Just a quick update to my previous review which is much more detailed. Our son has now been at Rawson Saunders for 2 full years and absolutely loves it. He is learning so much and is very happy. He still struggles with reading, but the blessing is that his learning is not dependent upon his reading. I highly, highly recommend you visit RS if your child is dyslexic. read more

Fabulous school, where the children's needs come first! The teachers are dedicated to providing quality education with an emphasis on community and achieving goals. Love this school! read more

Exceptional education and commitment to student growth and self-advocacy. My dyslexic son thrives here and doesn't feel the pressure of learning differently being in a school of children who are also dyslexic. read more

My son attended Rawson Saunders from 5th grade thru 12th grade. When he entered RS in 5th grade he was at a kindergarten reading level and a third grade math level. He just made the Dean's List in Engineering at the University of Utah. This would never have been possible without Rawson Saunders. The teachers, the staff, the curriculum is outstanding. I cannot say enough how much RS changed our life. Things would have turned out very different had he stayed in AISD. read more

My son is one of the few who has had the privilege of starting Rawson Saunders on the first day of 1st grade. Despite years at Montessori school and hours of tutoring, when he started at RS he knew exactly 10 letters - no more, no less. If a new letter was introduced, one of the 10 was removed and the new one took its place. Reading was out of the question. And math? That was even more difficult. With love, care and devotion the Rawson Saunders team began working their magic. One on one academic language therapy made it possible for him to retain all 26 letters and begin reading within a few months. He was not at a math level that was compatible with his fellow students so the head of school became his math teacher. One on one they would sit on the floor each day and explore pre-math concepts. What other school would do that? Would give that much love and attention to a single student? And not just one student - every student? There is only one I know of and that is Rawson Saunders. Now, 9 years later he is a Freshman at Rawson Saunders. He is thriving in the absolutely personalized education that Rawson Saunders has created for him and his fellow high school students. Rawson Saunders is truly a lifeline - academically, athletically and socially. My son is growing into a confident outstanding young man thanks in no small part to the exceptional environment that Rawson Saunders has created for dyslexic learners like him. read more

The schools extremely overpriced in a total rip off you should never send your kid here and they put your kid behind one grade so when they go back to normal school we're gonna be behind a grade in the tutoring and they're not gonna like it and no one's gonna be happy read more

Obviously the last reviewers haven't had students at the school for any period of time. The teachers are very good at communicating and the CALT that work with the children everyday are very compassionate and some of the best at their jobs. Children are not accepted with other issues except ADHD. Wonderful school and has made a big difference with our child over the last few years. You are lucky if you get the chance to have your child attend because of the small class size and popularity of the school. read more

I am surprised by the other reviews because in my experience this school is excellent on all fronts. If your child has dyslexia, this is the place to be. The only downside to the school is the cost, but it's a bargain for what you get. When I was considering the school I looked at the two negative reviews here and was turned off. Please do not be influenced by those reviews-- talk to parents whose kids are at the school and actually have your kid visit because it is really an amazing place. It is a wonderful haven for those of us with smart but dyslexic kids who have not had a good time of it in the public schools. read more

I can't imagine ever going to another school. The unbelievable curriculum, small classroom size, multisensory approach, and highly qualified staff make Rawson Saunders School an amazing place to be. Children who were once closed off to learning, end the year soaring with Pride. They learn what their strengths are and have many opportunities to use them. The learning environment is to help children be successful. Rawson Saunders is an accredited school. There are 170 parents that would agree with my review. If you want to know about RSS, you should make your own judgement. It never hurts to experience this amazing place for yourself. The fact that they are able to start a high school says a lot about the growth and the people who love this school. Every student is seen as Extraordinary! read more

Rawson Saunders saved my child's life. He was struggling in 3rd grade at an AISD school in a 504 program. He was tested by this school in 1st grade and was found to be dyslexic. The 504 program simply did not provide the level of support he needed. On top of that, the reading 'specialist' he was pulled out of class to go to berated him and generally intimidated the children. One would expect that person to be the most patient and understanding and sensitive to dyslexic kids, but not so in this case. I had been driving since September for him to be tested for special ed in reading. It took almost 6 months to get that to happen. 6 critical months that my child simply could not afford. My son has proudly declared that he learned to tell time at RS in one week. 3 years in public school could not get him there. He has regained his self confidence and sense of self- that is what is most important to me as his parent. This is what will prove paramount in the years to come. I am thoroughly impressed with Rawson Saunders. The staff is positive, hard working and committed to their mission of providing a high quality education tailored to each dyslexic child's needs. Thank you to the driven Austin parents whose own dyslexic children were foundering in the public school system 14 years ago. You created a legacy for so many more of us to gratefully follow in your footsteps. My child has his love of learning back. He knows he is intelligent and isn't being compared daily to children who simply don't learn the same way he does. Life is good. read more

