This school is a magical place, we are so happy to be part of this community. My 3 children are…read moreexperiencing the joys of a slow childhood at AMS. It is hard for me to put in words how special, attentive, and dedicated the guides are. We love it here!

Austin Montessori School has been a true safe haven for our family through some of the most…read morechallenging years of our lives. Through every obstacle and transition, the school held us with steadiness and warmth that I will never forget. The educators here are exceptional in the most genuine sense of the word. Lesley Williams stands out as a nurturing, loving, stabilizing presence who welcomed our entire family into the community from day one. Her care extended far beyond the classroom, and that kind of wholehearted dedication is rare. What sets Austin Montessori apart is its deep intentionality. Every aspect of the environment, the curriculum, and the culture reflects thoughtful commitment to children and families. You feel it immediately and you feel it consistently. We are leaving with profound gratitude. If you are considering this school, I recommend it without hesitation.

Our two daughters (5y and 2.5y) attend this sweet little neighborhood preschool. We couldn't be…read morehappier with our decision. Here are the top 10 reasons we love it (in no particular order): 1. The teachers are caring, friendly, attentive & engaging for the children. 2. The school is relatively "small" therefore the children get great attention with small class sizes. 3. The curriculum is engaging & fun. My girls are so proud of the projects they do and always come home talking about what they are learning. 4. The staff is supportive and willing to continue learning opportunities we are doing at home (ex. Potty training, etc). 5. The environment is conducive for learning. It's such a sweet space. The kids love it. And both have done fabulous in napping there when applicable (my youngest has recently stopped but was a very light sleeper and never had a problem sleeping at school). 6. The parents care- we have met many families through extracurricular activities and school sponsored ones and they are just a nice group of professionals that care about there kids and care equally about the school. 7. Flexibility: the school has multiple payment options, day attendance options and can work with each family. We have enjoyed convenience. A great place for working families, stay at home parents or any in between. And it is reasonably priced to other far more expensive options we looked into. 8. Great location- very centrally located and close to downtown, central neighborhoods & easy access to Mopac. 9. Year round- extra bonus in my book! The school curriculum is year round therefore you don't have to scrabble for summer camp options. Care is all year. They follow the AISD school closures and vacations for days off. 10. The outdoor space is fun and always expanding! The staff and parents of Stem are always looking to make the outdoor space better! New this year all the colorful place scales in the back and beautiful gardens on the front. The kids love playing outside and they spend a nice amount of time outdoors exploring. Water days during the summer months!

This school has been amazing. The teachers are loving, patient, and passionate. My three year old…read moreson came home explaining the whole water cycle after his first week of class. They are small enough to give individual attention and be flexible. The staff is always improving the space and garden. Can't wait for my little one to begin there.

Talitha Green runs a beautiful Montessori program at Helping Hands. Talitha and Carrie are both…read moreimmeasurably patient and kind, in addition to being extremely knowledgeable in all areas of early childhood development (Montessori pedagogy and beyond!). Because of the size of the school, parents are able to get a lot of feedback directly from Talitha, and it really feels like she is a partner during these topsy-turvy preschool years! The classroom itself sits in a garden, and the space inside is filled with light. One of our favorite traditions is the birthday circle that is done for each child's special day, and we look forward to that every year. The parent community is also very warm and actively involved. There is no place we'd rather be! South Austin's best kept secret!

Helping Hands has been a wonderful place for my kiddos to learn. We have been there for the last…read morethree years, and honestly I do not know what I would have done without them in our lives. Talitha, the owner is super knowledgable and CARES so much about my kids. She is always noticing things that are happening with them developmentally, and we are a team in helping our kids to reach their potential and thrive. Talitha doesn't just teach numbers and letters, although my kiddos come home proficient in those things, she also teaches kindness, empathy, potty learning and manners. I also love Talitha's co-teacher Ms. Carrie, who is always smiling and so kind to my kiddos. One of the most important things for me as a mom is knowing that the place I am leaving my kids is a safe, healthy environment for them in all ways, and it has been just that for us. The school itself feels safe, clean and happy. The community is also super supportive and are generally people I like to hang out with. Can't say enough good things :-)

Our experience at Paragon did not align with the individualized, child-centered education that was…read morepresented when we enrolled. While the school offers a structured and academically rigorous environment, we found that the approach was not as personalized as we had hoped for our child's specific learning needs. The Valor program, which was described as providing additional support, functioned primarily as a quiet space for students to complete homework rather than a program focused on building executive functioning skills, learning strategies, or individualized academic support. Paragon's curriculum moves at a fast pace, with significant homework and testing expectations. For some students, especially those who require a more tailored approach, this can mean parents may need to provide additional instruction and support at home in order for their child to keep pace. We also found that the staff's experience and approach to supporting a wide range of learning profiles varied, and the level of individualized support did not meet what we had hoped to find. That being said, Paragon's main strength is its activity calendar. The school provides a wide range of activities throughout the year, and we found both the teachers and students to be kind and welcoming. For families looking for a traditional, academically challenging environment with a strong focus on homework, testing, and keeping students on pace, Paragon may be a good fit. However, for families seeking a highly individualized, child-centered experience designed around diverse learning needs, I would encourage them to ask detailed questions about the specific supports available before enrolling.

The staff at Paragon make all the difference. You can see their commitment to the school and…read morepassion for the kids. We have 2 kids attending and like the diversity, high expectations, and school culture. They both love this school and enjoy events like "roller skating week", pool parties, lots of after school sport options and overnight trips. This helps them bond with both students and teachers. Paragon offers high academic standards mixed with life skills. We like the focus on a well-rounded education with academics at least 1 grade level above the standard. In elementary, they are also developing good social skills, learning responsibilities, and planning skills for future academic success. (For example, Paragon gives kids a daily planner to track their homework assignments and get parent signatures for visibility). In middle school, there are lots of team projects, hands-on opportunities, presentations, and field trips. (Projects like running a small business during lunch and breaks.) There are many resources for parents and a great community within and around the school. We recommend this school to friends also.

