Ann Connally is a Godsend to our family. I will spare you all the details of our 3 year learning…read moredifferences saga ,but in short, Ann was the third professional to evaluate our daughter in a 3 year period. I will also add she is the only professional who actually gave us accurate and helpful information.Ann has the amazing ability to pinpoint the exact learning "breakdown" in your child. Once she identifies the areas that need work,she will design an individualized therapy program for your child's specific needs. There is a reason it's called Austin Learning Solutions, she offers brilliant solutions!!! As parents isn't that what we all want??My child's confidence has soared,and she has truly been transformed under Ann's guidance. Book your evaluation today!!

My husband and I cannot say enough positive things about Ann. Our son struggled with learning to…read moreread in Kindergarten. Learning sight words was particularly problematic for him as was identifying rhyming words and following multi-step directions. I am a former teacher, and my bag of tricks was not helping him. Ann evaluated our son in March of his Kinder year and quickly identified fundamental areas that we needed to address. We also began a Listening program using sound therapy to target sensory motor issues. Ann is the ultimate professional, but she is also a great motivator and coach. Although my son had started to shut down at school and with us at home, he was willing to work for Ann. She is just the right combination of no-nonsense and positive encouragement. She knows her stuff. I immediately felt that my son was safe in her hands and that our money was well spent. As a parent, I learned so much from watching Ann work with my son, and she gave me the confidence to implement what she was doing with my son at home. My son worked with Ann throughout the summer after his Kinder year on reading (in addition to doing a sound therapy program). The progress he has made with reading is truly remarkable, and I cry when I think about the difference in my boy in less than a year. We were already beginning to hear him make comments that he wasn't smart and that reading was too hard for him. Under Ann's guidance and instruction, our son's confidence has soared. Not only is he reading, but he views himself as a capable learner and reader -- HUGE!!

When I first talked to Varsity Tutors I was skeptical because it's online. However, I decided to…read moretry it because it was webinar based and my class was small (3 people, eventually 2). I got a very flexible instructor Marcela from Mexico City currently residing in the Midwest to teach Spanish. She had such a jovial disposition and a good understanding of not just her native language and culture but ours. She pointed out what words or phrases no one uses and easier ways to say things. We wrote, we spoke, we learned. I'd love to do it again. I just hope my instructor is Marcela. The next person has very big shoes to fill. The courses are twice a week for an hour and a half for 8 weeks. They're fun but there is no syllabus and your learning is catered to you not a piece of paper.

For my first session, the tutor was 20 minutes late to the online session. She did not introduce…read moreherself or provide clear explanations or expectations. She was distracted and disengaged. She seemed to be looking at something online that was unrelated to the tutoring session. I ended the session early because it was unproductive. I do not trust this organization to hire tutors of quality after this experience. They refused to provide me with a refund, even though this experience was terrible.

My daughter Kloee is a junior, and like many parents, I was feeling the pressure of SAT prep. I did…read morea quick Google search for tutors in Austin, and a few names popped up. I reached out, and Andre got back to me the very next day with a professional and detailed email explaining his process and how he works with students. What really stood out to me was that he doesn't just jump into tutoring--he starts with an initial assessment to understand where the student is, then builds a plan from there. I'll be honest--at first we were a little unsure because we hadn't realized he had moved during the pandemic and now does sessions online. But I'm so glad I went with my gut. From the very first session, it was clear that Andre truly cares about his students. He was patient, encouraging, and explained things in a way that made sense to Kloee. She even told me she liked how he used real-life examples to help her connect the dots. After just about two months of working with him, Kloee's score went up by 220 points -- especially in math, where she saw the biggest improvement. We were beyond proud of her, and I know Andre played a huge role in that. We're planning to continue with him this summer to focus more on reading and writing so she can boost her score even more for the August SAT. If you're looking for a tutor who is responsive, thoughtful, and really knows how to connect with students, I can't recommend Andre enough. He was the perfect fit for us!

