Last year when I enrolled my son in this school and met the new principal, I wanted to Yelp it…read morethen.. but I held my tongue...mostly in fear something bad would happen. The lady was downright horrible. The kids couldn't stand her, and the teachers, many of them, didn't like her either. RRRRGGGGHHH.. School is coming to an end... The old Superintendent is back? Really? Well, maybe there is hope. Open door they say.. voice your concerns, we all did. Halfway into the summer emails coming out stating that principal was relocated as was her assistance. I think I heard the ENTIRE SCHOOL holler in excitement... (no joke) Now, to make it even better... the old principal who use to be here is now back Ms Debby Ewald! Ahhh, thank you. School started today, and everything you would think would be in shambles being the first day, lie it was last year... was not. teachers had their children in their classes with doors closed before I ever even left out of there.. I was Impressed, to say the least. The air felt happy, and inviting... unlike last year. The staff here at this school are some of the best, I truly them! They are so helpful, and thoughtful, and caring. The teachers... well, I've only dealt with 6 of them, but I can tell you, as a whole, they are really great. There will always be a very special place in my heart for my sons Kinder teacher from last year.. Mrs. Battles. Thanks BTE for not falling into the rut some other schools have. Much love!

I've been here for so many years and it's just the best place to be it's my family and second home…read moreto me there's no other school then this school!!!

At the heart of the Brentwood and Crestview neighborhoods, Brentwood Elementary is one of the best…read morekept secrets in Austin. Brentwood was built in 1951 and hasn't changed much since then. The classrooms are quaint, the teachers are friendly and communicative, and the administration is extremely pleasant to work with! We love Brentwood for their commitment to building community both in and outside of the classrooms. The emphasis on lifeskills (like integrity, honesty, courage, etc) and the Tribes curriculum have spilled over into our daily home life. I catch my kids saying, "Mom, thanks for displaying the lifeskill of friendship by making macaroni for lunch!" Sounds dorky, but it has worked for us! We also love Brentwood's diversity, both economic and racial, and the extra mile that the teachers and staff put it to build bridges across the divide. We're proud to say that our kids will attend through the 2020's (damn, we're gonna be old)....

Our current 7th grader attended Brentwood for 4th and 5th grade. We loved the community, the…read moreteachers, the music teacher, the physical education, the effort that was made to go green! Our 4 year old will be attending Kindergarten next year, and while some of our neighbors have chosen Gullett, I am truly commited to Brentwood. The diversity there is very important to my husband and I and my now 7th grader really learned a lot about other cultures. Highly recommended. Why drive to another school when it is in our neighbor and walking distance. We love Brentwood!

Yummy school food Mean kids…read moreWeird teachers Good memes Wendy near Is this long enough huh yelp?

We transferred here to 1st grade from a public charter school and I didn't realize how unhappy my…read moredaughter was at the charter school until she was enrolled in Sankalpa and seeing the difference. She now looks forward to going to school and describes school as awesome and fun - every parents dream come true for their kid to love school! She now comes home singing songs whereas before she needed to disconnect and would beg to watch TV (she's not interested in TV since Sankalpa - I think the environment fosters self esteem and love of productivity). She does yoga, learns Chinese and Spanish, and the staff are unflinching in their standards for teaching the children grace and curtesy. I'd say this school is great for any child, but more for children and parents who: 1. Like a quieter learning environment: it gets loud, but at specific times. During the work hours it's quiet and relaxed. 2. Love nature (they're often out and even with clipboards studying things like plants and fractals) 3. Like forging deeper relationships with others: because of the more intimate setting, you're going to interact with parents and the teachers every day. This isn't for everyone, but if you like that sense of community and extended family, it's like that here. 4. Are ok with their child not taking state tests: there are other tests given (one of the very cool things about Sankalpa, it's what first perked my ears) to see where the child is in their learning, and then to tweak their learning program to "fill in the gaps" so to speak. This is how every child has their own individual learning program. 5. Are willing to pay tuition: I was worried about this until I saw how much she loved school and learning, then I realized it was the best investment ever. They're only this little once, and it's the best thing ever to find the school where they can thrive and be enlivened. 6. Want experienced teachers: Sankalpa might be a new school but all the teachers are seasoned and it shows in their interactions with the kids. The principal also has worked at nearly all the alternative schools in Austin so she knows what's what. 7. Are okay with going through Sankalpas admission process: for us this was actually fun, but everyone is different. We enjoyed taking the tour, meeting with the principal and spending an hour getting to know each other, and our daughter loved her trial time at the school which was a week, some kids might be longer or shorter. I loved going through all this because it really helped us make a decision based on facts rather a feeling. It's like getting to know someone before getting married or making a commitment. :) If you're considering Sankalpa at least go through the admission process, it's the best way to really know if it's the right match for your family (but more importantly your child).

