Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Elon Musk’s foundation is pouring millions of dollars into a new private school in Texas, just minutes away from SpaceX headquarters, that’s heavily influenced by the tech billionaire’s educational vision, according to a new report and a look inside. Ad Astra (which means “to the stars” in Latin) is located in rural Bastrop, Texas, outside Austin, just five minutes from a corporate complex that’s home to SpaceX, the Boring Company and, shortly, Musk’s X social media company. The school, for students in two groups ages three to nine, is owned by an Austin-based company linked to the X Foundation. The X Foundation doesn’t have any formal association with Musk, but it has 736,500 shares of Tesla Inc. stock and was given $100 million for the new school by the Musk Foundation, reports The Texas Newsroom. The curriculum is inspired by the Montessori educational philosophy, which emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world skills through self-directed learning depending on children’s interests. The school also focuses on a STEM approach: science, technology, engineering and math. Educators encourage “individualized exploration,” according to its website and a copy of the curriculum obtained by the The Texas Newsroom. The school can reportedly accommodate up to 21 students. open image in gallery