Saved Schools

Acton Academy Venice Beach

Acton Academy Venice Beach, nominated by Mastery Transcript Consortium, is a elementary/middle/high school in Venice, California that describes itself as a independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

Location Venice, California

Governance Independent (private) school

Grades Elementary, High, Middle

Students 14

Locale urban

Head of School Dani Foltz-Smith

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Students with Disabilities

Free/Reduced Lunch

English Learners

White 70%

Hispanic/Latino

Black/African American

2+ Races 15%

American Indian

Asian 15%

Hawaiian National

Why Acton Academy Venice Beach was nominated

The school has implemented mastery-based learning system and uses the Mastery Transcript as the official summative record for some or all graduates or supplements the legacy transcript with the MTC Learning Record reporting on "durable skills) (aka "portrait of a gradudate" competencies).

Student experience design

Our project-based approach with a narrative format allows for the learners to apply knowledge across subjects and disciplines allowing for deeper learning and understanding. The daily learning objective is for each student to learn how to learn, learn how to do and learn how to be. Through personal empowerment, agency, and responsibility, character growth drives our curriculum with students taking charge of managing and governing their own learning path and school community. Each graduate will be equipped to lead an organization, create curriculum, and inspire others to follow a Hero’s Journey.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Advancement On Mastery

5+ years

Co-leadership

5+ years

Competency/mastery-based Education

5+ years

Multi-age Classrooms

5+ years

Peer To Peer Support

5+ years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Student Advisories

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Prep And Work-based Learning

Community And Business Partnerships

Competency Framework

Extended Learning Opportunities

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values

Interdisciplinary

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

1:1 Mentoring

No Tracked Classes

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Project-based Learning

Performance Based Assessment

Place-based Learning

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Social Justice Focus

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Improve academic achievement

Date Updated: April 2025

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.