Our family has enjoyed our time at Sankalpa. We really appreciate how warm and welcoming the staff…read moreis every single time we see them - it is clear they are all dedicated to the students and to their growth and success. The small class size is wonderful, as it is a great location for walks and field trips. They do a great job of instilling a sense of ownership in the students - the kids are responsible for their rooms, their supplies and their work. It's awesome to witness them tiding up at the end of each day. An all around inclusive education.

My kiddo is in Kindergarten at Lee. We dig it. It's a great little Art Deco style schoolhouse…read morewith a really classic vibe. The teachers seem happy to be there, and no one seems to mind how all us busy body parents want to hang around all the time. This place is a regular lunch stop for me, and I haven't missed a party yet. We're looking forward to 6 more years here.

Lee has always been such a highly regarded Austin public elementary school. While we live in the…read moreneighborhood, we really won't have first hand experience with the education for another 4 years or so....but the playground is a lot of fun for a 2 year old, a 42 year old and beagle named Maggie.

Inside Outside School has been such a blessing for our family. Our kindergartener describes it…read morebest: "My favorite thing is that the weather is perfect there and we get to play outside all of the time. I also like that our classes have rainbow centers." This school has truly transformed the way our tender-hearted, introverted daughter feels about education. She used to dread school every single day, but now she cries when it's time to leave. The nurturing environment, emphasis on outdoor play, and creative learning spaces like the "rainbow centers" have made her feel so safe, happy, and excited to learn. We couldn't be more grateful to the teachers and staff for creating such a magical, supportive experience for her. Inside Outside School is a place where children truly thrive.

The Inside Outside School is a dream come true. Really. I've had a child at IOS for 4 years now and…read morewe couldn't be happier with our choice. We did a lot of research when selecting a school. A lot. We did all of the tours, but didn't find anything that felt like a true fit with any of the alternative schools that strictly follow one ideology. Waldorf felt too heavy, Sudbury felt too unorganized... We wanted something in between - a small school with aspects of democracy, a solid curriculum, mixed age classrooms, ample time in nature and a strong support system for the social/emotional development of each child. What we've gotten at IOS has been so much more than that. The small class sizes make it easier for the teachers to customize their lessons to each child. There's no "teaching to the middle" here. Communicating with the teachers is easy and enjoyable. The campus is straight-up magical - you have to see it to believe it. There's a creek on the property and acres of woods for the kids to explore. There are chickens, goats, guinea hens, even a donkey, that live on site. Sadly, IOS doesn't accept 35 year old 3rd graders, or I'd be all over it. It's not all about the curriculum or the democratic meetings or the farm animals the kids help care for. It's not all about the gardens they grow, the amazing community of parents and teachers or the social/emotional support given to (and subsequently created by) the kids. It's about all of it. It's about being in the conversation of cultivating human greatness with a group of families and teachers that think outside the box and truly care for every aspect of each child. There's so many reasons that I send my child to IOS, but the main reason is that I know she is Loved, Supported and Celebrated as a human when she's at school. She wakes up happy every morning, ready to get on the bus with her friends and get to school. What a gift!

This elementary school is amazing. Everyone from the front office staff to the leadership to the…read moreteachers and librarians are dedicated to student success and wellness. We couldn't be happier with our sweet neighbor in school!

Best school in the known universe. All the teachers really care what they are doing and have…read morevested interest in all of their students doing well. They are strict on timings and take showing up on time very seriously. Keep up the good work staff!!!

We are new to Highland Park Elementary this year. Love it. The transition into the community has…read morebeen easy for all of us- parents and 2nd grader. The teachers work together and git r dun! The PTA is a force to be reckoned with. Our heads literally spin trying to keep up with all the activities and enrichment, but in a good way. Truly inspired. If you are shopping schools/neighborhoods- you owe it to your family to pay HP a visit. 60 years of providing a top notch, well rounded education and counting. We are happy to be a part of the impressive legacy. Go Scotties!

I miss this school so much. I am in seventh grade but I went to highland park from grades Kinder…read morethrough Fifth grade and enjoyed it very much. The staff is very nice which is great. The principal knew everyone's name which I thought was crazy considering how many people were there! If you are considering taking your child there for Elementary school, I would strongly recommend doing it. This school truly deserves 5 stars.

My ASD son has never been as happy as he is in this school....we did the public school, Catholic…read moreschool, French school. We did everything and then we found....THIS AWESOME SCHOOL . He is happy and engaged. He is growing as a person and as a productive member of society. All good.

Love this school. Both of my kids started attending here at Kindergarten age, and it's been such a…read morebeautiful environment for them to grow in. Highly recommended if you trust that children have a natural, inherent impulse toward learning, development, and moving toward their full potential.