We transferred here to 1st grade from a public charter school and I didn't realize how unhappy my…read moredaughter was at the charter school until she was enrolled in Sankalpa and seeing the difference. She now looks forward to going to school and describes school as awesome and fun - every parents dream come true for their kid to love school! She now comes home singing songs whereas before she needed to disconnect and would beg to watch TV (she's not interested in TV since Sankalpa - I think the environment fosters self esteem and love of productivity). She does yoga, learns Chinese and Spanish, and the staff are unflinching in their standards for teaching the children grace and curtesy. I'd say this school is great for any child, but more for children and parents who: 1. Like a quieter learning environment: it gets loud, but at specific times. During the work hours it's quiet and relaxed. 2. Love nature (they're often out and even with clipboards studying things like plants and fractals) 3. Like forging deeper relationships with others: because of the more intimate setting, you're going to interact with parents and the teachers every day. This isn't for everyone, but if you like that sense of community and extended family, it's like that here. 4. Are ok with their child not taking state tests: there are other tests given (one of the very cool things about Sankalpa, it's what first perked my ears) to see where the child is in their learning, and then to tweak their learning program to "fill in the gaps" so to speak. This is how every child has their own individual learning program. 5. Are willing to pay tuition: I was worried about this until I saw how much she loved school and learning, then I realized it was the best investment ever. They're only this little once, and it's the best thing ever to find the school where they can thrive and be enlivened. 6. Want experienced teachers: Sankalpa might be a new school but all the teachers are seasoned and it shows in their interactions with the kids. The principal also has worked at nearly all the alternative schools in Austin so she knows what's what. 7. Are okay with going through Sankalpas admission process: for us this was actually fun, but everyone is different. We enjoyed taking the tour, meeting with the principal and spending an hour getting to know each other, and our daughter loved her trial time at the school which was a week, some kids might be longer or shorter. I loved going through all this because it really helped us make a decision based on facts rather a feeling. It's like getting to know someone before getting married or making a commitment. :) If you're considering Sankalpa at least go through the admission process, it's the best way to really know if it's the right match for your family (but more importantly your child).

Our family has enjoyed our time at Sankalpa. We really appreciate how warm and welcoming the staff…read moreis every single time we see them - it is clear they are all dedicated to the students and to their growth and success. The small class size is wonderful, as it is a great location for walks and field trips. They do a great job of instilling a sense of ownership in the students - the kids are responsible for their rooms, their supplies and their work. It's awesome to witness them tiding up at the end of each day. An all around inclusive education.

This school is no good! The superintendents are useless when it comes to the safety of our…read morechildren. My daughter was left in the cold at one of the elementary schools because she was an hour late. I'm thankful I sat there because it was told to me by one of the staff she would have stayed out there. I don't understand why they hire these people who don't put our children first. I've had so many issues with this school which is why I'm looking into homeschooling. I've even tried attaching the board members to my emails and no response. They just don't care anymore and it's scary.

I currently have kids at Manor High, Manor New Tech MS, and Manor Elementary. I am very happy with…read morethe communication with the teachers at all 3 schools. Manor ISD is constantly learning from mistakes, and always working to improve. I strongly recommend MISD school district.

Inside Outside School has been such a blessing for our family. Our kindergartener describes it…read morebest: "My favorite thing is that the weather is perfect there and we get to play outside all of the time. I also like that our classes have rainbow centers." This school has truly transformed the way our tender-hearted, introverted daughter feels about education. She used to dread school every single day, but now she cries when it's time to leave. The nurturing environment, emphasis on outdoor play, and creative learning spaces like the "rainbow centers" have made her feel so safe, happy, and excited to learn. We couldn't be more grateful to the teachers and staff for creating such a magical, supportive experience for her. Inside Outside School is a place where children truly thrive.

