where heroes meet their genius.
ACADEMY DAVIDSON
Acton
Acton Academy Davidson does education differently. We believe that every child is a genius with their own unique purpose that will change the world. At Acton, learning is a hero's journey—one that calls, challenges, and transforms learners into the incredible people they came here to be.
School. The way it should be.
where heroes meet their genius.
We founded Acton Academy Davidson as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit because we knew we were building something bigger than ourselves. From the beginning, we understood that Acton would be more than just another school in Davidson. It would be a place of adventure, challenge, discovery, and responsibility. A place where heroes meet their genius and leave ready to change the world.
A higher vision for our heroes.
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Hey there! We are Katy and Richard Cooke—lawyers by trade, parents to Hayden, Scout, and John, and now founders of Acton Academy Davidson. We have always been hard workers and innovative thinkers, but parenthood helped sharpen our focus. As we grew our family, we began to reflect on our own educational experiences and what we wanted for our children. When we discovered Acton Academy, we knew we had found the answer.
Community over competition.
Earned mastery over rote memorization.
Courage and character over standardized test scores.
We couldn't wait to enroll our kids in an Acton near Davidson. But there wasn't one—yet. So we embarked on our own Hero's Journey and brought the school we love to the community we call home.
Lawyers. Parents. Founders.
Hi, we're the Cookes.
Our founding studio is located in the heart of Davidson at 241 Walnut Street. We abut the Davidson United Methodist Church campus and enjoy use of the Church’s parking, outdoor, and play facilities. Our studio features a kitchenette, a library, a dedicated arts and science room, and two large studio spaces.
Our Home
meet our founding studio
Mastery is measured in badges & exhibitions, not grades & Test scores
Adults are the guides & the Guardrails, learners are the leaders
Concentrated, Self-paced learning through adaptive, game-based systems
Critical Thinking & Clear communication practiced daily through socratic discussions
What makes
Acton unique?
“Acton Academy is on the leading edge of what it means to give students agency of their own learning.”
Education Pioneer, Innovator
& Founder of Khan Academy
- Sal Khan
"One of the most amazing things I have ever seen."
- Sugata Mitra
Computer scientist, educational theorist, & pioneer of self-organized learning environments after observing a student-led Socratic discussion at Acton
“Acton Academy is on the vanguard of change in education. Your first two questions will probably be: 'why couldn't my school be like this?' and 'how can I send my kids to Acton?'”
- Seth Godin
Entrepreneur, author, and teacher
You can support our learners on their hero’s journey by donating something from our wishlist or contributing to our Hero Helper Fund!
Hero Helper
become a
All direct donations are tax deductible.
We believe in supporting local businesses. Wherever possible, we have linked items to local retailers. Please consider supporting the community we love when sharing your generosity with us!
