We absolutely loved our time at Goddard Steiner Ranch!…read more Both of my daughters (ages 1.5 and 3) attended for about a year, and I can honestly say it was such a wonderful experience from start to finish. My youngest was only there for about six months, but in that short time she learned so much -- singing her ABCs, counting, naming colors, and even identifying emotions! Ms. Amy and Ms. RiRi were amazing with her, and she adored going to school every morning. My 3-year-old had Ms. Rosie for a bit, who was so warm and engaging -- she even taught her how to "boop," which she still does to people to this day! Then she moved on to Ms. Abby and Ms. Mary, who are both phenomenal teachers and truly loved by all the kids (especially my daughter -- they were her favorites!). The front office staff was always welcoming, accommodating, and communicative. The daycare itself is clean, organized, and full of fun, creative activities. One thing I really appreciated is that there wasn't a lot of staff turnover, which made it feel more like a family. We had to move, otherwise we'd still be there. We miss the teachers and the community so much. If you're considering enrolling -- take a tour, and see for yourself!

I'm updating my review since I found LOTS of horrible reviews of this school from other parents…read moreand employee reviews of this school that are.. eye opening to say the least. I attached those screenshots so they don't get buried with the good reviews Jennifer pays people to write. Also for parents, if you seem skeptical ask questions! My cell is 7132926701 you can reach out to me there or you can reach out to me on Facebook etc. It's obvious Jennifer Burton ( the owner) wants to refute these claims, but I will not be silenced. My child starts to physically shake walking into any other school now. I keep asking myself why? what happened to my child at that School? She's terrified, and that is so not normal. Parents- if your kiddo is screaming and crying saying "I don't like my school" LISTEN TO THEM!

100000 stars!! There aren't enough words to say how AMAZING this school is!!! Athena is a special,…read moremagical gem and we feel so absolutely lucky to have found it. The teachers and the atmosphere just radiate peace and positivity. The quality of education is incredible. My son turned 5 yesterday and is already about to start reading!! The amount of personal attention and care each student receives is incredible. My second child is about to "walk through the gates of life" this May and head to kindergarten.. I am honestly heartbroken to not go there everyday anymore lol! We have had a child there for the past 5 years and if I could keep them there forever, I would! We have had the honor to get to know Ms. Alex, Ms. Jazmin and Ms. Morgan over the years and these women are absolutely INCREDIBLE! They have huge hearts and really LOVE what they do, and it shows!! They have a magic way of connecting, communicating and relating to the kids. We are so THANKFUL for the values and knowledge they have bestowed in our children that will shape who they become forever!! We love each of you so much!! My kids made me promise to always take them back to say hello as they grow...that speaks volumes in my book. Athena is a purely magical place!

We have been blown away by our experience with Athena. The support and caring from the staff has…read morebeen amazing. Our son has flourished at the school. The growth from August until now has been exponential on all fronts. He is more independent, communicating more and becoming a member of his classroom community. The other parents as well have created a lovely community and support system as well. My husband and I didn't realize just how lucky we were to get a spot in the school!

We had our youngest at Goddard Lakeway since he was 6 months old. We have used another 'chain'…read moredaycare in Austin for years with 2 other children. I could not praise Goddard enough, in particular this location by the BSW hospital more. Raul, the owner and Malorie have been so flexible and reasonable. We work odd hours and it has helped to have a daycare be understanding of that. They employ their teachers with high expectations and are completely transparent which is reassuring to parents leaving children in their care. We will miss them as our time at daycare is almost up!

Goddard Lakeway gets our vote for the best preschool/daycare in the area. I toured 2 other schools…read morethat were actually closer in distance, but I ultimately chose Goddard for our son and daughter because I felt that our core values and goals were aligned and therefore the best match. The owner Raul and director Malorie are wonderfully awesome and as accommodating as they could possibly be. I love seeing the walls and windows that are decorated with pictures that the children drew or themes that the children are learning about. All of the teachers are seriously wonderful and amazing. They communicate with parents via the Tadpole app with daily reports, announcements, and pictures. I have total peace in mind when I drop my kids off every weekday. I know that they both love their school and are very comfortable with all their teachers.

If I could leave zero stars, that's what I would rate this location. This review is towards the…read moreadministrative staff (principal included) not the teachers. My experience with this daycare was incredibly frustrating and, frankly, concerning. After taking a tour, I followed up with the principal and received no response for nearly two weeks. I had to go out of my way to track down enrollment staff just to get basic questions answered. Even then, communication was disorganized and incomplete. No one followed up with me on pending items. I had to keep reaching out myself just to get updates. What made this experience worse was the final response: I was told the classroom "may not be a good fit," with absolutely no clear or professional explanation as to why. After being ignored, having to chase down information, and then receiving a vague dismissal, the entire situation felt dismissive and questionable. As a single parent and a person of color, this experience did not feel equitable or respectful. At best, this reflects extremely poor communication and lack of professionalism. At worst, it raises concerns about bias in how families are treated.

We are so lucky to have found Paragon Prep Preschool for our daughter! As first time parents, we…read morewere so nervous to find a great daycare that would take good care of her while also being interactive and educational. We hit the jackpot! The infant room, led by Ms. Alisha, Ms. Betty and Ms. Eunice, is the best! They all love and care for the babies as if they were their own. They do SO MANY different activities and even include them during scheduled STEM, Spanish and music time. Every other teacher and administrator we have interacted with had always been a positive experience. They know all the children by name and make you feel like you're at home. We are really grateful for everyone there and look forward to seeing our daughter grow at Paragon.

