The Forest School: An Acton Academy

What The Forest School: An Acton Academy does

The Forest School: An Acton Academy is a private nonprofit 501c3 alternative school founded in Fall 2018 in Trilith (Fayetteville, Georgia) and operating as part of the Acton Academy affiliate network that originated in Austin, Texas. It serves learners ages 3-18 across four Studios — Spark (ages 3-6), Elementary (grades 2-5), Middle School (grades 6-8), and High School (grades 9-12) — using a learner-driven model that replaces grades and high-stakes tests with a badge-based mastery system, Socratic discussion, mixed-age classrooms, and 4-6 week project-based Quests. The school also operates The Forest School Online, a virtual offering for grades 5-12 accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission and ACS WASC, plus adjunct programming including a Summer Badge Accelerator, Children's Business Fair, and GAPPS athletics.

Underlying technology consists of self-directed learning tools including third-party adaptive platforms such as Khan Academy, portfolio systems for learner work, real-time progress tracking for parents, and a badge/Quest-based curriculum architecture backed by the Acton Academy network's shared methods. Learners secure and manage their own apprenticeships across roughly a dozen named host organizations (Chick-fil-A HQ, SCAD, Leidos Health, Apple Butter Bakery, Savannah College of Art and Design, and others), accumulating 20+ apprenticeships by graduation under claims of outperforming peers by 5-6 months in math.

The business model is primarily subscription tuition ($13,650/year full-day for 2026-2027; $7,960 for half-day Sparks), payable annually, semi-annually, or in 11 monthly installments, with a $1,000 non-refundable enrollment deposit. Approximately 30% of learners depend on the Apogee Scholarship Fund, which leverages Georgia's tax-credit redirection program allowing individuals and businesses to redirect state tax liability to the school at no personal cost. Tiered individual donations (High Forest Society $15,000+, Heartwood Supporters $10,000-$14,999, Canopy Champions $5,000-$9,900) provide supplemental philanthropic revenue. Accreditation is held from the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools (IALDS), the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC), and ACS WASC (online school only).

Name

The Forest School: An Acton Academy

Legal name

The Forest School: An Acton Academy

Website

https://theforest.school

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Forest School: An Acton Academy is a private nonprofit learner-driven school in Fayetteville, GA, serving ages 3-18 across four Studios plus a virtual school, using badge-based mastery, Socratic discussion, and project-based Quests; it operates within the Acton Academy affiliate network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor/Nature/Forest Preschools (EDACABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inquiry/Project-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAF), STEAM-Focused Early Learning Academies (EDACADAJ), General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Learner-driven schooling
• Self-directed learning programs
• Project-based education
• Montessori alternative school

Headquarters

HQ city

Fayetteville, GA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. 2026-2027 tuition is $13,650 per hero annually; half-day Sparks (3-4 year olds) is $7,960. Flexible payment options include full annual, twice-yearly, or 11 monthly installments. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit upon acceptance is applied to tuition.
2. Apogee Scholarship Fund (Donor-Redirected Tax Credits): Georgia Tax Credit program allows individuals and businesses to redirect state tax liability to The Forest School's scholarship fund at no cost to the donor. Scholarship support covers ~30% of learners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Forest School: An Acton Academy operates a private, nonprofit, learner-driven school in Fayetteville, GA, serving children ages 3 through 18 across four mixed-age Studios (Spark for ages 3-6, Elementary for grades 2-5, Middle School for grades 6-8, and High School for grades 9-12). It delivers self-directed education built on Montessori methods, Socratic discussion, adaptive e-learning tools, and real-world project-based Quests with badge-based mastery, supplemented by expert mentors and apprenticeships. Tuition enrollment (on-campus and online) and donor-funded scholarships are the primary offerings.

Product overview

The Forest School: An Acton Academy is a network of four learner-driven Studios (Spark for ages 3-6, Elementary for grades 2-5, Middle School for grades 6-8, and High School for grades 9-12) offering self-directed, project-based education in Fayetteville, GA. The school operates alongside The Forest School Online (a virtual school for grades 5-12) and the Institute for Self Directed Learning (a consulting partner). Core programs include Quests (project-based challenges), Apprenticeships (real-world work experiences), and the Summer Badge Accelerator. The school also hosts a Children's Business Fair and Athletics Program. All programs use badge-based progress tracking instead of grades, incorporate Montessori methods, Socratic discussion, and emphasize character development across four virtue domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Forest School (Main Campus) On-campus learner-driven private school for ages 3-18 across four mixed-age Studios (Spark ages 3-6, Elementary grades 2-5, Middle School grades 6-8, High School grades 9-12) using self-directed learning, Montessori methods, Socratic discussion, adaptive e-learning, badge-based mastery, Quests, and apprenticeships. 2026-2027 full-day tuition is $13,650 per learner annually; half-day Sparks (ages 3-4) is $7,960.
• The Forest School Online

