Despite being advocates for public schools, we were deeply frustrated with our daughter's public school experience before coming to ACE. She had been identified as gifted very early on, but there was rarely any meaningful accommodation or enrichment provided; in fact, sometimes the opposite was true: clumsy differentiation made things worse by separating her from other students in ways that alienated her from her peers, e.g. "while everyone else does their math work, you can do your OWN work on this computer" or "you're going to sit over here and read a different book than the rest of the class is discussing." Not exactly a recipe for popularity. ;) She was bored with her schoolwork and was starting to think she already knew everything and would never need to work hard, which is a terrible lesson to learn, as it's obviously not true! However, we were most worried about her socially. For some reason, though she is a kind and friendly child, she just wasn't "fitting in" anywhere. At best, other kids didn't share her interests and sense of humor and just kind of blanked her. At worst, she was sometimes excluded or mean-girled. We noticed that she very rarely got invited to other kids' houses, and she really didn't make a single close friend -- certainly no "best" friend -- all through grades 1-3. I had a fairly lonely (early) childhood myself, and it broke my heart to see her left out and kind of straggling along the fringes of things. Finally, we decided that we could not let our child go through her entire elementary experience without being challenged and without finding a kindred spirit. We came to ACE and...well...let's just say we are wildly happy for her. The kids are diverse but like-minded in that they're all keen learners; everyone has a talent or an interest, and almost everyone else has felt "different" in some way, too. The classes are tiny, which helps to make for a safe and nurturing environment. She's much more challenged now in math; she's doing awesome science stuff; she's allowed to read to her heart's content. It makes for a life of interest, fun, and learning, rather than ambivalence and exclusion. As someone else mentioned, I only regret not finding this school sooner. She has found her tribe. :) read more

Both of my children attend ACE Academy in Austin. We are so very happy that we moved to this school and wish we'd done it sooner. Both children are appropriately challenged in their classes, learning a ton and having fun doing so. Material is never dry and boring but interesting and presented in a variety of ways. This is a great school for gifted kids and the administration and teachers are incredibly supportive and truly know and appreciate each child as a unique individual who each has different skills and different needs. The social and emotional support is thoughtfully delivered and thorough. My kids love their friends and their teachers at ACE! read more

My son was in the public school system at a highly-rated school for three years (K-2) before we switched to ACE. While the public school was doing its best, my son, who was tested as Gifted, was not learning much and, due to the funding shortages, was not getting specialized attention. In the Fall of his 2nd year in the public school, I talked to his teacher, and she told me that while she would love to feed my son with more advanced materials, she did not have the time or resources with 22 kids in the class. She was the one who told us that if we had the means, we should move our son to a private school. That is when we started our search among the private schools in Austin and decided on ACE after visiting five private schools in the area. We decided on ACE because of its individualized approach to each kid academically and its main emphasis on social-emotional learning. My son is gifted but is not neurodivergent and does not present any specific social-emotional issues. At first, we were concerned whether the small classes (there are 11 in my son's class) would be socially limiting and whether having some 2E children in the school would take attention away from "not neurodivergent kids" like my son to more neurodivergent kids but it has been three months since we started at ACE and we could not be happier. My son is happy every morning and is excited about school. We love how they have been listening to us as parents, adjusting their approaches to each kid when they deem changes necessary, and how they are fully supporting each kid in terms of social-emotional learning. I am only disappointed that we did not make this change to ACE any earlier! read more

