Starbright is the VERY BEST preschool that a parent who wants the best for their child(ren) can…read morechoose! There are a LOT of options available in ATX, and preschool paves the way to the future: This is a HUGE decision for parents of young children to make! If you want your child to embrace their childhood exposed to and graced with age-appropriate experiences and learning opportunities, to learn about who they are and how to interact with & respect others, and to know what it's like to be loved and appreciated for who they are as an individual, then you found the best that Austin offers! I call Starbright the "Waldorf Prep School," as this is the underlying premise/"curriculum." My children now attend AISD vs. Waldorf, because we don't necessarily ascribe to Waldorf concepts when it comes to grade-school education/philosophy vs. the overall public school experience. For a preschool-age child, the freedom to be a kid --having fun, learning life-skills and experiencing Life, having bountiful learning opportunities, and feeling secure and cared for-- matters! Obviously for a Waldorf-minded parent, this is your preschool! For a parent wanting a preschool to solely/directly to "mold"/"prep" their child for their grueling academic future (which I personally believe subtracts from ultimate well-roundedness and childhood development), then Starbright is NOT for you. For a parent wanting your child to learn, grow, have fun, and be ready for public/private school, keep reading! The Director and the teachers at Starbright: The Director is AMAZING! Her experiential learning and degreed background (well over 30 yrs) as a teacher and guidance counselor are a big part of WHY Starbright is so awesome. She highly scrutinizes and hand-picks each staff teacher, identifying matching qualities included in their background/educational degree, and for a "whole person" concept and presence that exudes love, caring, and respect for others on all levels. Believe me, if a staff member doesn't "measure up," they won't last long at Starbright. But more importantly for a parent "shopping" for a preschool, rest assured that turnover rates are really low because the selection of staff members is so stringent. The teachers/staff at Starbright are there for 1 united purpose: To provide the very best growing/learning experience for the children at Starbright, period. Parental-involvement greatly enhances your child's experience at Starbright, just as it "should be" in the development of your own child. The more you can contribute in any capacity, the more the class (& your child) excels as a whole. I don't want to say it's a "make or break" (for those who have full-time working parents), but some of the extraordinary events that happen at Starbright REQUIRE parental involvement for the greatest experience overall. We attended for years (from 22 months to 6 yrs old x 2 kids approx. 2 yrs apart - both at Starbright) that included a plethora of involved parents: Our experience was far & beyond anything we could have imagined possible in a preschool! Bottom-line: YOUR involvement is what helps Starbright to fulfill its mission & vision FULLY! Starbright Preschool is an extremely valuable, enriching, and loving experience that I wish I had as part of my own childhood. It's not the cheapest, and it's not a specifically academically-focussed preschool. But what it IS at its core -what it provides to each child, your child - is a safe, fun, kid-based/age-appropriate learning environment that develops your child as a WHOLE person, adequately preparing your child for all-around success in grade school, Life, and the future. This review was written as my kids are currently in 3rd & 5th grade. I felt the need to post this after seeing fellow parents of Starbright "graduates" at a middle school (MS) for the writing test portion of application to the MS Academy. We parents couldn't stop talking about how much we loved and appreciated Starbright Preschool!!!

I waited a few years to write this review to have clarity on the situation and not just write with…read moreemotion. Four years later, I still have an extremely negative impression of this school. The blame, I believe, lies entirely with the director at the time, Jean. Perhaps she's still there. I get the feeling my son was accepted for an afternoon slot so Jean and Starbright could get extra money. There was no other explanation for why a new toddler would be accepted if there was no support available for him. My wife took him to the preschool for only 1.5 hours of the 3 hours we paid the first week so everyone could get used to the new situation. She would stay after to talk with teachers and let our son play on the playground. The second week, our son was there for 2 hours. At each pick up, we checked in with the teachers who assured us that our son was progressing as expected. This was his first experience with out-of-home child care. We knew he cried when we left, and we left quickly to make the transition easier for all. We also let everyone at the school know our son cries loudly and they should not be alarmed. On the Friday of the second week, we were pulled into Jean's office and told "this is not working out." She said that one teacher was out pushing him on the swings for the two hours he was in the school's care. The other teacher was with the rest of the kids. I don't blame the teachers, who seemed to lack experience, but the director for putting us and the teachers in such a situation, then not keeping us in the loop and "firing" us with no notice. And when she asked us not to return, she didn't even know our son's name! Our son went on to a fabulous preschool after this horrid place for 2 wonderful years and is now a successful elementary student. I strongly urge you to reconsider when thinking of this school.

