My son has been doing great! They have excellent band directors and his teachers have all been very…read morekind and communicative! It has been a great transition to middle school.

This place is cool has a great curriculum and been there since I was a teen it was AWSOME math…read moreeasy good grades

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 thought this school would be great for my daughter. But she currently has a math teacher that…read moretells students to kill themselves, or rude comments. His profile picture has him shirtless which is highly inappropriate. Rather than the principal stepping in and trying to diffuse the situation, nothing is said, allowing this teacher to be what tears children down. The Spanish teacher has been a blessing, helping my daughter even in subjects outside of Spanish. Helping her students build confidence. Since this was taken down, I would like to add since then Mr.Rivera has been speaking with the class stating "some students and parents are too sensitive to understand jokes" "don't tell anyone because I will probably get in trouble" He also told the children in his class about this yelp review, and allowing them to look it up during class telling them "this is how sensitive parents can be" When principal Hagan FINALLY responded to the issue it was a simple "the students know he's joking" So many school fail the students, guess this is another one..

Four-hour days, small classes, structured homework and curriculum, dedicated and involved teachers,…read moreand sympathetic, organized and communicative administration - just check out this place. There is no other school like this in Austin or the surrounding areas. All three of my children attend CSA and are thriving despite their different interests, learning styles, academic strengths, and personalities. My children's teachers know more about them than just their names and where they sit during class. Because in a small class setting children may have the same teacher for slightly different subjects and across the years, children and teachers form constructive relationships. And I appreciate the teachers' efforts to engage and guide our three mischievous children!

As a former high school teacher I have sent both my kids to Westwood. My oldest just graduated and…read morereceived special education services all 4 years (but only 2 in science) and is now enrolled at ACC. He struggled for years to find a subject he really enjoyed besides Theater which he took 2 different classes his final 3 years. Then, his senior year he took Forensic Science and Sign Language. He loved them both and had great teachers. He now wants to study forensic science. My youngest was a freshman last year and got to take Chinese, Intro to Engineering, and Biomedical Science. He loved every teacher and rarely had homework due to the flex period they have built into the schedule. They both ran/run cross country and track as well. The track coaches are nice and encouraging and the cross country coach cares about the kids. Both programs are very flexible with kids and their academics. Our experience at WWHS has wonderful! The teachers and staff all care immensely about the students and there is a huge of variety of classes for students to explore. My kids aren't top in their class but they make mostly A's and some B's. For me, I know they will be well prepared for college and have a good foundation of what they want to pursue for a career. Lastly, WWHS is diverse and my kids have been able to find friends easily. My youngest is very shy and quiet, but he was able to find a group of kids to hang with for lunch. There's great variety not just with classes but with the students as well. We didn't experience any bullying or judgment from kids.

Isnt all its cracked up to be....that being said if your a A student and quick learner it's a great…read moreschool for you as a top school. If you have average learning or a learning disability, it's not for you.

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.

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.

I am extremely disappointed with how this school has treated my son. In the short amount of time he…read morehas been here, a former staff member harassed him--following him to the restroom, making comments about his clothing, asking other students personal questions about him, and constantly picking on him. We reported these concerns and had a meeting about it, but all we were told was that she was no longer at the school. While things slightly improved afterward, nothing was done to address the harm that had already occurred. To make matters worse, another staff member not only went around asking another student for my son's phone number, but she actually called him after school to ask about drama happening at the school--nothing school-related, and nothing appropriate for an adult to discuss with a student. This behavior was completely unprofessional and unacceptable, yet the school chose to ignore it. Despite ignoring repeated misconduct by their own employees, the school immediately moved to expel my son the moment he was involved in one fight--while defending himself. Given everything he has endured, this feels like retaliation. The difference in accountability between a child and adult staff members is alarming. There are also major communication issues at this school. Many teachers struggle with a language barrier that leaves students confused about instructions and assignments, and little effort is made to fix it. This is especially harmful for students with 504 plans, who rely on clarity and support--not additional obstacles. Overall, sending our child to this school has been one of the worst decisions we could have made. Even in such a short time, it has become clear that this school is not here to support or protect its students. This experience has been unfair, discouraging, and completely unacceptable. Students and families deserve far better.

I tried to give it time I should've known the way the back to school orientation went this wasn't…read moreit. The curriculum is there, the communication is not. If you have a gifted child that doesn't need a 504 or any accommodations might be alright, but 3 weeks is enough and honestly I wouldn't recommend

Taught me absolutely nothing. Lessons were extremely basic and poorly made. The uniform policy is…read morevery strict (I was sent home a few times because I was wearing shorts on a skirt day, for example), and the garments themselves are incredibly overpriced and poorly made.

This is a true college preparatory school and that is only a portion of it. I have two children…read morewho started here in kindergarten. One will be a senior, the other a 9th grader. Both have made National Honor Society, received recognition in extra-curricular activities, and are taking college level courses. This is culture at Brentwood, to work hard and push past personal limitations. They are being prepared for college and life but still are allowed to be kids and have fun. I have my kids here for 3 reasons: 1) the academic expectations are substantially higher than most public schools and many private schools so being taught at levels well beyond the standard will set them up for success in whatever they choose to do, 2) they can participate in any extra-curricular activities they want to be in, 3) it is a Christian school, meaning the moral and ethical standards they are held to are high. The community is great as well which makes it even better for parents and students. Is it perfect? No, but if you want the best for your kids, academically, spiritually and help them grow to be strong minded adults who add to society this is a place for them. Brentwood students compete and win at high levels in state competitions for academics, arts, sports, etc. Tuition is less than many other private schools yet they are still at or near the top in academic ratings and categories. It has been a great investment in our kids.