How is the Citizens Academy affiliated with Acton Academy?
Citizens Academy is part of a network of over 400 Acton Affiliates around the world. We follow the exact Learning Design (Curriculum) and learning model that our owners helped create at the original Acton Academy campus. 

What grades do you offer?

• The Elementary Studio (ages 6 to 12)

• Coming Soon: The Middle Studio (ages 12 to 15)

• Coming Soon: The Launchpad Studio (ages 15 to 18)

Where is your studio located?
Our campus is located in between South Renton and North Kent, on 192nd Street SE at the Springbrook Church of Christ. 

What is your calendar and daily schedule?
We begin each year on the Tuesday after Labor Day and run through the middle of July. Eagles are in session five to six weeks, followed by a weeklong break to rest and recharge. Each day begins at 8:30 am (drop-off starting at 8:00 am) and ends at 3:15 pm.

What is your tuition?
Tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $6,500, payable in quarterly installments of $1,625. There is a $500 non-refundable enrollment fee upon acceptance. A small number of need-based scholarships are available annually, and tuition is subject to increases.

May I visit campus or get a tour?
As a first step, we ask that you please schedule a 15-minute call or Zoom meeting, during which time we can discuss opportunities to visit campus.

Is Citizens Academy a Montessori school?
We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy but, we are not a Montessori school. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands on projects and the Socratic Method for discussions.

Is Citizens Academy: An Acton Imprimis a religious school?
The "Imprimis" brand is part of Acton Academy's religious schools, specifically the protestant version. We are open to Believers, Searchers and Non-Believers alike, exposing children to the importance of mindful spirituality and stressing the historical importance of Christianity to the development of Western Civilization. Many of our quests and discussions have overarching and underlying religious and spiritual themes. 

Who was Lord Acton?
Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834-1902) was a Victorian scholar of Freedom who saw liberty not as a license, but as the freedom to do what was right. He was suspicious of power for the sake of power, which led to his most famous quote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." At the Acton Academy, we celebrate his defense of economic, political and religious freedom.

What do you mean by a hero's journey?
We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose, in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.

What is an "independent learner"?
Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.

What do you mean by a "running partner"?
Running Partners are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running Partners encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening and providing affirmation.

Will children be grouped into grades?
We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.

Does Citizens Academy serve special needs children?
We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia if they receive special training and believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.

What do you mean by "every child can change the world"?
We believe each of our students will find a passion — something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a Hero's Journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.

Why do you focus on teaching the "American Experiment"?
We believe in liberty and justice and the ideals of the American revolution as the cornerstones of civilization. In addition to experiential learning, we will study the American documents and the true meaning behind them, as we examine other cultures and forms of government.