We tried this school for one of my children. I didn't agree with many things at the school; their…read morepolicies don't require teaching licenses, special education and learning disabilities aren't a priority. Some teachers are barely available for meetings with parents and the outside therapists that support special needs. But really, expect to provide almost everything yourself that your kid needs here. And you might be mocked anyway for bringing or providing it for your child.

We have three children at HFCS--kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade--and we have been extremely…read morepleased with our experience. Our kids are not only happy but also thriving in their learning. What matters most to us is that they feel safe and are growing in their faith. We are so grateful for the dedicated teachers and administration who make our children feel truly valued and loved.

I believe that when students feel loved, respected and appreciated they learn how to provide those…read moreexperiences for others later in life. My kids spent four years at WBLA/ATHLOS. They made good grades and learned many skills that will help them continue to be motivated learners and good human beings. Since we opened our doors I have been a founder, a parent, a volunteer, a donor and now an employee of the school. I've learned that growing and improving year-by-year is what we do. Many changes have taken place over the years but they all are part of growing a charter school community to be the best that it can be. I invite you to read about Jubilee academic centers San Antonio and come be a part of the AUSTIN campuses.

WBLA is going through a lot of change right now. I think in a few years the school can be great but…read moreright now they seem to be working out the kinks. The class size is not small and meets the standard maximum size. My son is currently attending WBLA and his class has the standard max size of 22 students (according to TEA). If you have a child with special requirements I would highly suggest looking elsewhere. I wanted my son to be tested for dyslexia and all I received was push back. A lot of things got ignored. I spoke with the local public school and had zero issues. For this reason I am pulling my son out of WBLA and into a Round Rock Public ISD school. We also had a lot of issues with bully's but the school handled the situation. They moved my son to a different classroom because there was a child in his current class with high auditory behavior issues. They felt it would be easier to move my child to a brand new classroom during the middle of school year cause my son would adjust better they said. Not even a month later they ended up expelling the child that was having problems. Go figure. Overall it is an ok school if your child doesn't require anything special such as gifted program, dyslexia, etc etc Update: I have since moved my child to Round Rock ISD and wow what a difference. I feel Athos standards were too harsh for young children. My son was coming home with massive amounts of homework in kindergarten. He was beginning to hate education. He dreaded going to school. They kept telling me my son was a tier 3 but refused to test him for dyslexia. Also, they were suppose to assign him a tutor but that wasn't consistent at the school so I had to hire my own private tutor. Now compare that to Round Rock ISD. My son loves going to school. Bully situations are properly handled. Within first month of school I am getting specialized testing. And my son WANTS to read. He loves school again and he isn't bombarded with homework. He wakes up excited. I hope my experience will help you along your educational path for your child. For us, going back to Public was better.

Our experience with Sterling Classical School has been incredibly disappointing and, honestly,…read moreexhausting,for both students and parents. The part-time structure creates a significant mental strain on students. They are expected to manage a heavy academic load largely on their own, with minimal guidance or support. If your child cannot independently master material--and if you, as a parent, are not prepared to essentially take on the role of a part-time teacher, this is not the right environment. Communication is one of the biggest failures. Multiple follow-ups with teachers and even the dean, Ms. Taggert, often go unanswered. There is little accountability, and concerns frequently go ignored unless escalated to a larger group. For example, an entire class was failing a course this year, and it wasn't addressed until multiple parents brought it forward collectively, and even then, the administration seemed completely unaware. Student life is practically nonexistent. The workload leaves little to no room for social interaction or participation in outside activities, including sports. It's an isolating experience that can take a toll on a student's well-being. There is also a noticeable lack of stability within the school. Teacher turnover appears high, likely due to low pay, and student retention is equally poor. That alone should raise concerns. Another issue that stood out during our time there and even during tours is the lack of attention to basic standards. Hygiene concerns among students go unaddressed, and classroom environments can be unpleasant, which is surprising and concerning for any school setting. Finally, a serious warning: do not pay upfront. Families are locked into tuition with no refunds, and there have been issues with transcripts being withheld, adding unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. There were many red flags that, in hindsight, we wish we had taken more seriously. If sharing this helps even one family avoid the same experience, it's worth it.

Our family paid Sterling Classical School $13,000 in advance for our child's 2025-2026 tuition…read moreusing funds from our 529 savings plan. Due to an unexpected period of unemployment, we had to withdraw months before the school year began. Despite our financial hardship and ample notice, the school refused to return even a portion of the money -- citing a no-refund policy buried in their paperwork. We reached out multiple times, including through an attorney, and were met with a dismissive response. The school even said our child could re-enroll but still refused to return any funds, even though no services were provided. It's deeply disappointing that a Christian school would choose policy over fairness and compassion. I share this so other families can be aware of how Sterling handles situations of hardship and withdrawal.