Quantifiable outcome

• Learners on average outperform peers nationally on math tests, 5-6 months ahead of grade level
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Acton Academy (Austin, Texas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Forest School is part of the Acton Academy affiliate network, which originated from the founding Acton Academy in Austin, Texas. The network is dedicated to revolutionizing education, pursuing best practices, and protecting a learner-driven environment. Each affiliate follows their own methods in keeping with these commitments.
• Chick-fil-A HQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChick-fil-A HQ hosts high school apprentices at their facility, including visits to the Hatch Center for Innovation. Learners gain real-world work experience and professional mentorship at the corporate headquarters.
• Apple Butter BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for high school apprenticeships. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Leidos HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for high school apprenticeship in Managing Consultant role. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for high school apprenticeship in art and design. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Jonesboro City HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment host site for high school apprenticeship. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Acton Academy of SerenbeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate Acton Academy school serving as a high school apprenticeship host. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Pinewood Forest OutdoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Trilith business hosting high school apprenticeships. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Eva Clark EventsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent professional hosting high school apprenticeship. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• TranscendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization hosting high school apprenticeships. First-year high school apprenticeship opportunity.
• Mayor Ed JohnsonminorOthersMentor in Leadership, Public Service, and Community Organizing. External expert visiting weekly to share expertise and give feedback on learner-led projects.
• DK JohnstonminorOthersMentor in Screenwriting, Film Production, and Film Making. External expert visiting weekly to share expertise and give feedback on learner-led projects.
• Dr. David BullminorOthersMentor in Global Health, Science Policy, and Infectious Disease. External expert visiting weekly to share expertise and give feedback on learner-led projects.
• Wynn EverettminorOthersMentor in Acting, Film, and Television. External expert visiting weekly to share expertise and give feedback on learner-led projects.
• Jesse Lindsley (Thrust Media)minorOthersFounder and CEO of Thrust Media, an award-winning video game company. Mentor in gaming, behavioral design, and research science. Board member of local organizations.
• Evan Jarecki (Gimme)minorOthersCo-founder of Gimme, named one of Georgia's Top 40 Most Innovative Companies and Atlanta's Coolest Companies. On the board of Startup Atlanta.
• Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Forest School is a proud member of GAPPS. Athletes compete in GAPPS athletics against other private and parochial schools across the state of Georgia. Teams include Girls' Middle School and Varsity Volleyball and Boys' Middle School and High School Basketball.
• The Learning Accelerator (TLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit that featured The Forest School Online as a premiere example of virtual schools in the United States, documenting best practices in virtual and hybrid learning models alongside other innovative schools.
• Valerie Wright (The Selfie Xperience)minorOthersSerial entrepreneur and owner of The Selfie Xperience. Army combat Veteran with Master's in HR and Bachelor of Art in Business Administration. Expert helping learners understand real-world entrepreneurship and business operations.
• Fantasia McGuffie (Noiresh)minorOthersCo-founder of Noiresh (production company amplifying black voices in health), P.E. Guide at the Forest School, and active in personal brand building. Expert in storytelling, hope, healing, and resilience.
• Jon R. Star, PhD (Harvard Graduate School of Education)minorOthersHarvard professor and leading math researcher engaged to provide professional review of the math program as part of a comprehensive math audit conducted by Andrea N. Parker, EdM.
• Andrea N. Parker, EdMminorOthersInstitute Partner and Consultant who conducted a six-month math audit examining when and how math learning occurs, available tools and resources, challenges Guides and heroes experience, and recommendations for improvements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• AltSchool (now part of Linear): Tech-enabled learner-driven school network that pioneered blended project-based learning in the Bay Area before pivoting to licensing its platform. Comparable in its combination of self-direction, e-learning tools, and personalized learning — and a competitor for institutional partnerships.
• Bezos Academy: Free, Montessori-inspired preschool network funded by Jeff Bezos. Competes for the same early-childhood alternative-education families in select cities; notable because The Forest School's former board chair (Brandi Kenner) joined as Chief Learning Officer.
• Synthesis School: Online enrichment program offering project-based, Socratic, and inquiry-driven learning experiences for gifted children. Overlaps with The Forest School Online's upper-elementary and middle-school audience and competes on enrichment subscription revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Classical Charter Schools / Great Hearts Academies: Large network of classical, college-prep charter and private schools. Competes with The Forest School for Georgia families seeking alternatives to public schooling, but offers a traditional liberal-arts model rather than self-directed learning.
• Waldorf Schools (AWSNA member schools): Established alternative-education tradition with hundreds of schools globally using arts-integrated, developmentally staged pedagogy. Competes for families seeking non-traditional education but offers a different pedagogical lineage (Steiner) than The Forest School's Montessori-Socratic mix.

Direct peers

• Acton Academy (Austin, TX): The founding school of the Acton Academy affiliate network that The Forest School belongs to. Offers the same learner-driven, Socratic, badge-based model for ages 3-18 in Austin, TX — directly comparable in pedagogy, studio structure, and target families.
• Kairos Academies: Learner-driven K-12 school network using similar self-directed, mixed-age, project-based models. Targets families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling and competes for philanthropic and tuition dollars in the alternative education space.
• Acton Academy of Serenbe: A Georgia-based Acton affiliate that even serves as an apprenticeship host for The Forest School. Uses the same Quest, badge, and Socratic studio model, serving families in the Atlanta metro who are evaluating alternatives.
• Prenda Microschool: National microschool network enabling families to run learner-driven homeschool pods with guided curriculum and online learning. Competes for the same self-directed-education family segment and is more scalable digitally.
• Wildflower Schools: Decentralized Montessori-inspired microschool network. Shares The Forest School's emphasis on self-directed learning, mixed-age environments, and authentic child-led work, though more decentralized in governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/forestschoolPF
• Facebookfacebook.com/forestschoolPF
• Instagraminstagram.com/weareforestschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-forest-school-an-acton-academy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Forest School: An Acton Academy