This school may be appropriate if your child really can not read at all. But be aware that they do NOT adhere to academic standards (TEKS) nor is there any accountability. Unlike special education or 504 in the public schools, you have no safeguards, no recourse, no voice. They can and do make major educational decisions without consulting parents or even informing them. They do not take kindly to any questions about these decisions. Your only recourse is to withdraw and that will cost you a full year's tuition ($20K) so think it through very carefully. read more

I feel obligated to write a review on this school mainly because I want to express that it's not the end of the world if your child does not get accepted here as I once thought, We looked into this school 5 years ago when we were moving to the Austin area. Immediately upon meeting with the admissions rep. I felt like something was off as she told us that she too had a dyslexic son and couldn't afford a place like this when he was young like we could. Hmm okay. Turns out, this woman who seemed to be jealous of us made the ultimate decision as to if our child made the cut. My son really liked the school and asked when he could start. I heard nothing back from the school so I called them after a few days and was told my son basically was "Too Dyslexic" with too many issues to be accepted there. Wait. Isn't this a school for Dyslexia!!?? I was recommend to take my son to a school for kids with learning disabilities and emotional problems. Since my son does not have emotional problems he did not fit in on the tour of the school. Eventually we found AESA Prep. Academy. The student teacher ratio is very low and the added plus is that my son is in college prep classes with very talented teachers. These instructors will take extra time during and after class to make sure my son fully understands the material and he is flourishing. I just couldn't be happier! Thank you so much Ralston Saunders for not believing in my amazing and talented kid because it led me to find a school that did!!!! read more

Maybe the school has changed but it was an amazing, life changing experience for my daughter when she attended. She had daily one to one reading and writing instruction along with all her other classes. The "core" teachers also knew how to teach kids that were struggling. She learned to be organized and most importantly, learned how to advocate for herself! read more

My son went to school at Rawson Saunders at the original school location from Spring 1998 through 2003 school year, through the 8th grade. It was the best decision I ever made in the best interest of my son's life. I feel so much gratitude to the school's administrative and teaching team. Mr. Brinson, Ms. Monteeth, and all of the staff were outstanding. Today my son is 26 years old and he is a happy young man. Sure he still has some challenges, but at least he is happy and confident as he is trying to find his way in life. He told me a few weeks ago that going to Rawson Saunders was his renaissance. I raised him as a single parent and Rawson Saunders gave my son a small scholarship to help me with the cost of tuition. There were times I had to pay for food or utilities with a credit card, but I would do it again with out any hesitation. Now I donate to them every year. My donation is not much, but I figure if I will never be able to pay them back cause they gave my son an invaluable gift, a high quality education, they instilled a sense of integrity and pride in him; I could go on and on. Rawson Saunders is due 100% of the credit for my son having learned to read and they taught him critical thinking skills. He received an outstanding education at RS. Thanks Rawson Saunders staff from the bottom of my heart, I will always have total gratitude the helping my son, you gave him more than an education......you helped him find self confidence. Sincerely, Patricia Aranda read more

We were concerned about a possible disgraphia problem with one of our children. After acceptance into Rawson Saunders, we canceled of our other reading program then were asked to go for a visit to the school. The visit took place during lunch transition which was very chaotic (especially for 6 year olds) and spent 5 minutes with the teacher then the rest of the time touring in the chaos of kids transitioning to/from classes with the assistant director. We were called two days later to inform us that they felt that the kids were too high activity for the school and that they felt that they couldn't be properly redirected (these are children who have been tested and determined not to be any higher level activity than any normal young 6 year old) . The kids are high activity but no more so than their peers at their school and have not had problems in normal school with such behavior. Such a snap judgement from the school is highly irresponsible, passing judgement without enough time or energy. It was particularly frustrating given that they had accepted them into the school (upon which we had canceled the other reading program and paid the penalty for that). Very, very disappointed. An attitude of "we only want to teach those that we think are easy to teach". read more