We began IST as one of the founding families this past fall, its first year. Words cannot express…read morethe camaraderie, energy and the love and warmth of the staff. My daughter is always so positively challenged and is exposed to so many different perspectives and cultures of the world. This is something very important to us as my husband is a 1st generation Cuban-American and I am 7th generation Central Texan.. To have the opportunity for her to attend is truly a perfect example of the American dream. Having the opportunity to provide and build this sacred space for our children is a true gift. As parents, we are all deeply committed as a whole. It simply does not get any better than this. To be a part of such a complete, quality IB program is something we never realized we could achieve for our daughter. But now, I could never imagine our lives any other way. The student body is collectively taught to respect and genuinely care for others. They are taught to honor and recognize each others' difference AND celebrate them. Each family and each child, each teacher and each staff member bring such amazing experience and life lessons to share to the table in this environment. You see it more and more with each visit. It just continues to grow stronger. The positive energy is palatable when you walk in the door to see the children and staff interacting. It is through building such strong foundations, socially and academically, that in just its first year, we are running strong with SO much progress. Such exponential growth has taken place at just at the turn of our 1st year anniversary this July. Again, no matter how much pride I try to convey, I cannot do it all justice. You must come see it for yourself to see where your family may become a part of such a vital, life-changing community. We hope to see you there! Blessed be.

$20k per year tuition fees with super average curriculum execution…read more As a parent expect to receive multiple extremely long winded emails every day requesting you make/bring something to school - I would count myself as very organized yet found it extremely difficult to keep up with all their requests Unusually high Headmaster attrition - we had 3 different Headmasters in 1 year - not a great sign Worst part of the experience was when we ended up needing to move a new town outside Austin and a new school - when I cancelled (2 months before the beginning of the school year) - IST insisted on not only keeping my deposit (I absolutely understand this) but the tuition fees I paid in advance. The school year wasn't even close to starting! For a not-for-profit this is a fairly shameful business practice and a terrible moral example to our children. After I explained my position to the (at least right now current) head Brian he looked me in the eye and agreed the tuition fee refund I was asking for was fair - to which he then sent an email days later rescinding this and denying me a refund. Shady beyond belief. For these reasons I would not recommend sending your child to IST.

I went and viewed the school and it was great! very clean and lots of great activities. But for my…read morefamily we found a different option closer to where we are moving. And she had been a bit snippy with me about her price and weather i really care if my kid has the best education. I got an email from this lady at 5:33am saying "hello, call me". I replayed back thank you but we have chosen another route. You would think that would be the end...not with this lady. She has now called 3 times today. I emailed her once again saying my child was enrolled somewhere else and to please not call me anymore. I blocked her email...4 hours later i get 2 calls in a row, i had to also block her phone number so i can work. I am scared for what these child have to deal with every day. Im avoiding this one like the plague!

My daughter started at Loving Learning Preschool with Ms. Reema in October. She has absolutely…read morethrived there. I am amazed every single day at what she has learned. In that short time she has learned her ABC's, counts to 30, knows months of the year and days of the week, can sing almost any song you ask her to, can do 24+ piece puzzles, and the list goes on and on. She just turned 3 and is one of the younger children, which I think is great for her development and social skills. She was at a larger preschool prior to this, which I now realize was play based and not lesson/learning based like Loving Learning Preschool. I feel so lucky to have found Ms. Reema and her wonderful little school. I highly recommend her and look forward to having my daughter there until kindergarten, and enrolling my son when he is old enough.

We cannot say enough amazing things about this magical place called Elements. We have had two…read more(rather wild) boys go from early on until Elementary School at Elements. The love, patience, guidance the teachers gave both boys was above and beyond. We would get daily photos of smiling faces every day and fun reviews from what the boys did. The teachers are truly exceptional--caring, attentive, and completely in tune with the needs and interests of each child. We've seen our children grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually in ways that feel deeply authentic and joyful. We also really love the emphasis on community and inclusivity. Elements feels like an extended family, and there's a clear commitment to diversity, kindness, and respect. We can't imagine a better preschool experience. Elements has set such a beautiful foundation for our children's lifelong love of learning--and for that, we'll always be grateful.