The Inside Outside School is a dream come true. Really. I've had a child at IOS for 4 years now and…read morewe couldn't be happier with our choice. We did a lot of research when selecting a school. A lot. We did all of the tours, but didn't find anything that felt like a true fit with any of the alternative schools that strictly follow one ideology. Waldorf felt too heavy, Sudbury felt too unorganized... We wanted something in between - a small school with aspects of democracy, a solid curriculum, mixed age classrooms, ample time in nature and a strong support system for the social/emotional development of each child. What we've gotten at IOS has been so much more than that. The small class sizes make it easier for the teachers to customize their lessons to each child. There's no "teaching to the middle" here. Communicating with the teachers is easy and enjoyable. The campus is straight-up magical - you have to see it to believe it. There's a creek on the property and acres of woods for the kids to explore. There are chickens, goats, guinea hens, even a donkey, that live on site. Sadly, IOS doesn't accept 35 year old 3rd graders, or I'd be all over it. It's not all about the curriculum or the democratic meetings or the farm animals the kids help care for. It's not all about the gardens they grow, the amazing community of parents and teachers or the social/emotional support given to (and subsequently created by) the kids. It's about all of it. It's about being in the conversation of cultivating human greatness with a group of families and teachers that think outside the box and truly care for every aspect of each child. There's so many reasons that I send my child to IOS, but the main reason is that I know she is Loved, Supported and Celebrated as a human when she's at school. She wakes up happy every morning, ready to get on the bus with her friends and get to school. What a gift!

My ASD son has never been as happy as he is in this school....we did the public school, Catholic…read moreschool, French school. We did everything and then we found....THIS AWESOME SCHOOL . He is happy and engaged. He is growing as a person and as a productive member of society. All good.

Education is important to me. I have degrees in pure math and computer science. I have taught math…read moreat private, public, and charter schools, at universities, and in a prison. I waited three years on the wait list for my first child to attend the UT Lab School or Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Research Laboratory. She thrived there. Once she was too old to attend the lab school, she enrolled in a public elementary school. She spent a month there as I watched her spirit dim. I was afraid to try something as radical as Clearview Sudbury, but it seems radical was necessary. My daughter is becoming a real person who can think her own thoughts. She decides what values are important to her. She learns about herself. She learns from other students and staff of all ages, and they learn from her. The staff at the school treat her with respect. They are able to give her their attention and to truly see her because they are not distracted and kept busy by an endless check list. She asks me how to use correct grammar, and I show her. She asks staff how to calculate taxes, and they show her. She asks me how multiplication works, and I show her. She asks staff if her friend's sketchy story about giant caterpillars is true, and they learn about caterpillars together. The girl knows more about life cycles of different species than I ever knew. I am no longer worried that she will be at a disadvantage. It is clear to me that she is on the best path I can provide her. In addition to this, I have immense trust in the staff at Clearview. I trust them with my daughter's psyche, emotions, and abilities to communicate and use logic.

My kiddo is in Kindergarten at Lee. We dig it. It's a great little Art Deco style schoolhouse…read morewith a really classic vibe. The teachers seem happy to be there, and no one seems to mind how all us busy body parents want to hang around all the time. This place is a regular lunch stop for me, and I haven't missed a party yet. We're looking forward to 6 more years here.

Lee has always been such a highly regarded Austin public elementary school. While we live in the…read moreneighborhood, we really won't have first hand experience with the education for another 4 years or so....but the playground is a lot of fun for a 2 year old, a 42 year old and beagle named Maggie.

Wow, I have never been treated so badly at a school than I have at Summitt Elementary. Nicole who…read moreworks in the front desk needs to work on her customer service skills. She rudely interrupted me when I was trying to explain to her why I was trying to get into the school. I was appalled to think that someone can be like that. It didn't get any better once I arrived inside the main office. She was very clipped and short with me. Not sure if it was because I am a person of color but I have been told that she treats other parents of color the same way. I hope Ms. Greco reads this and talks to her about her manners because everyone else at Summitt is respectful and polite.

One front staff, Elizabeth, is extremely rude, ESPECIALLY towards Vietnamese parents. Love this…read moreschool but can definitely do without her nasty attitude. Not sure why she feels so entitled that she can treat and speak to student's parents the way she does but she sure do need to clean up her attitude or find another job to where she's not dealing with people. Perhaps one may get better treatment if they're not Vietnamese.

After some time at this school, I can no longer -- in good faith -- say that it has been a 5-star…read moreexperience. The people are (mostly) lovely and kind, but they are surely not openminded, innovative or fully transparent.

AHB is an amazing school! My son went here for 7th and 8th grade. He made quality friendships with…read morefriends that he has managed to stay in touch with. He experienced no bullying and only kindness from his peers. The teachers are warm and loving folks that enjoy teaching. I'm very happy that we chose to send him to AHB.

I don't generally write a lot of reviews, but I'd be remiss if I didn't commend the staff at Olas…read morepublicly! The school is absolutely incredible, and my wife and I feel so grateful we found it for our 2 year old son. He has been attending twice a week for about ten months, and we are astonished by how much he has learned in this short time. Each day he surprises us with new usage of the Spanish language...from numbers, to the alphabet, to colors, to days of the week, to fun songs which he adores singing. He gets so excited on the days he attends, which really warms our hearts, and on the days he doesn't go, he talks about his teachers and friends there. I would give Olas 100 out of 100 stars if I could! Thanks so much for everything you all do, and we look forward to entrusting Olas with our son's development for years to come!

