I wanted to love Magnolia. We carefully chose this program because it presented itself as a place…read morethat understood autistic children and used modern, supportive, ABA-informed practices. Unfortunately, our experience did not match those expectations. During a trial day, a young autistic child became upset after a developmentally typical frustration in a new environment. Instead of observing the calm support, co-regulation, and individualized approach we expected from a program with this stated level of expertise, we experienced a response that felt escalating rather than supportive. There were also concerns with the emotional regulation of the leading staff member, and online records that reinforced concerns related to emotional regulation and safety. The biggest concern was the disconnect between the program's stated philosophy and what we observed in practice. A moment that could have been handled as an opportunity for connection, regulation, and teaching instead left us questioning whether the environment was truly equipped to support autistic children in the way it represents, or any child. Ultimately I did not feel comfortable trusting my daughter to Magnolia. I am grateful we had the opportunity to see this before the school year began, but it was disappointing to have to reconsider so close to the start of school after believing we had found the right fit. Every child deserves a program whose practices match its promises.

This is a special gem of a place. It's filled with kind, caring compassionate people who teach your…read morekids how they learn. They have a rigorous academic environment while having fun. What a special place to learn and grow.. Truly one of a kind. And the impact on my son and our family has been life changing. The kids learn manners, kindness, friendship, & teamwork on top of the academics.

Both my children went to this school for a year of preschool, even though the school considered…read morethem both to be neurotypical, after my older son got kicked out of his preschool for behavioral issues. I can't say enough good things about Williams. They have on-site behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Each classroom has a quiet sensory room attached for children who get over stimulated, and there's an indoor gross motor room that my son was able to able to utilize when he became too hyperactive. They have smaller class sizes, and were able to work with him one-on-one when he needed it. The teachers and other staff were all very competent and capable. We interviewed at several different schools, most of which had said that they would be willing to take him and might be able to meet his needs, but it gave me a great deal of Peace of mind KNOWING that this school would be able to with with him regardless of his behaviors. Both my children thrived at the school, where they were only surviving before. I also think it was a very valuable experience for both of them to be surrounded by this diverse population and the teacher was even able to challenge them both academically, even though they were only in preschool. They both loved going to school there, and they learned a lot! My older son was eventually diagnosed with ADHD, sensory integration disorder, and a tic disorder. He's now transitioned to public school. Well see how that goes. Williams set the bar really high.

Amazing school! I worked there for over 2 years and can honestly say I would send my own child with…read morespecial needs their in a heart beat! Please consider opening a south Austin location as well have numerous south Austin Autism families that would benefit!

After our son was diagnosed with Autism several years back we were basically devastated. All i knew…read morewas i wanted to provide the best environment and therapies that we were able to provide. After searching and researching everything i could find on the subject we decided on enrolling our son in Capital School of Austin which has specific programs for children with Autism. Caden has been going here for over 4 years now and has made impressive progress. The staff has always been very careing, supportive and professional. People in Austin are lucky to have such a capable school and program dedicated to children who otherwise have very few alternatives in addressing their needs.

One of the best schools in Austin Texas. If I had the money I would definitely send my child here…read moreso I definitely recommend checking this place out.

My child goes here, and it has been a wonderful experience. The attention and care he receives are…read moretruly exceptional. The staff is incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. The moment you walk in, you're greeted with such warm, positive energy--it immediately puts you at ease. The facility is always spotless and well-organized, which reflects their high standards of cleanliness and care. It's a nurturing, cheerful environment that makes both kids and parents feel welcome and comfortable.

From the owner: Success on the Spectrum is a dedicated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy clinic committed to…read morehelping children with autism reach their full potential—with no registration fees and no wait list. Our evidence-based approach features individualized treatment plans tailored to each child’s unique needs, fostering growth in communication, social skills, and daily living abilities. Backed by a compassionate and highly trained team, we provide a supportive, engaging environment where children thrive. Our mission is to empower families and equip them with the tools for lasting success—both in therapy and everyday life.

SPARK LEARNING IS THE BEST My kiddo loves everyone there. Amanda, Kayla, Laura, Melody, Liz,…read moreMichelle, Casey, Rachel, Erica, America, Masha... everyone is just amazing! My son has developed a lot since he started going there. Everyone is very experienced and they put so much effort into each kid so they can learn and develop :). I'm thankful for everyone there Would highly recommend this ABA center to everyone

We've been working with Spark since 5 and a half month. Kristen and her team are amazing. And I…read moremean, AMAZING. We've seen huge progress in our son with his expressive communication skills, social skills and behavior. Not only that our son is a much more happier child but we're a much more happier family working together to give him the resources he need and we have Spark to thank for that. When I first met Kristen, I did not want to look anywhere else and knew this was the place for our son.

