I have two of my three kids at Grace Academy (third to start next year) and each year I fall more…read morein love with the school. Besides a fabulous education and a faculty that has high expectations of what our kids can do, their hearts are being filled to see God in all they do and hide His word in their hearts. I see kids checking on a classmate that is standing to the side, upper classmen giving hugs to my little kids and teachers praying daily with their students. I stayed for chapel just the other day (occurs most Mondays) and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed to know how my kids are starting their week, focused on God, and giving thanks to Him. There is a much to consider when choosing a school and these are a few of my reasons for choosing and staying at Grace. We are so thankful Grace is a part of Georgetown!

This is exactly the education my family and I have been searching for. Our daughter started at…read moreGrace this semester and is absolutely loving it. This is such a welcoming school that really focuses on the most important things in life. A classical education with a Christ centered focus. From the first time we drove onto the beautiful campus we felt that this was the right place for our children to learn and grow. If you are looking for something different than the run of the mill education for your children, this is the school for you.

Our journey with Hill Country Christian School began in a unique and very personal way. I first…read morejoined the Hill Country family as a middle school girls volleyball coach in 2019 and was later hired on as a teacher in 2022. What I couldn't have predicted then was how much joy this place would bring to my family and me. Very early on, I knew in my heart that I wanted my own children to experience that same joy, love, and purpose. One of the most beautiful things about Hill Country is how the school truly lives out its mission: to know your child, love your child, and prepare your child. The teachers go above and beyond in caring for my child not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally. Every day, I see the intentional ways they invest in him, and it's deeply moving as both a parent and an educator. The spiritual growth I've witnessed in my son has been incredible. He's only in Pre-K, but already he's learning to pray, engaging with God's Word, and building a foundation that will last a lifetime. Hearing him pray every night before bed, without prompting, is one of the greatest blessings I could ever ask for as a mom. What makes Hill Country especially impactful is how every subject is taught through a Biblical worldview. It's not just about teaching math or reading; it's about teaching truth, character, and purpose. Our children are learning to love Jesus through every lesson and every experience. This matters so much to our family because we want our children to grow in their relationship with Christ, not just know about Him. Hill Country creates endless opportunities for families to be involved and serve together. It's a place where students and families are encouraged to be the hands and feet of Jesus in every area of life. That kind of culture is rare. If I had to choose one main reason to recommend Hill Country to a friend, it would be this: community. You will find a deeply caring, Christ-centered community here. We support each other in tangible ways through prayers, shared meals, encouraging words, and acts of kindness. It truly feels like family.

We had a very disappointing experience at Hill Country Christian School. My son struggled to stay…read moreengaged and focused, and instead of working with us as parents, the principal, Tracy, took it upon herself to intervene in ways that crossed boundaries. After I had specifically told her I would speak with both the teacher and my son's pediatrician, she removed my son from class and told him directly that he needed to see a doctor for his behavior. When I picked him up, he was crying and asking, "What's wrong with me, Mom?" No child should be put in that position, and that conversation should never have been had with him -- that was my responsibility as his parent. This was not an isolated incident. I had emails to teachers go unanswered, and overall the partnership we expected from a private school simply was not there. Since leaving, I've learned that other families have had similar experiences, where the principal seemed to push an ADHD diagnosis despite disagreement from teachers and parents. In our case, both my son's third- and fourth-grade teachers at HCCS and his pediatrician did not believe he had ADHD. When my son transferred mid-year into public school, the difference was night and day. His new teacher said he was incredibly bright, just likely bored, and he immediately began thriving. He made straight A's, came home happy, and was excited to return to school each day. The contrast showed me that the problem was not with my son but with the way he was being handled at HCCS. We expected much better from a private institution, but sadly, our experience was one of disappointment, lack of communication, and a principal who placed her opinion above parents, teachers, and even doctors.

Teaching staff is not retained! Constant turn over of staff is a sign of poor management and no…read morecare for teachers! Students with disabilities and additional needs are getting a raw deal because of lack of funding, staff shortages and programming cuts. Students are being taught by volunteers and subs. This is not educating children, it's barely even babysitting. So very sad as it could be a great school, but it's being slowly killed by mismanagement, understaffing, lack of programming and teachers who are overworked, underpaid and under appreciated.

