FAQ
Odyssey FM is a private school that is part of the network of 300+ Acton Academies around the world. We follow the same exact learning design (curriculum) and learning model created at the original Acton Academy campus. We are the only campus in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Yes, absolutely. While Odyssey is located in Moorhead, many of our families come from Fargo and surrounding areas. We're proud to serve as a learner-driven private school alternative for Fargo families looking for personalized, project-based education.
Odyssey is a mixed-age studio offers enrollment for K-5. We are still accepting kindergarten and elementary aged learners. As the founding group matures, we will grow into additional studios for older learners.
Our campus is located near Ellen Hopkins inside Christ the King Lutheran Church at 1900 14th St S Moorhead, MN 56560. We serve the greater Fargo-Moorhead area including West Fargo, Fargo, and Moorhead.
Our calendar follows a similar academic calendar to public schools. You can view the school calendar - Odyssey FM Academic Calendar.
Our tuition is $850 per month, with an additional $500 annual supply fee that covers materials, including a personal Chromebook for each learner.
We’re proud to offer one of the most affordable project-based, learner-driven education options in the Fargo–Moorhead area. Many local Montessori and alternative schools charge $1,000 or more per month, and we’re committed to keeping our pricing accessible while delivering a high-quality experience.
We also offer sibling discounts to help make tuition more manageable for families with multiple children enrolled.
At Odyssey, we believe the right fit between families and our learning community matters most. If tuition feels like a barrier, we encourage you to reach out—we have financial support options and are happy to explore solutions with you privately and respectfully. Contact us for more information.
We do offer scholarships on a case by case basis. Contact us for more information.
Our owners are Christians and believe that it is our calling to use our gifts to serve, help, and love our neighbor. Because Acton Academy encourages exploration and independent learning, we leave the teaching of specific doctrine up to individual families. Children and families of all faiths are welcome at Odyssey.
We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy, but we look to enhance Montessori's practices. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hand-on projects, and the Socratic method for discussions.
We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.
A microschool is a small, personalized learning environment that emphasizes student-driven learning, hands-on projects, and flexibility.
Odyssey is a private microschool — blending the best of private education with the freedom and creativity of a student-led environment
We're new and we get it! Sometimes people might call us Odyssey Fargo, Odyssey School Fargo, Odyssey Academy, Odyssey Microschool, Odyssey FM School, Fargo Acton Academy, or Moorhead Acton Academy. We go by Odyssey or Odyssey: An Acton Academy.
Odyssey follows the Acton Academy model, which includes Socratic discussions, real-world projects, goal-setting, and entrepreneurial learning.
Students who are curious, self-motivated, respectful, and love to learn! Our environment is an accelerator for the independent learner who can tackle challenging questions, follow instructions, and solve problems.
We highly encourage you to take the time to read “Courage to Grow” by founder Laura Sandefer. Her book gives an inside glimpse into Acton Academy. We do encourage you to be intentional about your decision to apply to our school. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to guide you in the process!
Yes! The school is accredited through the International Association of Learner Driven Schools.
We are also held accountable by the Acton Academy standards that have driven 300+ schools to excellence.
At Odyssey we believe in learning to be and learning to do. An important part of this is encouraging kids to take responsibility for their own behavior and hold those around them to a high standard. When something isn’t working, we want our students to work together to solve the problem, not look for an adult to solve it for them. This creates a sense of independence and confidence that will serve them well in all areas of life.
We believe each of our students will find a passion - something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child's eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a hero's journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.
We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.
Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don’t know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions and strive for mastery.
At Odyssey we believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar in about 90 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. The two are highly complementary.
We are not trained to serve children with serious learning challenges. We have little experience with severe learning disabilities on our campus. We have found that with off-campus specialized training, dyslexic learners can thrive at Acton, and that ADD/ADHD does not seem to be an issue in our studios. Any child who requires 1 on 1 assistance by an adult would not be a good fit with Odyssey as this goes against the learner driven model which requires no instruction and more guiding.
Odyssey offers a learner-driven education model that goes beyond traditional Fargo private schools. We focus on mastery learning, real-world projects, and personalized growth — helping each student take ownership of their education.
We want to serve families the best we can and would love to expand a K-5 location to Fargo or West Fargo.
We are not a charter school. This helps us be selective to make sure we bring on the right families who want to go through the Hero's Journey with us.
Our focus on learner-driven education, small groups, and purpose-filled learning sets us apart from traditional models. Every child is seen, known, and empowered to take ownership of their education.
We’re a registered private school with a flexible, homeschool-friendly feel — offering structure, social connection, and learner autonomy. Read our quick write-up on schools in our area.