What if children are far more capable than we imagine?

Origins at Shoal Creek, an Acton Affiliate, is an innovative school located in Pleasant Valley, Missouri.

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“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, Rethink Education

“The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.”Heather Staker, Ready to Blend

"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart

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Experience how we're transforming education in this documentary.

“The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.”Heather Staker, Ready to Blend

“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, Rethink Education

"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart

What makes
Origins at Shoal Creek different?

01
Young people doing challenging work at their own pace.
Kids learning at Acton
Acton Campus in Austin
02
Collaborating on real-world projects.
Girl in Acton Campus
03
Earning points for effort and badges for mastery.
04
Sharing learning in a tightly bound community.
05
Using the latest technology to master reading, writing, and math.
06
On a Hero’s Journey, with challenges, adventures, fellow travelers, and guides.

Expansive Learning Environment

Origins at Shoal Creek offers a large learning space with multiple classrooms, all housed within a secure and monitored church. Our facility includes a dedicated game room, providing students with a dynamic and safe environment where education and play go hand in hand.

The Elementary Studio
The Spark Studio

Learner-driven communities run by heroes-in-the-making

Self-management and self-governance are celebrated daily by learners who use 21st Century skills to tackle real world projects, inspired by classic heroes in a tightly bound community with extremely high standards.

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01:21

The Hero's Journey

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Learn more about how Acton Academy turns learning upside down.
"A remarkable book that captures the powerful journeys of Acton Academy’s founders, students, parent community, and — I hope — the future of education around the globe. Any school, whether traditional or innovative, will gain insights from this magical place.”
Ted Dintersmith
Education Author, Film Producer, and Philanthropist
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Our Mission

We believe each child who joins the Origins KC community finds their God-given calling that will ignite their curiosity, unlock their pursuit of truth, and change the world for the better.

"I would never have believed children could learn so much from each other...
until I saw it with my own eyes. The lessons of self-management and self-governance have prepared our fifth-grade daughter to be a lifelong learner.”
Parent, Elementary Studio

Begin your Family's Journey

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Hi, I'm Caitlin McKnight

I'm the Owner and Co-Manager of Origins at Shoal Creek

Have questions? We'd love to hear from you!

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