We had the privilege of having two children attend Ashford Montessori, and our experience with the…read moreschool and its staff was truly exceptional. From the moment we joined the community, it was clear that Ashford Montessori is deeply committed to seeing and supporting each child as an individual. The level of care, intention, and professionalism shown by the educators is remarkable. Ms. Thrin is an extraordinary director, whose compassion and dedication are evident in everything she does. Her genuine love for the children shines through, and it is clear how deeply she is admired and trusted by the little ones. Ms. Ebony has made a lasting impact on our household. The structure, expectations, and lessons she instills in the classroom consistently carry over into our home, demonstrating how meaningful and effective her teaching truly is. Her influence on our children's growth and learning has been profound. One of Ashford Montessori's greatest strengths is its personalized approach. The teachers meet each child exactly where they are developmentally, emotionally, and academically, creating an environment where children feel understood and supported. The older classrooms follow a clear, structured learning plan that prepares students confidently for their next stages of education. We are also incredibly grateful for the practical life skills our children gained. In fact, we credit Ashford Montessori with helping our four-year-old foster child become potty-trained, a milestone that speaks volumes about the school's patience, consistency, and partnership with families. Ashford Montessori holds a very special place in our hearts. For families seeking a school where children are truly seen, cared for, and thoughtfully guided in their development, we cannot recommend Ashford Montessori highly enough.

Best decision for our family! The teachers and families have created an amazing community here…read more It's a great place for children to grow, explore, and learn in a safe and welcoming environment.

Our son has been going to TLLC for the past 6 months or so and we love it! The teachers are kind,…read moreloving and you can tell they actually care. The director is always organizing fun events to have everyone come together as a community. We couldn't feel more confident that our son is loved and put in an environment where he continues to grow and learn. They also spend a lot of time outdoors, (which we love and HE loves) do different sensory projects, and have story/music times. He loves going each day so that makes me feel confident leaving him in their care. Would definitely recommend TLLC if you're looking for a part time childcare situation.

I cannot say enough good things about Triumphant Love CDC! Our little girl was in the infants…read more(puppies) class. Her teachers Ms. Meghan and Ms. Vanessa were very communicative and really care for all their students. My daughter was excited to see them everyday. I was super impressed with the whole program. Unfortunately, we are moving so she will not attend in the fall. It was sad to say good bye. I cannot thank them enough for helping my daughter grow.

Our son started this year in the PK2 classroom. We did our homework and there are no other…read morepreschools like it. The ratios are SO small. He has 6 other children in his class with two teachers. His lead teacher has a masters degree in education and many teachers have advanced degrees. Kiddos experience enrichment activities during the day like music, cooking, spanish, and sensory. The hours allow me to be a working parent and have full-time care. His classroom is outfitted with things that are important to us- natural materials instead of plastic, lots of books, and open-ended play spaces. Yes, there is a year-long commitment required to attend but honestly, that was a selling point for us. It means his classroom community will stay the same the entire year and we will not experience the constant reshuffling that happens at "typical preschools". I work in finance and appreciate that, unlike franchise preschools that struggle with revenue fluctuation (i.e. 30-day cancellation policies), this preschool is operating with predictable and sound financial backing. Best decision we could have ever made for our child. He is loved. He is happy. I couldn't recommend this preschool enough.

We toured this preschool and they seemed to have lots of nice outdoor space, but it was summer and…read morewe were not able to meet any teachers. Even though they seemed very much in a transition phase due to the change in ownership to Trinity, we wanted to try this preschool. About halfway though the online enrollment paperwork, they sprung a year-long commitment on us (and an optional insurance policy that costs hundreds of dollars to get 60% of your money back). Most of the staff members seemed nice, except one who assumed I was a first time parent who didn't know how this is supposed to work. (Note: We are not first-time parents. With our older child, we had to move a couple times and attend multiple preschools in multiple states, and none of them required more than a 30-day cancellation notice.) I understand you are trying to conform to Trinity, but this is not yet a Trinity experience, and a year-long commitment for a 2-year-old who hasn't even met the teacher yet is not normal or reasonable. Another note if you are considering this school: Currently a child has to reapply to Trinity for Kindergarten. No guarantees that you'd get in. If they would bring their cancellation policy in line with every other preschool we have toured, we would consider them, but for now, we are exploring other options.

We are so thankful for this program. Our daughter just completed her first year there and the…read moregrowth and development we see in her is incredible. Monica is not only an amazing teacher, but an incredible support for helping us raise our children in the best possible way. Our daughter is so confident, has learned how to play independently and be at ease in a way we never saw before. Her imagination and love for art have grown so much, as well as her physical strength. She can climb trees, and play with just about any rock or stick anywhere we go. The love and dedication Monica put into this program and all the children is very clear, and the amazing bonus has been the great community of caring parents we have met through the school. We will always be grateful to have found Maestra Monica, our daughter looks forward to school everyday and we look forward to the years ahead being a part of this community.

Banyan Forest Kindergarten is a magical place! The kindergarten combines two of the most important…read morethings we were looking for that we couldn't find in any other school in the Austin area - a true forest school where the children are outside all day and a Waldorf teaching philosophy. Monica Martinez is an exceptional teacher - she is experienced, thoughtful, and intentional with her guidance to the children and to us as parents. Banyan effortlessly combines a true Waldorf curriculum (woodwork, knitting, watercolor) with a true forest school (almost the entire day in nature, kids climbing trees, playing in mud, running in the forest, jumping in puddles) -- it is a dream of a school & we are so grateful to have found this community!