Ideally, preschool enrollment should help children prepare for kindergarten, or so I thought…read more Unfortunately, my experience with this school was a nightmare. It felt as though I had given birth to a little monster. Every day, the teacher complained about my son's behavior, saying he was running around, not sharing, jumping, and more. One day, we were asked to pick him up early, which was extremely stressful. We later met with his teacher and the principal to discuss a plan of action. Right away, I sensed an unsettling vibe from the kindergarten teacher. She claimed she was trying her best to help our son adjust, but stated that other kids also needed her attention. She also suggested we seek help from our physician regarding his behavior. Keep in mind that my son had attended daycare without any behavioral issues. My husband made an appointment with the doctor, who assured him that our son was perfectly fine and simply acting his age. While I was searching for a new school, we found one that reassured us about their staff's expertise. They informed us that their teachers had over 18 years of experience and that we wouldn't encounter the same problems we faced before. I am pleased to say they did not disappoint. My son enjoys going to school; we no longer have to bribe him. He has received a star every day for exhibiting great behavior without needing any redirection. One day, the school even allowed parents to come in and observe for a moment, and my son sat quietly like a pro. I truly believe the previous teacher was not equipped to handle kindergarten. The way she spoke about my child in front of me revealed a palpable dislike. Consequently, I removed my son from that toxic environment. Now, he is thriving in his new school, and his new teacher is wonderful!

Phenomenal learning institution. The investment in the children here is top notch. 100% graduation…read morerate. And best of all kids are prepared for college. Love this school .

Wonderful school with amazing opportunities and a kind, inclusive community. We are so pleased.read more

I've had 2 of my girls go to The Fellowship for Pre-K and will plan on sending my 3rd child as…read morewell. Miss Rhonda was a favorite teacher, very loving and my children have thrived with her. I appreciated they were tracking my kids progress from the beginning of the year did an assessment and then showed me the improvement at the end. The class sizes are good. And I appreciated the playground is private and shaded, during those hot days. We looked at 9 preschools before deciding on this one. They fill up fast!

I am not sure why, but I felt that I should give a shout out to this place, because I feel that I…read moregot so lucky with finding it. I have had several people recommend Fellowship Christian Academy before I even started looking around. I started bringing my kids here when they were three years old. Their teacher was so great, so so great. Even after they moved on from her class they would give her a huge hug every time they saw her in the hall. Now they are in the 4-year-old class and meet three times a week, and it has been such a great experience for both myself and my kids. So much that I already want to have my youngest go next year since the other two will be moving on to kindergarten, and it's such a warm place where the staff are so helpful and friendly. I'm sure that the director doesn't know my name, but she definitely knows who both of my kids are, and she is always willing to talk to me whenever I have a question. She also meets with the kids each week during chapel, which my kids have really loved. There are so many places to take your children to, and they range so much in quality as well as affordability. The Fellowship is such a great price, I believe, for what I get, and I have never had anything but a positive experience there. I know my kids are safe with the staff, and I especially love their teacher this year. I can see how much she cares for these kids. We have seen her a few times at the market and she greets them, genuinely happy to see them. It's such a reassuring, peaceful feeling knowing that your kids are in good hands.

Our son has had a wonderful experience here! The teachers and staff are so loving and great. We do…read moreboth school year and summer camp. It's a wonderful, safe place

This school really deserves 5 stars, and this is coming from a non-christian parent…read more Once you tour this school, you will realize that the daycares or schools that run like a business are never the types of schools you want to enroll in. The teachers here are very loving, and they are true role models that you would want your children to be around with. I can see that my child has better manners after she enrolled. The school operates normal hours from 9-2 pm, M-F. with early extended hours at 8:00 am. You may also come in for MWF or TTH. It is unfortunate that they do not have extended hours after 2 pm. The classes are very structured, but they are more focused on the breadth of knowledge than depth. Also be aware that if you enroll M-F, some of the classes may be duplicated for your children as they planned lectures to ensure everyone had a chance to participate. I think it might be a good idea to not enroll M-F and choose MWF or TTH. The only thing that I would ever ask for improvement is the extended hours and no food heating for children's lunch.

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.

This place is HUGE!! lots of space for all the family! Special events are here often, the most I…read morelove about this school is they aren't afraid to host religious events. They proudly serve a living GOD! This honestly made me want to live here in Liberty Hill knowing even the school system that my children will go to, has a good head on their shoulders!!