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.

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.

My son thrives on the love and personal attention he's received since he started attending PK2 more…read morethan two years ago. Being the parents of an only child, my husband and I were unfamiliar with how little idiosyncrasies in his behavior were of some concern on a larger scale. We just thought his younger age was the reason. At the end of the spring semester, both his PK2 teacher and school director, Amber, brought it to our attention with the utmost respect and love. Upon returning for his PK3 year, his new teacher and Amber addressed it again with the same respect and care saying that he may benefit from further evaluation from his pediatrician. Speaking from personal experience, this was THE BIGGEST BLESSING we could have received for our child. We saw his pedi, followed up with more professionals, and he has improved drastically in less than a year and a half. We want what's best for our son, and it is so apparently clear the loving staff at this school sincerely wants what's best for him and every child there. I find the teachers very approachable, Amber is always around for a conversation with little ones and parents and her door remains open all day (unless she's in a very rare personal conference, like the ones we had about our son's social development), and they have been the best at improvising given the Covid19 quarantine. They are sending daily pre-recorded lessons from his teachers for my kiddo (can't get enough of his music class or storytime!), and they gave us the option to withdraw while still holding our place for semesters for which we've already registered. A rumored claim I'd like to clarify from a reliable authority on the issue is that teachers were given the option to stay home during the outbreak while maintaining employee status and their health insurance. Given all the options some workers face at this time, staying home unpaid, while keeping health insurance, is better than being unemployed. It reassures me that the administration's loyalty to the teaching staff is of utmost importance for the social and emotional wellbeing in the young students who rely upon that stability. I recommend this school to everyone with room in their hearts for God's message. The preschool alone lays such a balanced foundation of faith, love, and service to others. They have been a cornerstone in our son's social, emotional, physical, and faith-based development.

My son went to this school k-5th grade, I totally regret this decision the gym teacher Mrs. Redmond…read morevery poor attitude rude towards students and parents very disrespectful she likes to pick on students, teacher quality is very bad you don't get what you pay for, the school is very run down, there was a different principal there back then then there is now, a lot of issues at the place your better off at a different school like great hills or public school, if I could do it over again I wouldn't have put my son at this school!! Beware that reviews on this school deleted bad reviews because my previous one years ago they deleted they don't want peoples true experiences on here!

My teen is in their second year at Griffin and we feel so grateful for this school. The staff is…read moreamazing and have been so supportive. I feel they genuinely care about my child and they are very responsive. It is also really wonderful to have a place where kids are encouraged to be themselves. The education is also top notch - challenging, but not overloading kids with homework and busywork. Class sizes are very small and teachers get to know each child.

You know how sometimes you think it would be fun to try a new hobby but then decide it's equally…read morefun and less trouble to have drinks with friends instead? Art+Wine night provides a solution to this dilemma. Show up with your favorite wine and whatever art skills you do (or don't) possess and Natalya will provide all the supplies and knowledge you need to paint something worthy of displaying in your home. The website shows the project that will be taught on each date so you can pick and choose which nights you want to sign up for. The classes are small which allows Natalya to give everyone individualized instruction. I've been to four Art+Wine nights and I see SO much improvement since my first painting! I had never used oil paint and after taking a 2 session oil class I left with a legit fruit bowl painting. Artists of all skill levels come to Art+Wine night and everyone learns something new or improves their technique. It's a great way to spend a Friday night and accomplish something while drinking!

This is our family's 3rd year at Studio Prep. We love it. To me it is the perfect blend of a…read morechallenging but gracious academic environment with a child-centered focus. we are huge fans of the 3-days-a-week in person school with mondays and Friday home to work quietly and independently. I especially love this for younger kids for whom 5 long days outside of home is too much. As a mom who longs to be involved in my kids' education but not the sole guide, this has been a. Great school for us. The staff are wise, diverse, competent and fun. The community is diverse and somehow harmonious. it's a total pleasure to get to be part of a community like Studio for a season.

We have two kids, 11 & 14 that are just completing their first year at Studio Prep. We have always…read moregone to privet schools and interviewed several before choosing Studio Prep. The staff and other students are great and we are looking forward to the 2026-2027 school year.

Very nice campus and a huge basketball gym with a divider so you can have two games going on at…read moreonce.