My family and I were so very disappointed in this school and it's administration. Problems began very early within the year and when issues were discussed with Tabitha Head of School and her "team" I was told not to let the money (we've invested for the school year) stop us from leaving. I wish it was that simple and thousands of dollars could have been thrown to the wind but that was not the case. We stuck it out and it was a very long year to say the least. I only wish I knew what "Gifted" really meant before enrolling. Throughout the year my family grew more and more concerned with the words and actions that were coming from our daughter. She talked about killing, shooting and began playing violently with her dolls. Mind you this is a sunshine girl who usually sings songs about love and friendship and was not previously exposed to anything violent. When we casually asked her why she was playing like that she told us thats how the other kid(s) play at school. It was problem after problem here and Tabitha and other admin were cold and condescending. They insisted this was all normal behavior and implied that I was just having a hard time having my lo out in the real world for the first time. Fast forward: None of what we experienced was "normal"! Being away from Ace Academy over the summer and attending her new school this year has been such a joy! All of the disturbing behavior completely stopped and she's back to singing songs about love and happiness. The shift was very dramatic and such a weight has been lifted from our heavy hearts. We are all beyond happy to see the transition back to how she was previous to ACE and are so excited for her. If admin ever changes (again) here are some positives. Pros: Nicki Hollums (Director of Admissions) seemed to genuinely care about the students and their families trying to help in any way she could. Unfortunately to my knowledge not much was in her control. We liked that there was a variety of courses for the young kids such as art, Spanish, theatre and athletics. read more

ACE has been a dream for our girls. We moved over from AISD after the great COVID breakdown of 2020, for the kids' 3rd & 5th grade years. We were motivated mostly because AISD had too much on its plate with suddenly dealing with online learning & all the extra stuff they had to do, and we needed reassurance that our kids could be in school and not sort of spinning their wheels in BLEND, etc. It turns out that COVID & virtual learning concerns aside, ACE is 100% the right school for our kids. I only wish we'd looked into it earlier! Our older girl suddenly woke up easier, was less grouchy, and didn't come home in tears from feeling uncomfortable in school. Our younger just adores everything about ACE. They're both legitimately happy to go to school. The teachers are fantastic and the administration is responsive & really engaged. I've was impressed by the kindness & inclusiveness shown by the students, too - they went out of their way to make our kids feel welcomed from the very beginning. The kids aren't super competitive about school and are mostly supportive and encouraging of each other. No one gets teased for being a teacher's pet or for not fitting into whatever image is expected. Because of the small classes & their specialized focus, teachers have the ability to truly teach to the kids' interests & abilities/needs. Instead of just "more," the work is actually different - faster paced, higher level, deeper dive - whatever the kids need. For instance, our older child has gotten to learn some 8th grade math concepts while she's in 6th grade and to work in a tiny deep-dive math group. Our youngest is writing short stories that blow my mind. Our oldest has decided to venture back to AISD for the rest of middle school because she wants to be in a bigger school & to be with her neighborhood friends, which I understand but am a little sad about. But our youngest has declared she's staying at ACE for as long as she can, so I don't have to say any goodbyes yet! I highly recommend parents with GT kids consider ACE. It's been a lifesaver. read more

If you want to support a school that wants to encourage low self-esteem in your child by being so ridiculously anal about breeding "perfect" kids/students, then enroll your kid here. They have a list of 19 things your child must do right each day and if they get even ONE thing wrong your child will get a "sad face" for the entire day. Imagine having your five year old miss one thing such as "sits right all day", but all other 18 things right and be told he/she is getting a sad face for that behavior. That's psychologically damaging to a kid who is just being a kid and not a robot. There is a whole list of reasons why this school fails in addition to the above that include horrific communication skills and meek/inexperienced teachers. Think twice about enrolling your kid here. read more