We love Elements!! I have had 2 kids go there, my youngest from age 18 months up through preK…read more Every teacher they hire is so kind, patient, and thoughtful. Ms. Jessica really tries to see the best in your kid and help them gain confidence and skills. They focus on inclusion, diversity, and generally learning how to be a great human. They are so flexible with various needs and really just have gone above and beyond for our family. We previously were at a more corporate daycare which always felt chaotic to me. This has been the most peaceful experience and I am so glad my kiddos got to be a part of the Elements family.

Caprice was invaluable in helping our family navigate all the options for our High School kid and…read moreultimately decide on the path that gives her the best options moving forward. We now feel 100% happy with our college/future plans and I think it saved us a LOT of unnecessary stress and time to have her expert opinion tailored to our specific situation and needs. I can now rest easy knowing that I have researched all avenues and have a solid plan! Don't hesitate to book Caprice for a call or services if you are unsure of what your child's options are. It could save you a lot of time, money, and sleepless nights like it did for me!

Caprice is wonderful. She is patient when tutoring. She is also thorough when it comes to career…read moreand college counseling. Caprice has shown my child careers she did not know existed (nuclear medicine). My girl is always excited after a session with Caprice talking about careers and colleges. Thank you Caprice!

Los Amigitos is absolutely magical. The combination of nature, Spanish, music, community and values…read morereally couldn't be better. Plus, the team is so thoughtful about the curriculum, pushing the kids to learn in creative, authentic ways. My son comes home every day exhausted. When I open his lunchbox, I am always surprised to find a new object or new type of dirt in there. To me, that variety signals a variety in experience and a freedom to explore. His Spanish skills have blossomed since joining the school, he does some pretty advanced yoga moves, and he is now an expert on olive trees (due to his recent presentation on the topic!) Overall, I feel so grateful that this place is in my community and that it's part of our life. If you have the chance to send your kid here, you really shouldn't miss it.

After researching, interviewing, and visiting almost every Spanish immersion preschool/kindergarten…read morein the Central & North Austin area, we finally settled on Los Amiguitos. One year later, we know we made the right decision and feel lucky to have been part of such an amazing school. Lila and her staff approach early childhood education from an emotional intelligence standpoint that aligns with our attitudes and understanding of how every child deserves to be treated. This approach fosters creativity and autonomy in children, while also supporting their budding relationships with both people and nature. The classroom education at Los Amiguitos is only used to enhance what is learned in the outdoor classroom. Our son, who has a natural need to move while learning, was able to remain in-tune with what his body was feeling and to not suppress it in order to follow arbitrary classroom etiquette. We also believe this improved his ability to recognize and communicate his own boundaries while interacting with classmates and teachers. Childhood safety was addressed early and maintained throughout the year. This was very important for us. Not surprisingly, the community that gravitates towards Los Amiguitos is full of like-minded parents, who value the same pedagogical preferences for their children. After 15 years in Austin, we made more friends in the one year that our son was at Los Amiguitos than we did the 14 years previous . We credit this to the fact that, not only did the school attract like-minded parents, but it also provided activities that gave us the opportunity to meet and interact with the school's families inside and outside of the classroom. The highlight activity of the year for us was a campout trip that most of the school took. We did nature walks, campfire sing-alongs, potluck cookouts, and star gazing. We found that the children mostly spoke English to each other at school, but every child-teacher interaction takes place in Spanish. This means that, although Spanish production isn't the primary emphasis of the school, Spanish intake and comprehension remained consistent, which enables our son to converse more or less naturally when spoken to in Spanish. Seeing our child flourish in nature while building up his social skills, especially after coming out of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, was exactly what we needed and we found it in Lila's school. We are very grateful to her and to the wonderful teachers -- Natalia, Gabriela, Andrea. We highly recommend Los Amiguitos to parents looking for an excellent nature-based, Spanish immersion school for their children.