Update 2: Not much to add to my previous reviews. Kiddo is now in first grade, second year in the…read more"K-1" group after 2 years in preschool. He's continuing to thrive and love school. Attentive, engaged, loving guides are supplemented with well loved "specials" teachers in PE, gardening, music, and Spanish. And the educational model allows each kid to progress at his own rate without isolating or stigmatizing the differences. The parent community is engaged and generally quite pleased with the school. Is it perfect? No, because it involves humans. But the administration seems to look honestly and regularly at its own strengths and needs, and makes improvements in a structured way. For our money, Headwaters continues to offer our little guy a great start in education, and that feels like the most important investment we can make at this age. ---------- Update: It's been over a year since my review below and things keep getting better. Thanks to the combination of attentive, loving guides and Montessori based curriculum, our little guy has really blossomed. He's headed into kindergarten in the fall and he's both socially and academically ready. And I mean really ready... he's already reading at the complexity level of "Elephant and Piggie" books, and doing addition and subtraction,all before spending a single day in K and with admittedly very little prodding at home. Mostly we're trying to keep up! (Side Note: if you're a parent of littles and haven't yet discovered Elephant and Piggie, you're missing out! But I digress.) Unsurprisingly, we're staying with Headwaters. It's a commitment and a significant expense, but given what they've done for him so far, and what we see coming based on several visits, it's an easy decision. By my reckoning it's one of the best parenting decisions we've made, and that counts not letting him run with scissors and hiding the chocolate syrup. ------Original Review--------- Headwaters is the new name for the school which operates three campuses in Austin, together spanning pre-k through 12. This review is for the "Springs" campus on Manchaca and Berkeley, which serves the preschool population. Our son started in another local, well-regarded school, but we pulled him out because it was such a "strict" Montessori program that forced our bright, happy, highly verbal little one to work in solitude for hours at a time. I am so glad we got a spot here. The guides are caring and knowledgeable, and strike a balance between kids working alone and working together. The Montessori approach we wanted is here, but in a "follow the child" sense, as opposed to a "dogmatically do exactly what you think Maria Montessori did a hundred years ago" sense. Since MM's fundamental idea was in fact "follow the child," for my money, this is more authentically Montessori than the other program which boasted more certifications. There's even more to love here. The program includes mental, physical, and social & emotional development, but without pushing kids past what's age appropriate. They're encouraged to challenge themselves but also to play and be kids. After 7 months, the positive effects on our kiddo are apparent. He's learning, he's being guided and cared for, and he loves it. As I write this, he's on spring break and asking daily when he gets to go back. As an added bonus, we've also enjoyed the parent community and the many opportunities to join the class for some holiday songs and a party here and there. We have one more year on this campus before moving on to the early elementary level. But all indications from parents and my own investigation is that it's as good over there as it is where we are. I think we're in it for the long haul.

I worked there for 13 years and only left because I got married and relocated. It is truly a…read morecommunity. My realtor was a former parent, our campus manager was our officiant. This place is a family and I miss it every day. Every child is known by everyone who works there.

I absolutely love my tutor! I looked everywhere for a good GRE Tutor in Austin after moving here…read morefor a period of time and nothing compared to Tutor Me Education. The tutors were extremely qualified and very professional. Not to mention, my score significantly improved! After trying many private and tutoring companies I can confidently say that Tutor Me Education is the go to tutoring service in Austin, Texas!

From the owner: Our business specializes in private tutoring and test-preparation by expert and experienced tutors…read more In addition to K-12, college, and graduate subjects, we provide college counseling, MCAT, LSAT, DAT, SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT test-prep as well.

My boyfriend (aka life partner) is a UT (Austin) alum. In addition, my place of employment has many…read morecollaborations with UT. While I can't post about what it's like to go to college at UT (Austin), I can post about experiences I've had. The school which was founded in 1883 is recognized as a top college in the country. It often falls under the category of "the new Ivy League". I have been on campus for everything from protests, the annual Longhorn run, college & alumni-affiliated events, strolling the campus, and a few other things. It has always been a wonderful experience. Faculty, staff, and students alike all boasting their Longhorn pride. Hook 'Em Horns!!! What an extraordinarily beautiful campus for strolling from the lush greens to incredible architecture that's also stood the test of time. Sculptures and artwork adorn the campus throughout, there's always something new to see. Sunday strolls around the campus grounds are one of my favorite things to do.

As an OU Sooner I am not qualified to review arch rival Texas. My grandson enjoyed the tour a lot…read more Don't know what I'll do if he becomes a Longhorn? Out of the will? Beautiful campus. Lots of history. Jeremy, the studio manager at the school of film, gave us a great tour and intro to the studios he manages. Boomer Sooner.

Our family had an excellent experience at Julia's Garden Montessori in the Bouldin neighborhood!…read more We were looking for a small, academically-oriented environment and this school fit the bill. Our 5.5 year old went from reading single words to whole books in six months and his love for science and math was really nurtured there. Our almost two year old also flourished and has become very independent under the guidance of two incredibly loving teachers (one of which speaks Spanish with the children exclusively, so my daughter now knows almost as many Spanish words as English). There are three age groups: Infant Community (walking to 2.5), Primary (2.5-5.5), Taller (5.5-9). Each age group is in their own freestanding house with their own playground. They have a solid COVID plan, and they plan to meet all the CDC guidelines. Because of their small, isolated environment they feel they can safely offer full-time, in-person school, instead of on-line or blended learning. Julia's Garden closely follows Montessori methods, with one exception in the Taller class - each morning the elementary aged students are given four, hands-on assignments in core learning areas. Students complete this work before they may move on to other preferred activities, which I think prepares them well for transitioning into non-Montessori environments later on. Afternoons include group activities like science experiments, gardening work, tending to chickens, foreign language class, and art activities - all of which my son loved! I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a nurturing, nature-based learning environment. I also think the academics were strong and properly individualized to each child. While at a time this school might have felt too small for some families, safety in small numbers and embracing a chance for a lower student-teacher ratio seems like the way to go!

