AUSTIN, Texas — Elon Musk has secured a permit to officially open his new Montessori school in Bastrop County.
The permit was issued last week and officially allows the school, named Ad Astra, to begin teaching.
The school’s curriculum is focused on STEM-based education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for children between the ages of 3 and 9. It is the first of many schools Musk hopes to open, which include multiple K-through-12 schools and a college.
Ad Astra is a Latin phrase that translates as “to the stars.” According to its website, the school’s mission is to “foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders.”
“Ad Astra School admits students based on merit, regardless of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school,” the school’s website reads.
The website further states that the school is centered on hands-on and project-based learning, where children are encouraged to explore, experiment and discover solutions to real-world problems. It also states that it will “tailor learning experiences to each child’s unique needs, pace and interests.”
Ad Astra is the latest Musk-owned property to make its way to Central Texas, along with SpaceX, Tesla, The Boring Company, Neuralink and, most recently, the social media platform X. The South African billionaire also relocated the headquarters of SpaceX from Hawthorne, California, to to the Brownsville area.
The permit means the school can now enroll around 24 students, but will start with 16.