Wow. What a difference a year makes. My son was in the 3rd grade and not doing well. His teacher seemed to think he had ADD. He wasn't interested in school, reading or seemingly anything that required work. He had a perfectionist mentality and never wanted to raise his hand, express his own opinion or try something new for fear of embarrassing himself. We started to think something was wrong and decided to have some testing done over the summer. Turns out he's gifted and many of his characteristics that we just didn't understand were classic signs of giftedness. The Dr. who did his testing suggested we check out ACE Academy. At first I laughed. Hello....we moved here and picked out a house based on the school system and the idea that we would no longer have to pay for private schooling. Then I sat on it a few weeks. The more I thought about it and the more I learned about ACE, the more it made sense. And the more I was convinced that my son would never have a successful public school career and his self-esteem would continue to suffer. So this past school year we completed our first year at ACE Academy. They are centrally located, renting out space in the Education Building at Beth-Israel Temple at Shoal Creek and 35th. They opened in 2005 with only 8 students and will start this school year with about 80+. They have flexible age groupings so that your child is always at the right level for his/her learning. They operate more like a middle-school where the kids switch classes between periods; so again, your child is always right where they need to be for optimal learning, based on their individual strengths or weaknesses. Robotics is a core class so last year my son spent the year learning Flash Animation and this year he will move on to the actual "robotics" part. My son was able to choose one elective and he picked Chess. Cool, right? Wait...it gets even better. Once a week, he gets to take Yoga as part of his PE. (And I have to tell you, my kid is like some sort of yogi master!) All of this is good and well but the best part is the change we have seen in our son. His little personality is slowly emerging, as well as his confidence in his own abilities. This is all thanks in part to the staff. They are incredible, amazing, grown up versions of their students, so they really "get" them! During parent/teacher conferences they really wanted to know all the little details about my son and what exactly makes him tick so that they can take that knowledge and apply it towards drawing him out. He likes Legos? Ok, we'll make sure there are math problems about legos. He embarrasses easily? Ok, we will remember not to put him on the spot. So not only did my son spend the year learning and growing. So did his parents. ACE puts on 4 parents seminars a year and asks that you attend at least 3. (There's incentive...you pay a seminar fee and get most of it back once you meet the requirement.) I went to all of them. I was so fascinated each time I went and not only learned more about the inner-workings of my child, I learned more about myself. I would say one of the biggest lessons I've learned throughout this experience is that as good as being gifted sounds, for some children, it can be like its own special need. And my child's needs were not being met in the public school sector. (Note I have a daughter who is excelling in a public school.) We ended 3rd grade not liking school. We ended 4th grade not being able to decide if Science or Robotics were our favorite class. (With Spanish and Language Arts close behind, Chess and Yoga a no-brainer). Friends from the neighborhood, parents from the old school, family....they all see the difference and I can't wait to see what this year holds! Information Sessions, 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1pm Pre-K through 9th grades *Qualification requirements read more

ACE changed our lives. My kid is absolutely blossoming, challenged, excited about school and not bogged down in busy work or test prep. It is all about the fit. ACE is perfect for my kid. It is not for all kids. It is not supposed to be. Sit in on some classes. Do the kids act and talk about similar things as yours? Then you will know. We are so grateful the school exists because it has allowed my son to enjoy learning again. read more

My two grandchildren attend ACE and have had a very positive and nurturing experience. The fact that the classes are small and two adults are in each class means that the children get individual assistance and this makes a world of difference for a quality education. read more

My son came to ACE in middle school after attending Casis Elementary for K-5 ( excluding one tear away in Utah). He chose it over the magnet middle school ( where he would have faired well I suspect) because he immediately felt more comfortable in the ACE community. After his first shadow day he said, " I'm going there they are all like me". His gut reaction was right. As a gifted and stubborn kid he is hard to motivate when he is not interested in a topic or activity. However, at ACE he looks forward to school, still loves learning, grows academically in areas he would have previously blown off as boring, and has the space to be unique. He is not bogged down with repetitive busy work. The teachers are high caliber and not afraid to delve deeper into subjects that interest their students. They recognize and support the gifts and sometimes challenges of this student population. If I have learned anything it's that my children do well when they feel most comfortable and appropriately challenged at school. ACE has given us that opportunity. They have overhauled the administration in the last few years and it has only gotten better-with true strength and vision from the top down. My only hope is that they continue to get funding and eventually have their own building. That being said the CBI has been very good. Overall- ACE offers an excellent educational experience for the gifted learner. The staff is passionate about teaching and foster a very welcoming community that continues to blossom. read more

