosophy: Ascent Academy's mission is to inspire each child and parent who enters its doors to find a calling that will change the world. Ascent follows a one-room schoolhouse model that applies the philosophy of the Hero’s Journey and the Socratic method to empower young people. Combining Montessori principles with technology, Ascent has created a self-paced learning environment where children are equipped to become independent, lifelong learners. It is a bold and brave educational model that trusts children to master academic skills, strive for excellence in their choices, and learn how to live and work with others as a community.
Special features: Ascent’s vibrant community of young learners is situated on nearly two acres in the historic Windsor Park neighborhood, complete with an orchard, a yurt, a budding urban forest, a chicken coop, and a dynamic outdoor Loose Parts Play environment. Ascent's Spark Studio follows a Montessori-based program that empowers learners to make choices and sparks their curiosity. With a deep commitment to gross motor movement, Sparks spend part of their day in an outdoor, all-weather Loose Parts Play program. The Discovery Studio continues with a Montessori foundation in a blended environment encouraging curiosity and establishing supportive habits during session-long deep-dives. Learners develop a joy for learning through a balanced design that uses Montessori works, online adaptive software, project-based learning, Socratic discussion groups, service learning opportunities, and outdoor education. The Explore Studio builds on the foundations of Spark and Discovery and follows the child’s internal, interpersonal growth as learners develop more self-awareness and independence through reflective processes and experimentation with more freedom within boundaries.
Schedule: 8am–3:30pm Monday–Friday; year-round with week-long breaks every 5–6 weeks
Tuition: Tuition for the 2024–2025 academic year is $16,355. Sibling discounts and limited Hero grants available.
Contact: Janita Lavani and Samantha Jansky, Co-Founders | ascent@ascentacton.org