We have sent our kids to Soaring Eagles Summer Camp in past years and are currently considering full-time enrollment for our bright 2nd grade boy who struggles to read and as he ages will likely have major spelling and writing problems like his brother. First, R/S's program is geared towards helping children with dyslexia (trouble with words) so if you are looking for standardized testing and a "regular" curriculum, your child should just attend your local public school. Secondly, the admissions officer made it clear to us that our son's testing info and 2 day visit would precede our "acceptance" to the school. They explained that there is a profile, typically poor reading/spelling/writing skills and above average intelligence, that fits the school's programs but they do have children with other problems like discalcula (trouble with math). Finally, in past years we did find one adminstrator to be somewhat rude and intolerant (she said that my older son was probably not welcome back for camp on account of his interaction with a single counselor) but we were relieved to learn that she is no longer with R/S. The current staff we interacted with: executive director, admissions officer, art and shop teacher, and chef were about as cheerful and committed as any faculty or administrators I have ever seen. Austin is fortunate to have this school for the kids that need the special education our public schools are not able to provide. Remember too that in Texas, dyslexia is not a disability that necessarily qualifies your child for special education so educating your dyslexic kid or closing their gap is a really uphill battle for parents. Instead of wondering if my public school's reading specialist has any idea how to help a child with dyslexia, I am going to place this all in R/S expert hands if we figure out to swing the tuition, half of which is for daily CALT tutoring that we would need in any case. read more

The review by Marcia T. is spot on. For the amount you pay, I think a private tutor (CLAT) specializing in teaching dyslexic kids to read would be a better choice. If your child can read, but struggles in other areas, this is not the school for you. Your child will fall behind in every other aspect (Math, writing) of school. The curriculum is designed to build confidence, which is great, but if your child is bright they will be bored to death. Shocked to find that most other families need tutors in addition to this school to keep their child at grade level. Ditto on the administration being passive aggressive and extremely defensive when asked any questions regarding the curriculum or anything else that is of concern. Several children at this school have disturbing behavior issues as well and it was quite a distraction during our time there. This is not the right place for everyone. Expect huge open arms and promises of great things to come when you write the large tuition check then expect NO communication about your child's progress and borderline psychotic responses from the administration if you have any questions or concerns. read more

Actually, many RS students are excellent readers. The curriculum is very individualized, catering to the needs of each student. The math program, Singapore math, is one of the most respected math programs in the world, and the science teachers are experts in their field. I am very familiar with this school, it's vision, and the dedication of the faculty and administration. The administration makes decisions based on what is best for the students, regardless of what will make the school more money. I can say with confidence that every staff member works tirelessly to ensure that students reach their full potential. Not only that, but they truly believe that the potential of students with dyslexia, often not recognized in other school settings, is very high. So the school provides them with a rigorous, challenging curriculum that DOES follow and even exceeds state standards. Rawson Saunders' academic program is held accountable by accrediting agencies, one of which recently awarded them with the highest possible rating. Highly trained teachers and Certified Academic Langugage Therapists (ALTs) meet kids where they are and are not limited by state regulations or bureaucracy. The school implements researched based methods in a caring, stimulating environment, and RS even runs an institute that trains many Central Texas teachers in best practices for teaching students with language-based learning disabilities. Austin is lucky to have such an amazing school available to bright students with dyslexia. read more

Many years ago I withdrew my son from 2nd grade public school and enrolled him in Rawson Saunders. His diagnosis included dyslexia (trending characteristics), dysgraphia and ADHD( inattentive). He was struggling in the public school system and they were not meeting his needs as stated in his ARD. On paper, the public school stated that they would be able to teach to his individual needs and in reality, that was far from the teachers capability -too many students and not properly trained in intervention and understanding of the challenges he faced. I feared for the start of 3rd grade and the ridiculous focus on TAKS (now STAAR) testing. My son did a two day visit at RS, we met with the admissions director, reviewed testing.....and he was accepted. His inattentive ADHD was well accommodated for with a variety of creative and appropriate interventions. He is/was never a behavior issue. They taught him cursive at an early age for his dysgraphia and started keyboarding. His daily ALT for dyslexia was exactly what he needed (and hence the cost of the school is understood). I am thankful beyond belief for all that they provided my son. He was a second grader hating school, struggling in his subjects and losing self confidence by the second. This school provided him the support that he so desperately needed and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart every day that we were fortunate enough to be able to financially meet these needs. I so wish that this type of programming were available to all families whose children are not finding support and success in the public school system. I hope this review is helpful for people considering this school for their child. read more