Heroes Academy: An Acton Academy 5771 North Discovery Way, Boise, ID 83713

"The journey to find Heroes Academy began with my husband and I pulling my son out of public school and homeschooling him in the meantime. We decided that we wanted more for our children than constant standardized tests, homework that took away from family time, and sitting at a desk for long periods of time. We began to see one of our children’s love for learning grow dim and we knew we had to find something different. All I had to do was Google “non-traditional schools in the Boise area”. To find Heroes Academy was like striking gold! Everything I was mulling over in my head was laid out in the Acton model. I soaked up all the information I could find about Acton and learner driven education. Our time being a part of Heroes Academy is what I expected: parents taking the backseat to allow the initiative and drive of the learners shine. Lots of wins and lots of messy growth. We have learned how to encourage and guide our children as they pursue their interests. Their creativity and initiative has been inspiring to watch! I love that my two children with a three year gap get to be in the same class. They also constantly interact and learn from the younger and older Heroes at the school. The guides truly give them the time, space, and tools to take ownership of their learning. And it’s not just phenomenal growth for the kids; the parents are deeply affected too! The school does such a great job at being family oriented and encouraging us as parents. I always look forward to the next Parents Night! I encourage you to learn more about the Acton model from the “Courage to Grow” book and from the YouTube documentary about the first Acton Academy in Texas. Then, set up an appointment and check out the school for yourself. May it be a breath of fresh air to you as it was for our family!"

"Both of my daughters attend Heroes and we've been amazed at their growth in such a short amount of time. The life skills they are learning daily will serve them in profound ways as they head out into the world. With an environment where they can set their own pace, they have found a love of learning, thinking and doing. The Socratic method used at Heroes is something I wish all kids could learn. To be critical thinkers is one of the keys to a successful life no matter what your chosen direction is. Having to be accountable to their peers makes them work harder than I've ever seen them do with a traditional teacher. They also never want to miss a day and they are in middle and high school!!! That, alone, is impressive. I believe in my kids and know they have the grit to accomplish anything they put their minds too. And that's exactly what it takes to be a Hero. If you are able to step back as a parent and guide versus direct, ask questions versus tell, and inspire versus demand, then this is the school for you, too!"

"I had the good fortune to visit Jake and Heroes Academy on a nationwide tour of Acton Academy schools. At Heroes Academy, I observed learners who were confident, capable, and independent. I observed crisp, lively Socratic discussions. I observed learners focused and engaged. And perhaps most importantly, I observed so much joy! I observed learners’ creativity and excitement to build and create and take increasing ownership over their own learning. Jake demonstrated a clear commitment to Acton’s mission and a high standard of excellence. I would be happy to send my own daughter to Heroes Academy! And I feel lucky to have Jake as a colleague in the Acton Academy network."

"We feel so lucky to have found Heroes Academy for our three children when we moved to Boise last year. Every school has a mission statement and set of goals that sound great but so many of them fail to approach education in a way accomplish them. Not so with Heroes. They put real responsibility in the hands of the children for their learning, to hold each other accountable (and be held accountable to their peers), explore new ideas through Socratic discussions and projects, and learn to fail and succeed on their Heroes journey through life. I have seen so much academic and personal growth in all my children since coming to the school. And the best part is that it's all been internally driven by them, not by me having to manage them. I feel confident that they are on a trajectory to achieve real success in their lives, both personally and professionally, because of the tools they are being given today."

"Where to begin?! One of our four kiddos desperately needed an educational experience that was not mainstream, we were looking for something more tailored and personalized for her. Something that supported her personal learning style and her journey. As a parent, I was so grateful to find Heroes Academy. I have watched our child excel academically while she blossoms in her own understanding of what character, integrity and purpose is. EVERY SINGLE DAY she wakes up eager to go to school, eager to reach her goals and eager to build better relationships with fellow Heroes and her guides. If you are looking for something more meaningful and more inspiring in your child’s education, call and take a tour, this school is something special."