A Learning Lab for Capable, Curious Learners

_{Tej Acton Academy is a K–8 independent microschool and learning lab in Campbell designed for learners who need more than one-size-fits-all classrooms. Here, curiosity, pace, and depth are honored as learners build strong core skills through self-paced mastery, real-world projects, and Socratic discussion in small, mixed-age studios.
While many schools focus on advancing what learners study, we focus on how learners think, work, and create. Our learners move from curiosity to skills to meaningful creation, developing independence, depth, and real capability.}

“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
Founder & Managing Partner, Rethink Education,
Editorial Board of the Yale University Journal of Law and Humanities.

“The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.”Heather Staker
Christensen Institute and President of Ready to Blend. Co-author of Blended.

“Acton Academy is the gold standard in educational innovation. It prepares students to be leaders, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs in the real world.”Don Wettrick
‍Author and founder of StartEdUp.

"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."Tom Vander Ark
CEO of Getting Smart, former Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“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
Founder & Managing Partner, Rethink Education, Editorial Board of the Yale University Journal of Law and Humanities.

“Acton Academy is the gold standard in educational innovation. It prepares students to be leaders, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs in the real world.”Don Wettrick
‍Author and founder of StartEdUp.

What makes
Tej Acton Academy different?

Young learners master core skills at their own pace. Using adaptive tools, we’ve removed the "one-size-fits-all" ceiling and floor, ensuring every child achieves 100% mastery of a concept before moving forward.

Mixed-aged learners collaborate on hands-on "Quests." Whether creating a board game or an original recipe, they produce tangible work that proves their competence, not just a grade on a worksheet.

Earning points for effort and badges for mastery.

Sharing learning in a tightly bound community.

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

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

Two Educational Models

Traditional School
_{Optimized for standardization and efficiency
‍}

Traditional schools deliver the same curriculum on a fixed schedule.

Traditional classrooms group students strictly by age.

Traditional schoolwork is done for a teacher.

Traditional schools emphasize coverage and test preparation.

Traditional schools measure progress with grades and tests.

Traditional teachers control what, when, and how students learn.

Tej Acton Academy
_{Designed for mastery, independence, real-world performance}

Tej Acton learners work toward personal learning goals, tracking progress and mastering skills at their own pace.

Tej Acton learners collaborate in mixed-age studios, where mentoring, leadership, and social growth happen naturally.

Tej Acton learners create real projects, experiments, and presentations for authentic audiences.

Tej Acton focuses on deep understanding, problem solving, and applying knowledge in meaningful ways.

Tej Acton uses portfolios, mastery transcripts, and public exhibitions that show what a learner can truly do.

Tej Acton Guides coach learners to take ownership, reflect, and continuously improve.

Families who choose Tej Acton share a core conviction:

- Agency Over Compliance: Children thrive when trusted with real responsibility. We replace passive lectures with "doing," ensuring learners build competence through action, not observation.
- Ownership as Fuel: True motivation is internal. It is born when a learner sets their own goals, audits their own progress, and experiences the direct correlation between effort and mastery.
- Excellence Over Ranking: We value a high-performance culture driven by personal bests and clear, transparent benchmarks. The greatest pride comes from mastering a difficult skill, not just outscoring a peer.
- Socratic Inquiry: In an AI-driven world, the ability to ask the right question matters more than memorizing the right answer. We prioritize critical thinking and open-ended problem solving over following a manual.
- Integrated Growth: We don't separate the "intellectual" from the "human." Academic grit, emotional intelligence, and social leadership are a single, unified skill set.

Choosing Tej Acton is a commitment to long-term capability over short-term comfort. Our families embrace "productive struggle," celebrate perseverance, and trust a proven process that builds the resilient, independent leaders the future demands.

"I value how the instructors instill leadership skills, allowing the students to take initiative in the classroom, encouraging daily discussions, having the students take ownership of their projects and then giving presentations in fron of their peers, family and visitors. My son is having fun while learning many subjects. Homework is not assigned, and now we have quality family time after school and evenings. At his previous school, he received good grades, but it was not enjoyable. I'm so glad to have found a new path for my son."

Frances

Tej AA Parent

"My 5 year old daughter started going to school for the first time here at Tej Acton. She absolutely loves going to school everyday and can't wait to tell us what she learns everyday. The school is very clean and you can tell the guides were carefully chosen to guide these children on their journey of education. The guides love the kids and are passionate about the children's learning process. Small class sizes are a huge bonus. Would definitely recommend!"

Tram D

Tej AA Parent

"My kids have been attending Tej Acton Academy for four years now and it has been the best thing that happpened to our family. Though our kids attended school in the very sought out Cupertino School District - I was always looking for something that wouldn't strip my kid of their essence and turn them into manufactured, streamlined robots. As a mom, I want my kids to be happy and to know how to handle adversity and come out the other side thriving. When I look at their education from this perspective, I know, without a doubt in my mind, Tej Acton Academy is where they will cultivate this."

Mansi

Tej AA Parent

What makes
Tej Acton Academy different?

Where Learners Build Ownership, Executive Function, and Independence

Accredited by:

As seen in:

Two Educational Models

Traditional School
_{Optimized for standardization and efficiency
‍}

Tej Acton Academy
_{Designed for mastery, independence, real-world performance}

Begin your Family's Journey

What makes Tej Acton Academy different?

Where Learners Build Ownership, Executive Function, and Independence

01:21

The Hero's Journey

Accredited by:

As seen in:

Two Educational Models

Traditional SchoolOptimized for standardization and efficiency‍

Tej Acton AcademyDesigned for mastery, independence, real-world performance

Follow All The Fun Happening @tejactonacademy

Begin your Family's Journey

Hi, I'm Yang Gao

What makes
Tej Acton Academy different?

Traditional School
_{Optimized for standardization and efficiency
‍}

Tej Acton Academy
_{Designed for mastery, independence, real-world performance}