Businessmen Elon Musk has established a new Montessori preschool ‘Ad Astra’ in Bastrop, Texas, a one-of-its-kind, endorsing his and US President-elect Donald Trump’s views on education.

Located in proximity to Musk’s business operations, the school can accommodate up to 21 students aged 3 to 9.

Sited on a 40-acre campus housed in a remodelled 4,000-square-foot farmhouse, the school, which recently received permission to operate, is designed with a STEM-focused curriculum. Ad Astra reflects Musk’s educational philosophy of hands-on learning and skill development.

Ad Astra is a part of Musk’s educational ambitions. The Musk Foundation proposes to allocate $100 million to develop primary and secondary schools, and potentially a future university. Partnering with Xplor Education, which operates another Montessori school in Hawaii, Ad Astra is positioned to become more than just a local childcare centre. 

The preschool with focus on skill education emphasises exploration, with children learning tasks like sweeping, drawing, and conflict resolution, while maintaining a Montessori approach that prioritises self-directed learning and collaborative play.

The school’s website states “Ad Astra will be open in the fall” and “we are now accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year.”

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