Enrolled our daughter a year ago and it's been so great! she loves it and I've seen her learning…read morenew things and coming home with that knowledge. The owner is great as well as the staff! Not only is this place great with my child they are also best priced in the area! 10/10 recommend!

They left 2 students stranded on a field trip and never communicated with the mother that they were…read moreleft behind. Their excuse was, "there was no room on the bus". Can you imagine your child being left behind and no receiving ANY type notice or communication of what's going on???

The dishonesty and lack of transparency this school has shown during the investigation of an…read moreemployee has been appalling. We were one of the families involved in the incidents, and the school refused to respond to multiple emails from us and the other families trying to obtain information (despite being promised we would all be kept up-to-date regarding camera footage and employee response). They even tried to have this review removed. We also believe they are sugar-coating, minimizing, and even omitting information completely when communicating with the families that remain at the school. It's clear to us that they are more concerned with covering up their mistakes and lack of action than actually protecting children in their care. I would be more than happy to share the truth with anyone interested. Feel free to reach out.

I would truly caution anyone from sending their kids to Endeavor. As this school lacks…read moreaccountability, transparency, and safety. My child was assaulted by a male teacher and once it was brought to their attention they did everything they could do to minimize it and not inform the other parents of the school. Not only that but the head of school lied directly to another parent who inquired what was going on at the school. The head of school stated they couldn't do anything until an affected student had reported an incident to the school. I had already reported it to the school that my daughter was assaulted by this male teacher and happened to be in contact with the other Mom, which is how we knew they lied. They sent out a very misleading email with no specifics to a select group of parents letting them know that a teacher would be let go due to "misjudgment". However, I don't consider the touching of a female student inappropriately a misjudgment. Furthermore Endeavor had no intention on bringing this information to the appropriate authorities. It was only after a case was filed by multiple parents that they were cooperative. They would have likely swept this under the carpet. Furthermore, the fact that they allowed male teachers to be alone and without an adult female in the room is beyond irresponsible, this should never be allowed. Please really think twice about sending your child here. There are far better options.

I cannot recommend Challenger School enough! We absolutely love the school and our daughter loves…read moregoing as well. It is academically phenomenal. Our daughter improved so much within a short period of time and it was measurable. We have been super impressed with the teachers and the higher level of academics. Kids at Challenger School are a year or more ahead of their peers who attend highly rated public schools. While the curriculum is excellent, what we love the most about Challenger School is how much our daughter's personality has blossomed. She has become more self-confident and independent. She was super shy and had major separation anxiety issues. Now she engages everyone in conversation, and she happily participates in school performances, speaking and singing in front of a crowd of her peers, teachers and other parents. We are super proud of her progress and achievements! Challenger School is costly, but worth every single penny! However, it may not be for everyone. It is a very structured environment. You won't find any hand-holding or coddling, as they strongly encourage independence and independent thinking. They teach every student about personal responsibility. It is the student's responsibility to make sure their homework is done on a daily basis and brought to the school, and they actually want the students to do their homework on their own. It sounds crazy, but my daughter truly loves doing her homework! We consider ourselves blessed that our daughter attends Challenger School. We couldn't be happier with the school and the teachers. We highly recommend it!

Challenger for my little ones has been nothing short of stellar. My kids are learning well beyond…read moreothers in their age group that do not attend Challenger. They are gaining the foundations for respecting themselves and others and they understand why letters make certain sounds or why numbers add up to a certain sum...not just bc that's the way it is. The teachers are awesome!!! Especially Margaret Zachary. She is always willing to let us voice our concern (if any), is extremely cordial and insanely nice. From the front desk seeing Ms. Sara to every teacher there, each interaction and experience has been very positive. The parents that have their children in there seem to have a similar sentiment. If I could add more stars to this review, I would. If I could add flying monkeys on spaceships to the stars on the review, I would. Don't be fooled by the negative reviews. I have had my kids in this school for over a full school year now as well as summer and it's the best decision I've made for them in their early childhood development and growth.

I was a student here at Fulmore, and was part of the magnet. I was part of theater and choir and…read moreabsolutely loved it. My choir was award winning and we were invited to sing all over Texas, and the previous choir before me sang at Carnegie Hall. From an academic standpoint, I was able to take several high school courses like algebra, Spanish 1 and 2, and keyboarding. The teachers were always supportive and really cared about students. One of my only complaints would be administration. The principal is a very fake, disconnected, cold, uncaring being. She doesn't seem to have any sort of regard for student's or teacher's well being. Overall though, I grew a lot at Fulmore, and it enabled me to get in to good high schools like LASA and McCallum. I also met amazing peers.

The kids here are awesome lotta gay people which like slay fights and more it's always drama as…read morea student here I recommend Lively Middle school for your child