Elon Musk is not only trying to increase the population of the US by impregnating the workers in his companies, but he is also building schools for the children. Musk’s private school in Texas began accepting applications Wednesday, according to a tweet from Ad Astra School. Opening in the fall, applications are open to all children ages 3-9, according to the school’s website.
Ad Astra was founded in Los Angeles in 2014 to serve Musk’s children and the children of a number of employees from his companies such as SpaceX. The school was reportedly closed in 2020 during the covid crisis but is resuming for the 2024-2025 school year in Bastrop, Texas.
Musk’s tunnel manufacturing company The Boring Company is based in Bastrop, Tesla’s headquarters are based in nearby Austin, and SpaceX will officially relocate to Starbase, Texas, about five hours south.
Musk’s approach to learning was unorthodox, to say the least. Shortly after the launch of the school, the billionaire told an interviewer that he does not believe in dividing children into castes.
“I make all the kids take the same grade at the same time, like an assembly line,” Musk was quoted as saying back in 2015. “It makes more sense to provide education to suit their abilities and talents.”
The school’s website notes that 18 children aged 3-6 (called the primary level) and 30 children aged 6-9 (called the lower level) will be accepted for the coming school year. And while it’s not entirely clear why you’d make 3-year-old and 9-year-old children try to learn the same thing at the same time, or if that’s still the plan, we’re sure Musk has his reasons.
“Ad Astra’s mission is to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and creators,” the school said on its website. “Ad Astra’s approach to education focuses on hands-on, project-based learning, where children are encouraged to explore, experiment, and find solutions to real-world problems. Ad Astra provides a progressive learning environment that emphasizes the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) into its curriculum.”
It’s unclear how Musk’s politics might affect the school, as the tech mogul has leaned heavily on the far-right version of the world lately. From promoting extreme racist conspiracy theories to spreading anti-transnationalism, Musk is probably not the kind of guy any average American would want to teach their kids. But Musk will not be a teacher, of course, just a boy who will always be associated with the school.
For its part, Ad Astra School has several disclaimers about not discriminating based on “race, color, national origin and national origin.” Discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity does not appear to be mentioned.
As Forbes notes, Musk has been buying land in Bastrop since at least 2021, concerned locals are worried about his presence in the community, including the environmental impact of the SpaceX launch and the way the company handles wastewater.
Ad Astra School did not immediately respond to emailed questions Thursday morning. Gizmodo will update this post when we hear back.
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