I told my son how was the years in kipp he was in kipp for kinder to 4th grade, and he said this "…read moreOn kinder I had a teacher (don't wanna say names ) that was really rude to me just because he was getting started. He also told me that there were a lot of favoritism in that teacher, and he said that manly all the kids of his class that were great in learning that had good grades and atitude she cared about but for students that also includes my son she really gived them the equal care or way of learning , and she also on the first day of school didnt pay attention on my sons name for the bus he was assigned that was closest to my location, and she said my sons name to ride on a different bus. our full family was scared cause we didn't knew were he was then we found him in the school getting carried by a mother. now in 1st grade, it was great no drama no problems, but the cuncern was manly in the teacher. cause she wasn't really great at her job of teaching. we really didn't like her for her way of teaching. and now 2nd grade, my son told me the teacher was not that good at her job. She was all the time in her phone during events and when my son and his classmates had worksheets in stead of helping she was in her phone, and know 3 grade, This was the least favorite year of my son, he had 3 teachers. her main teacher had a lots of problems with him. I do recall that he was almost every month or weeks getting in trouble, but the point is that his teacher had favoritism there was 4 kids that were manly the smart ones, in that year my son was great good grades and kinda bad with attitude, and my son was also in there level, but the main reason why we think the teacher favored them its cause they were the popular students and many girls liked them, so she favord them of their appierence. and his 2nd teacher of 3rd grade had anger issues ( I dont want to offend no one but she got angry for the smallest thing my son and his classmates did ) so yea, she got really angry for small things. And now for her 3rd teacher of 3rd grade, he explained to me that she was the worst of his teachers he ever expireance, she had a lot of favoritism. also kinda angry issue. the same thing for the 1st teacher of 3rd grade and kinda of his 2nd teacher of 3rd grade. Now for 4th grade, it was really normal he had 2 teachers. the 2nd teacher he told me that was the best of his intire life, she was kind, treated everyone equally and great to make a chat with her, she also helped people when needed, she gived them a lot of homework so that they could get better, he also kinda liked his main teacher the only problem was that he kinda got scared when she got angry. and that is it for kipp, not really recommended he told me that it was rare to find a nice great teacher.

My child is part of the Deltas, the middles years. Since starting at AHB, he actually loves…read morelearning and wants to continue here for the rest of middle school. We came from the public school system, and the difference is night and day. I love the cooperative learning environment and the small class size. His two teachers actually know him as a person and not just one of many students. He is challenged and engaged. I see the joy of learning in him that I didn't really see in public school. Although he scored very high on the reading section of the Texas State Assessment Tests, his writing skills were not really up to par. Since starting at AHB, I am confident he will be more than well prepared for high school. I am really impressed with the Delta teachers and the quality of education he is getting at AHB. As someone mentioned previously, parents are free to come and go. The kids are taught to be kind and respectful. The staff actually care about the kids and follow through if they say they will do something, not just saying what you want to hear and dropping the ball. I had an older child that went to 6th grade at a local public school, and I can honestly say my younger son is getter a better 6th grade education then his sibling did. Also note, my child is not outgoing but the environment is very accepting & warm; he was able to join mid year without any issues. We are so thankful to have found this community school.

After some time at this school, I can no longer -- in good faith -- say that it has been a 5-star…read moreexperience. The people are (mostly) lovely and kind, but they are surely not openminded, innovative or fully transparent.

Chris Banda (director) and her teachers are amazing and truly care for your child. It's not…read moreaesthetically amazing looking, but what they lack in that area, they make up in caring and nurturing for your child/children. I love the bilingual aspect of the school and the ratio is perfect for my child's needs. They give me a full report each and everyday and let me know if there were any problems, illnesses, needs. I highly recommend this school to anyone. We have our second child in there now and is thriving. Our first child is now a talented violinist and an A+ honor student the Lamar Middle School Academy. -Jason

Our baby started attending at 3 months old. We are very happy with the level of attention and care…read morefrom all of the staff. We always trust that our child is in good hands. We receive lots of cute artwork and daily updates via an app. They even organize events like a lovely Thanksgiving luncheon and winter holiday pageant.

Notice that some of these reviews (the bad ones) are coming from people in California. That's not…read morethe school that's being listed here - this one is in Austin, Texas. The two are not affiliated. My child attended Cedars NGIHS in Austin. He enjoyed his time there, and I liked how the teachers and administration communicated with parents. I also like that their teaching staff is much more stable than those of other charter schools in the area. My child is currently thriving in his senior year of college. Cedars prepared him very well for being inquisitive, resilient, responsible, and adaptable.

Is a great place to learn, good security guard for protection, they do PBL (Project Place Learning)…read morefor future jobs and different skills for their minds. The teachers are nice with the kids and the adults also the principal. The ladies front entrance office they nice the help with some problems but great job and they have great events for the teenager and parents