My husband and I are so pleased with our choice of sending our 8 month old son to KLA. The staff…read moreare always warm and welcoming and the spaces are very clean and bright, which was a huge plus point compared to other facilities I had toured in the area. My sons teacher, Ms Monica, is always cheerful and welcoming of our son when we bring him to class and he is never upset or unsettled when we drop him off or pick him up which is truly incredible. I really believe the teachers in his class are as excited as I am to see him meet his milestones as we are.

Sent our kids ages 3 and 1 to KLA for a year. As a Sweetwater resident, the location was a major…read morefactor in our decision. It is right there and with the newly added kiddo curbside drop off service - being able to go from home and back under 10 minutes is a big reason to choose this school! The reason we stopped sending our kids is due to constant staffing and management changes. Both our kids' classes took turns in the lead teacher unexpectedly leaving or resigning, reasons purposefully hidden due to "privacy concerns". It got to a point where we stopped learning the new teachers' names because we knew we wouldn't see them in a week! With our oldest potty training, this proved to be quite a chore. Bottom line, if you send your kids here, expect little to no interaction about how the kids are doing. The school proudly touts their lackadaisical child care approach as the 'Reggio Emilia' way.

We had a great 4 years with INIC at their Austin Campus. I always had great communication from the…read moreteachers along the ups and downs that come with raising a baby into a little child, and felt that each teacher went out of their way to have a bond with our kiddo. There was lots of hugs and affection, and we never had any concerns around his safety or academic growth. He loved going to school and would run away from me at pickup time because he wanted to keep playing.

My family was part of the INIC community for nearly four years. I sent both of my daughters there…read moreas infants and previously left a 5-star review. I would have enthusiastically recommended this school. Today, I cannot. The issue is not the teachers. The teachers have been exceptional and are the reason so many families choose this school. Despite years of tuition increases and persistent concerns from teachers and families, the school has not made the investments necessary to retain them. In early March alone, at least 7 teachers left or announced their departures--nearly 20% of the teaching staff by parents' count. Both of my daughters experienced unexpected teacher departures in their classrooms during that same period. For young children, teachers are not interchangeable. They are trusted caregivers and a critical source of stability. When teachers leave, children lose important relationships and families are left helping them navigate yet another transition. During enrollment, families are told classrooms are staffed with a lead teacher, an assistant teacher, and additional flex staff available for coverage. In reality, my oldest daughter's classroom frequently operated at the legal minimum ratio of one teacher for fifteen four-year-olds. Multiple current and former teachers described being unable to reliably use sick days, vacation days, or even take basic bathroom breaks because there was often insufficient coverage available. When a school is staffed so leanly that teachers struggle to meet basic human needs during the day, it raises serious questions about how well both teachers and students are being supported. Teachers reported compensation in the $14-$17/hour range despite bilingual education being one of the school's primary differentiators. Comparable non-bilingual childcare positions in Austin often advertise higher wages. The result is predictable: teachers leave. Children lose stability. Families absorb the consequences. Demand for bilingual childcare in Austin far exceeds supply, and many families have few realistic alternatives once enrolled. Given that reality--and given that tuition has continued to increase year after year--I expected a greater commitment to investing in the teachers and staffing stability that families are ultimately paying for. Parents who attempted to ask questions and advocate for improvements--including efforts to reestablish the PTA--often received little to no response. While our family's relationship with the school ultimately ended following disagreements with leadership about these issues, the concerns described here are based on nearly four years of experience and conversations with numerous current and former teachers and families. The teachers are the school's greatest strength. The challenge is whether the school will make the investments necessary to retain them long enough to provide the stability and continuity that young children deserve.

Talitha Green runs a beautiful Montessori program at Helping Hands. Talitha and Carrie are both…read moreimmeasurably patient and kind, in addition to being extremely knowledgeable in all areas of early childhood development (Montessori pedagogy and beyond!). Because of the size of the school, parents are able to get a lot of feedback directly from Talitha, and it really feels like she is a partner during these topsy-turvy preschool years! The classroom itself sits in a garden, and the space inside is filled with light. One of our favorite traditions is the birthday circle that is done for each child's special day, and we look forward to that every year. The parent community is also very warm and actively involved. There is no place we'd rather be! South Austin's best kept secret!

Helping Hands has been a wonderful place for my kiddos to learn. We have been there for the last…read morethree years, and honestly I do not know what I would have done without them in our lives. Talitha, the owner is super knowledgable and CARES so much about my kids. She is always noticing things that are happening with them developmentally, and we are a team in helping our kids to reach their potential and thrive. Talitha doesn't just teach numbers and letters, although my kiddos come home proficient in those things, she also teaches kindness, empathy, potty learning and manners. I also love Talitha's co-teacher Ms. Carrie, who is always smiling and so kind to my kiddos. One of the most important things for me as a mom is knowing that the place I am leaving my kids is a safe, healthy environment for them in all ways, and it has been just that for us. The school itself feels safe, clean and happy. The community is also super supportive and are generally people I like to hang out with. Can't say enough good things :-)

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.

My son attended Wesley and has been enrolled in their infant classroom. He has grown so much during…read morehis time here and he is on track developmentally; I attribute much of his social success to his time at Wesley. He feels so loved here and I am happy we picked the best possible daycare for him bc he is delighted everyday I drop him off. The staff is productive, friendly, and consistent and the other kids are happy and sweet and they always speak to us in the halls. They have programs for community involvement, recitals, photo shoots, & holidays. Feels like home here.