Elon Musk is funding a new private preschool in Texas called Ad Astra. The kindergarten is scheduled to open this year for children aged 3 to 9. The school focuses on STEM-based learning and has long-term goals of expanding into universities.
Elon Musk is expanding his reach with the launch of his latest venture: early childhood education.
Ad Astra, located in Bastrop, Texas, is a private preschool accepting applications for children ages 3 to 9. According to the school’s website, Ad Astra will subsidize tuition for the school’s opening year, and subsequent fees will be set in line with local private schools.
“Ad Astra’s approach to education is centered around hands-on, project-based learning, where children are encouraged to explore, experiment, and discover solutions to real-world problems,” the website says. , adding that the curriculum will be centered on integration. Introducing STEM subjects into the classroom.
The preschool received its first permit on Nov. 14 and is officially cleared to open in 2025, according to a notice from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. According to the permit, the kindergarten can accommodate up to 21 students in its first year of operation. The school’s long-term goal is to expand into a university focused on STEM learning, according to the school’s application documents first seen by Bloomberg.
Mr. Musk’s name does not appear on the school’s state filings, but his foundation contributed $100 million to get the preschool up and running, according to tax filings.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of the social media website Twitter, is not primarily known for his influence on education. But this is not his first investment in this area. In 2014, Musk opened Ad Astra, a school he founded for his children and the children of SpaceX employees, but the school closed to in-person operations after Musk’s children graduated. has been discontinued.
It’s not uncommon for billionaires to donate to schools and universities. However, Ad Astra’s opening comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in office. Mr. Musk, a close ally of Mr. Trump, is tasked with leading a new cost-cutting commission called the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk could play a key role in shaping education policy by advising Trump and lawmakers amid calls to abolish the Education Department and give states more control over classrooms. DOGE does not have the authority to make changes on its own.
“I think we need major reform in education,” Musk said at a Trump campaign event in October.
“The Department of Education seems to think its primary mission is to push propaganda rather than give our children a good education. That’s insane,” Musk said. “The priority is to teach children skills that will be useful in the future and to remove all kinds of social propaganda from the classroom.”
Ad Astra and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
New priorities for education
Ad Astra’s website says the school is not a Montessori school, but operates like one, with an emphasis on child-centered education and individualized instruction. The school application also encourages parent participation, with Ad Astra saying it wants “parents to actively participate and share their gifts with the community.”
The school’s website doesn’t directly address politics, but past comments by Musk, Trump and other Republicans indicate how Republicans are trying to shape education under the Trump administration. There is. When President Trump announced former wrestling executive Linda McMahon as secretary of education, he said in a statement that she would “expand ‘choice’ to every state in the United States and help parents make the best education decisions for their families.” We will work tirelessly to empower them to succeed.”
Reducing the federal Department of Education’s influence over education has long been a priority for Republican lawmakers. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a series of bills aimed at increasing parental involvement in classroom curriculum and ending “awake” classroom instruction.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk’s DOGE partner, Vivek Ramaswamy, has also proposed a complete shutdown of the Department of Education. Ramaswamy recently blamed the ministry for children’s low reading comprehension scores.
Ad Astra’s emphasis on STEM education reflects Musk’s prioritization of hands-on learning that equips kids with the skills he says they need to enter the workforce. Mr McMahon has previously expressed support for workforce education programs, suggesting that a focus on teaching children practical skills could be a priority over the next four years. are.
Are you a parent interested in enrolling your child in Ad Astra? What are your priorities when it comes to education in the United States? Share your thoughts with this reporter at ashffey@businessinsider.com Please.