Our 5th grade son recently started at Ace (one month ago), and I have never seen him happier. He was in public school from kinder on up, and never really found his element. He struggled in large classes, couldn't seem to find friends, and in general was not having the best experience. He is bright, but struggles with ADHD, and public school just couldn't seem to help him with either issue. At ACE, with its low student/teacher ratio, like-minded peers, and an administration that looks to help him in any way they can, he is blossoming and thriving. There are and will be bumps along the way, but I know that Ace is going to help and support the whole family throughout. I looked at a lot of private and public options, and feel like Ace offers the best path to academic and social success for my child. We are delighted to be here :) read more

I can honestly say that ACE Academy saved my 8th grader. Over the years she had grown to hate school so much that she had sunk into depression and anxiety that was so severe she missed 30 days in the first half of her eighth grade year. On the verge of medicating her, I thought back to the last place she loved learning, Summer Wonders camp, which is run by the same folks who run ACE. At ACE my daughter quickly formed close friendships with kids who "get" her odd sense of humor; interest in books, politics, and art; and love of debate. At the public school she had been marginalized and excluded for being different, but the kids at ACE welcomed her into their community by sitting with her at lunch, inviting her to help with student council, and adding her to the class social group chat. Social acceptance is not the only advantage ACE provides to gifted learners like my kid. One of chief causes of my child's anxiety came from the over two hours of homework she was assigned each night, which left little time for her to enjoy other activities. At ACE the teachers assign very little homework and the work they do assign is meaningful, project work that allows students to delve deeply into topics that are interesting and relevant. At ACE my child has engaged in "World Building," studied relativistic thinking, analyzed subversive art, created photo essays, and conducted cross-pollination experiments to challenge the GMO issues, all with less than an hour per night hitting the books. The most important difference in the education she is receiving at ACE, though, has to do with the level of instruction she receives in the classroom. The instructors at ACE are up to date on newest scientific advances, influential and controversial literature and current events, new teaching strategies. Everyday my kid comes home buzzing about what she is reading or hearing or discussing in her classes. She no longer complains about doing "busy" work or students who derail learning. ACE class sizes are generally under 10 students, so every student is heard. I know that there is no such thing as a perfect school, and ACE has a few growing pains, but the small issues they have pale in contrast to the problems we faced in the public schools. ACE provides smaller class sizes, deeper exploration of topics, innovative instructors, a focus on learning (not testing), and a true community of students care about each other. My only regret is that I didn't move her to ACE sooner. read more

We love this school! It has been such a life saver for my two boys. They are supported both intellectually and emotionally. The review from MC. is so opposite from my experience it is hard to even read. It makes me wonder if they actually went to ACE or if they work for another private school's marketing department. Vicki D. is another parent I am unaware of at our small school. I have to say that her review is a perfect example of a parent who is more concerned with how the school works for them than the children. The school is working to improve communications and has done a great job considered it's amazing growth! It is only 8 years old and it now has 165 students from 3 year old Pre-K to High School. The classrooms are small and the low student ratio is a great thing for kids who have a thurst for learning and a fabulous curiosity. As a former AISD teacher, I can't say enough about the best practice policies and the focus on creating life long learners that ACE Academy and Austin Gifted boast. What a wonderful school! read more

