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Acton Academy Taipei
Small, learner-driven microschool in Beitou (Xinbeitou MRT) running Grades 1-9 with no grades, no homework, and a Socratic project-based model. 2024-25 tuition NT$412,000/year; high school studio launching Fall 2026.
In brief
A small learner-driven Acton Academy affiliate in Taipei running a self-directed, project-based model from elementary through middle school, with high school launching from 2026.
Acton Taipei opened in 2018 and currently serves grades 1 to 9 at a single studio site. The model is the global Acton framework, built around the Hero's Journey, Socratic discussions, mixed-age studios and project-based quests rather than traditional classes. Adults are called guides rather than teachers. High school launches in Fall 2026.
Families who pick Acton are deliberately stepping outside the mainstream Taipei choices like TAS, Taipei European School and Taipei American Academy. Parent feedback centres on independence, intrinsic motivation and a strong like-minded community, with children described as taking real ownership of their own learning. The school explicitly notes the model is not for everyone, and families wanting structured grades, traditional reporting and conventional academic ranking will find a poor fit here.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 1-6 (Elementary Studio) | 6 | Annual | NT$412,000 |
| Grades 7-9 (Middle School Studio) | 12 | Annual | NT$412,000 |
| Trial Week Fee (credited to first semester) | One-time | NT$10,000 |
Reviews
- Small, project-based studio model in the Acton Academy network, opened 2018. Genuinely Socratic in philosophy: students set goals, run their own days, and progress through self-directed quests rather than a year-group ladder.
- Parents who like the model are warm about it. Several testimonials describe children becoming more curious, independent and confident, with one parent reporting their son went from tired and grumpy to energised and enthusiastic about projects.
- Guides (Acton's term for teachers) are described as nurturing at the lower studio and challenging at the upper studio, with older students treated as near-adults. Project-based quests, hands-on work, mixed-age studios, very small numbers.
- It is a real fit question. The pedagogy is some distance from a traditional school, with no conventional lessons or grade levels. Families who choose Acton tend to be all-in on the philosophy.
- Public review pool is shallow and dominated by school-curated testimonials. Transitions in and out of more conventional secondary schools are the open question for prospective families.
Head of school
Dr. Si Yi (Jenny) Wang
Dr. Jenny Wang is a co-founder and head of Acton Academy Taipei. She has a Ph.D. in Ecology from Duke University and has experience in environmental consulting and education. After her daughter's experiences in conventional schools, she sought to create a better educational option, leading to the establishment of Acton Academy Taipei.