Wow - this little school is amazing. My 6 year old had not been to school all year (pandemic…read moreconcerns) and we just enrolled her at Olas and she is thriving. We feel super safe there and my kid who knows no Spanish is loving it. The teachers are so sweet and fun, the school grounds are adorable, and we just love how happy our kid is to go to school. It's been a total dream. The teachers are super flexible and accommodating to our needs and it's just a super cute community. Thrilled and will continue coming to Olas throughout the summer and even during the school year. Muchas Gracias!

Our family loves St. Francis School (SFS, a pre-K through 8th-grade private nonprofit…read moreinterdenominational school operating for 30+ years near the ACC Highland campus in north-central Austin). After a mixed but ultimately disappointing experience in 1st - 3rd grades at a crowded, overpriced, chaotic start-up foreign language immersion school, our family needed a fresh start. Our once confident and joyful learner of a child had been reduced to an overstressed student who loathed school and struggled through hours of tedious homework each night. St. Francis provided the small, truly diverse and welcoming community environment we wanted for our child, with a balance of challenging academics, ethics reinforcement, and attention to the nurturing & development of the whole child by experienced educators who really know how to differentiate instruction to many types of learners. This approach has totally turned around our child's experience of school and his learning & achievement have skyrocketed over the past 2 years. His school grades are now more in line with his always high standardized testing results, and homework no longer comes to tears! Another parent reviewer said it well when she described the diverse and "unpretentious atmosphere" at SFS. Every imaginable demographic is represented in both the student body and faculty. People are kind and friendly and welcoming, and individual differences are celebrated. Every time I'm on campus, I just feel inspired and hopeful. Because SFS keeps class size (max of 15) and total enrollment (around 400) in check and teachers love the place so much they stay for decades, the small, cohesive "neighborhood school" feel is maintained. Huge props go to the incomparable founding head of school, Barbara Porter, who has since 1985 guided SFS on its core mission of "excellence without exclusivity." SFS backs that sentiment up by supporting 25% of the student body with scholarships and charging one of the lowest private school tuition rates in the Austin area, while consistently graduating their students into the most competitive public school magnet programs and private high schools. Another wonderfully unique feature among area private schools is the SFS Learning Center, where students with special needs can receive tutoring and additional services to support their success in school. Kids with learning differences are fully integrated into SFS classrooms and are able to thrive as part of a truly diverse school community. At the same time, a large proportion of the student body would be described as "gifted & talented," demonstrating highest performance in academics, the arts, and sports. Each Friday morning, an optional hour of "chapel" is held in which the entire student body and faculty, as well as any parents & family members who wish to attend, gather together in the gym to share an uplifting community-building and/or character-building assembly or pep rally to celebrate that month's achievements. It's not actually religious (although some religious content is shared from time-to-time; the school is named for St. Francis of Assisi, after all). The 8th-grade year culminates in a transformative Spring Break trip to Italy to visit the hometown of St. Francis (among other sites), and the kids raise all of the money for the trip themselves over the course of their years at SFS. I could say much more about all the reasons we love SFS, but if you are considering private school or are just looking for a better school for your unique learner, I encourage you to take a tour and see for yourself. Curriculum and other details are available on the school website at http://www.stfrancis-school.org.

Well run institution with a great culture…read more Pro: - Long Term: with over 35 years in operation, they've had time to build a strong program that will last through economic downturns. - Culture: teachers, students and parents are fully bought-in to the schools values (see school site for details). - Student attention: lower than average student/teacher ratios plus a dedicated, free-standing tutoring building adjacent to the school. Con: - Playground: nice but not inline with the quality of the rest of the institution. - Admissions: it's a centrally located, high quality private school in a growing city, meaning demand is high Personal lessons from our school search: After spending 12 months searching for the 'best school', we realized the importance of finding the 'best school for our child'. Initially, I was too tied up in rankings to spend the time to understand what was important for our family and how that lined up with each program. In the end, we loved the goals at St. Francis of (1) excellence without exclusivity, (2) a meaningful commitment to diversity and (3) attention to the needs of every student. Covid-19 update: School is really stepping up to deliver for students in a difficult time. The teachers are really going above-and-beyond.

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