Wow, what can I say, I feel like we won the jackpot when we found Magellan. our daughter started in…read moreKindergarten and although she isn't very good at adapting or transitions, she immediately fell in love with her teachers and school friends.. There are no cliques and no bullying and when we have had issues we have raised them with the teachers and they have jumped on them to solve them immediately, and unlike other private schools there's no sense of entitlement from the parents or students. Also, because the school is so good at awarding scholarships not everyone is 'rich'! The school also has a great parent teacher association which offer weekly meet-ups and play dates as well as adult only events. Each class also has a WhatsApp chat group so parents can easily communicate with each other. If it sounds like one big happy family you'd be right, that's exactly what it feels like. In terms of academics my adhd child has thrived. Diagnosed at 4 we thought she would struggle but the school has been amazing at supporting her needs and accommodating her. They also offer many different seating types from a bouncy ball chair, to cushions on the floor and other such. It's very holistic and non political and offers many diverse ways of learning. They have a calming corner, encourage reading and emotional open communication as well many other ways of teaching emotional and academic intelligence. They teach in Spanish from day one and introduce Mandarin from 3rd grade, they also teach following the international Baccalaureate which is amazing. It teaches the children self confidence through weekly presentations and teaches them autonomy. Honestly this school is amazing and now it goes until 12th grade we are obsessed and so you will be too. But, sshh don't tell anyone about our secret slice of heaven.

My son has attended Magellan since the age of three years old-- he is now in second and we have…read morealready registered him for third grade. Hands down, my husband and I feel it is best decision we have made for his education. Although it can be a bit pricey, we have felt that it has been worth every dollar. He is growing up to be a well spoken, well thought, caring little human. I love that he is bilingual, but I really love his open minded views and his eagerness to learn. The teachers... the teachers have all been so amazing. They are loving, caring and really take each student's personalities and abilities into consideration as they grow from year to year. As I said, it's not the cheapest option and we do discuss yearly if we will be renewing his tuition-- and, with each year this answer comes easier and easier with an astounding "YES". We love the school, the community, the parents and look forward to many more years at Magellan!

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.

My grandkids have been attending here since it was a tiny school in portables. I've got a senior…read moregrandson who lives with me, and he's gone here almost all of his academic career. He loves the school and so do I. Everyone is so helpful. Mr. Barnett is very responsive, as are also Mr. Nobles and the Principal, Mrs. Hagan. We love this school. They've helped my grandson so much. Thank you, CSA. Every kid should have access to this type of quality education.

I would not recommend this school to any parent. The staff speaks to parents and children in a…read moredisrespectful manner, forgetting the responsibility and standards that come with being educators and front office staff. As a single parent working long hours, I enrolled my child hoping for support and stability, but unfortunately, this school provided neither. Parents, please save yourselves the stress and look elsewhere. You'll regret enrolling your child here.

My daughter has been attending Ladybird Montessori since she was just 4 months old, and now that…read moreshe has turned one, I truly could not be happier with our decision to choose Ladybird. The growth we've seen in her over these past eight months has been incredible. She is constantly learning, playing, exploring, and becoming more social, and I love seeing how much she is developing and discovering something new every day. As a parent, there is no better feeling than being able to drop your child off each morning and feel completely confident that they are in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment. I especially cannot say enough wonderful things about the Nido room and its teachers. Ms. Kristina, Ms. Magadelane, Ms. Tobi, and Ms. Evan have been absolutely amazing. They create such a kind, welcoming, and encouraging environment for the infants while also giving them so many opportunities to learn and grow at their own pace. You can truly tell how much they care about each child, and knowing my daughter is in their hands gives me so much peace of mind. We are so grateful for the care, patience, and love they have shown our daughter during such an important first year of her life. Choosing Ladybird, and especially having such an amazing experience in the Nido room, has been one of the best decisions we could have made for her.

Couldn't imagine sending our daughter anywhere else. She's been apart of the school for the past 8…read moremonths since she was 4months old. Her growth and development has exceeded all expectations. I can't speak highly enough of the teachers at this facility as they're some of the most thoughtful, intentional and incredibly caring individuals I've ever met. Don't walk, run! Get your child on the waitlist the moment you find out you're pregnant. This community and staff is incredible. From head of school, to the teachers and even maintenance. Everyday you're met with a smile by people who know you by name and care deeply about your child's development and safety.

KIS has helped two of my children with different genders, ages, and learning styles successfully…read morecome up to speed in their respective grades and math classes.

From the owner: "Keep It Simple" Education & Research Center is a registered charitable organization working to…read moreprevent math illiteracy through the development of right-brain teaching and tutoring processes. KIS Tutoring Center services the following areas: Buda, Kyle, Austin, San Marcos, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Driftwood, & New Braunfels, Hays, Travis, & Comal Counties.