As a student who attended this school, I think it would be helpful to inform others about its unprofessional nature. Here is the review I initially posted on google reviews: "This is going to be one of the most honest reviews you will read for this school, coming from someone who attended there. I will be speaking for the middle and high school, however many of the things I talk about will be applicable for all of the other grades as well. First off, I have to say that many of the teachers were amazing. And when I say amazing, I mean that they were some of the best teachers I have ever had. They were very kind, helpful, and overall knew how to do their job. However, there were some other teachers, which were hired last minute and were not fit for their job, especially when paying so much for a school it was disappointing to see this. Also, some of the staff/teachers left during the year (around 4) due to many reasons which i won't bring up here. Secondly, some of the seniors were having a terrible time getting their transcripts processed due to some of the staff not being able to handle them, which is unacceptable due to the fact a public school staff deals with 100's of transcripts and manages to pull it off. The schools building was constantly dirty, had poor ventilation and felt overall nasty to be in compared to many cleaner public schools I had been in previously. The janitor wasn't cleaning the building often, and in fact I can't remember him cleaning the building at all, but that's just in my experience. There would be days when the air condition would stop working for weeks and everyone would be hot and sweating for days. Overall it was a pretty bad experience, and I would not recommend this school, which is a shame because of the many great teachers there. Regardless of the many other parents positive reviews, you have to remember that they were not in the building 8 hours a day, and only truly listened to what their kids had to say. Many of the younger children in the school didn't understand what had been going on with the building or the staff. It's a real shame, it really is. Because there were many great teachers that were some of the best I had ever met. And you could tell a lot of the younger kids were happy because of the amazing teachers they had as well. Last issue was mainly the students, not only was there only a few, and by few i mean 8, but many of the kids weren't the friendliest and it felt really lonely, and that's about as far as i'll go in regards to the students. You can refuse to listen to this, I remember being in the same position as you when choosing a school, but remember what I said if you end up having the same experience. Remember that this is mainly for the middle and high school, can't really speak for the younger students but as far as my comments on the building go, that's pretty universal. If you have any questions about the school you can contact me, and it honestly sucks having to write a review like this. But, I'm being honest." This may have a couple typos or errors, but hopefully you get the point. Keep in mind this focuses on the middle and highschool, not as much the lower grades. But many of the things are applicable to the school in itself. read more

As a teacher myself at another school in town, I am qualified to say that this school is a total sham, and i wouldn't be surprised if they wrote the one positive (lengthy) review below. First of all, the accurate portrayal of this school is what the most recent reviewer has to say, and I cannot reiterate enough how not only unqualified and completely inept their teachers are, but I also have mention again how utterly unacceptable their LACK of communication is, as the previous reviewer stated. Our son went to this school for a year, and we couldn't get out of there quickly enough. Their communication is so poor, that after a year and a half of no longer attending the school, we were copied on a private email from one of their teachers to a parent about his child. The fact that the teacher didn't pay enough attention to whom the email was being sent and violated the parent/teacher confidentiality is just one of many examples of their lackadaisical and unprofessional approach. Their belief that they are a school for the gifted and talented is absurd, and our son is much happier, more challenged, and has been instantly successful at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, more so in one month than he ever was at ACE. If you are thinking of ACE, do yourselves a favor and research some of the other private schools in the area, and you'll find a wealth of experience and individuals who are true educators. If I could give zero stars, I would. read more

I usually don't take the time to write reviews but I felt compelled because I know how tough it is to choose a school. I think the idea of Ace is great. Gifted children do have some special needs and my hope was that they could challenge my child in a way that a typical school wouldn't. The promises that were made at the beginning just weren't kept. We were told that the children would move up with their abilities. For example, if your child is a good reader, they would advance in that subject. It was very clear that my child needed to be advanced in a certain area. I brought that to the teacher's attention and had to push to make it happen. Then I had to stay on top of it to make sure she was actually being sent. There is no communication about behavior. I know there are instances when I should have been told about situations at school and I wasn't. There is a lot of chaos and a lack of order throughout the school. The big kids are mixed in with the little ones in the hallway. These kids will run the adults and little children over with no apology. The little kids use the bathroom with the big kids with no supervision sometimes and I don't think that is appropriate. There are not typical grades (1st, 2nd etc) but there are pods. In some pods, a child will be there for 2 years, but its basically the same material retaught. There are a lot of games played in the classroom and for the life of me, I can't understand the educational value. My child loved this school, but I think she loved it because its fun. I agree that learning can be fun, but I think there was a lack of balance. Too much fun, not enough learning. Too much chaos and not enough structure. They had a read-a-thon, which was great. However, my child was never congratulated for her hard work. The focus was on the money they made and the money the book fair made. I will echo the other reviewers who said communication was poor. Although they have been trying to expand to a second location, I don't know if/when it will happen. The kids usually do PE in a large room. The facilities are totally lacking. I think this school needs several more years before they can offer a good private school education. If you have a smart kid that you think needs to be challenged, I think there are better options in Austin. read more