This is an amazing program. Gardening, cooking, yoga, french lessons, story time, drama, art,…read moremusic and playtime. My daughter loves this school.

Paige is kin, caring, and knows how to alter her methods to make them fit the individuals needs. my…read moreson is dyslexic and she is understanding and patient with him. she comes up with a variety of games and ways to make reading fun and engaging for him as well as helping the letters and sounds stick in his mind. her tutelage had encouraged him to read on his own and make attempts instead of just asking. Paige is flexible with her schedule and has been an asset to our family. book with her now! you won't regret it and your child deserves her expertise.

From the owner: "What we Learn with Pleasure we Never Forget”…read more I believe that learning should always be a positive experience. I create personalized tutoring sessions to nurture your child's mind

My 8th grader is thriving in this nourishing, academically robust, faith-based environment where…read morestudents do come first. The exceptional quality of educators exceeds expectations and the personal responsibility my child now takes for schoolwork is a joy to witness. It's a Godsend to know exactly what my child is doing at school daily thanks to the systems and processes St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School employs. The PTO is phenomenally engaging and the level of communication offered by the school is superb. We are quite pleased with the leadership of the school, too!

From the owner: St. Ignatius Martyr School provides a Christian environment wherein students in grades Pre-K…read morethrough 8, teachers, and parents continually strive to build up a community of faith, hope and love that witness to Gospel values through the development of every child's spiritual, intellectual and creative potential. The school offers a challenging and broad-based curriculum, religious values infused into the curriculum, daily prayer, weekly Mass, a caring family environment, a highly qualified faculty and staff, computers in all classrooms, an after school care program and an extra-curricular sports program for students in grades 5 - 8.

After moving back to Austin, we looked at several preschool facilities in the downtown area. St…read moreMartin's definitely stood out from the rest! We were instantly impressed by the school itself, and vast resources offered (full size gymnasium, cafeteria, chapel etc). Not to mention the super friendly and helpful management staff. Once our 4 year old daughter started there, we were blown away by the care, love and attention of the staff - and the wonderful curriculum offered. Cannot recommend this preschool highly enough!

We've loved our past 4 years at St Martins Preschool! The teachers, staff and administrators all go…read moreabove and beyond to make sure your child is loved and cared for, all while meeting their individual educational needs. It's more than a school, it's a community and family

I'm only rating the track at the school, not the school itself!…read more The track is great and already almost full stars for just being open to the public. There is an amazing view of the downtown skyline from the track and it's right next to the river. What a neat place for a high school. The track is standard and enough surrounding light at night that you can see where you're going. Ample parking along the street and parking lot so it's all very convenient.

Really great track and tennis courts available to the public after 5pm on weekdays dueing the…read moreschool year (and open all day during the summer and winter breaks). The tennis courts are all in great condition and include a nice wall area with half courts behind it for individual practice. The courts are popular after work hours, but there is an hour limit on play if there is a line of other players waiting. They can also be reserved in advance for private events or tournaments. My one complaint about the track and courts is that there aren't waterfountains or restrooms that are easily accessible. The johnson creek restrooms under the mopac bridge are close but still a bit of a walk. Be sure to bring plenty of your own water during the summer.

I highly recommend OnRamp College Counseling's Debbie Schatzman. I came to know Debbie through a…read morepresentation she gave at a community event in Austin. I was impressed by her thorough but relaxed approach to the college application process. She does not try to sell potential clients services they don't need; she customizes her consultation to meet exactly what the student and family requests. Debbie's prices are reasonable, especially because we were not required to sign up for a comprehensive counseling "package." In our case, our daughter wanted assistance only with developing a list of colleges to apply to that were a good fit for her. Debbie asked all the right questions--first of us parents, and then of our daughter--to get to know what our daughter wanted in a college experience, and she recommended many colleges that we had not previously considered. Debbie uses an online platform for college research and admissions tracking that was very helpful and easy to use. We ended up contracting for more services from Debbie than we originally planned, because our daughter decided she wanted help with her college essays, too. Debbie's suggestions for our daughter's essays were quite useful, not only from a standpoint of good editing, but because she knows what admissions officers are looking for. So far our daughter has been admitted to each of the seven colleges she applied to (waitlisted at one), and we appreciate Debbie's role in supporting that great outcome!

We were looking for an admissions counselor who thoroughly understood the process and could inspire…read moreour daughter to get excited about college applications. Debbie Schatzman was all of that and more. She instantly helped us relax, took charge, and most importantly connected with our daughter right away and really inspired her. Our daughter came away from each (virtual) meeting feeling positive and excited. I've rarely seen her so self-confident. We were able to completely relax, knowing everything was in good hands. Debbie is efficient and ethical, offering custom plans and charging only for the time needed. She is supportive at every stage and truly wants the best for each student and family. So grateful both to Debbie and to Yelp for helping us find her!

I have had these two teachers for 6 years and they've taught me all I know about writing essays…read more With their help I've had some of the best grades for english that I could ever have. They're also some of the best teachers I've ever had, they're very nice and understanding teachers that want the best for their students.

I have worked with both teachers and both have great teaching mechanisms that have helped me better…read moremy writing. I have grown as a writer and am now confident in what I'm able to write.