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!

Habibi's is a childcare paradise. I love the philosophy they have around child exploration, play,…read moreand freedom at a young age. There isn't much "structure" and we see that as a good thing. Our child has had the opportunity to have all doors wide open to figure out his interests and social structure on his own, with only gentle guidance along the way. The teachers are all amazing, caring, and intuitive. Our little one has thrived here and looks forward to going to school. During the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent reopening, they were proactive and quick to implement recommended guidelines and then some to keep teachers, parents, and most importantly the kids safe. I can't recommend Habibi's enough.

It is Shangri-La for kids! Peaceful, nurturing and happy atmosphere! My grandkids love it. The…read moreteachers genuinely love the kids and encourage them constantly.

My second child will be graduating from SMS next week and I can't believe our time here is coming…read moreto an end! The SMS staff and families have been such a huge and wonderful part of our lives for 8 years. It was hard dropping my older son off for the first time (at 3 months), but when it came time to drop my younger son off for the first time (also at 3 months), I knew he was going to be in such great hands, it really was like leaving him with family! I also believe that my older son's smooth transition into kinder was thanks to the 'academic' and social learning he experienced at SMS.

Choking back tears we said goodbye -not to our kids- they're in the backseat arguing about…read morecrackers. We were going to miss the warmest daycare with heart that exists. They got us through Covid with an infant, prepared her to thrive in kindergarten. They seamlessly worked with us to help our son with special needs. Their staff was a natural extension of our kids community. The infant room teacher attended her PreK graduation. This daycare is one of the few that is actually worth the cost.

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 :-)

We have been at City School for three years and are overwhelmingly impressed with the loving…read moreculture and community. We are grateful for the way our child is seen and developed by her teachers, and for the friendships we have made with other City School parents. We are thankful for the way that this school has partnered with us in to surround our child with believers who are invested in her growth and flourishing

My family loves CitySchool! It's been the best support to my family this past year. This is my…read moredaughter's second year there, she attended Pre-K with Ms. Carson and Mrs. Zaunbrecher. On the last day of school last year, I lost my job and I was devastated. The first thought that crossed my mind was I wouldn't be able to send my daughter for another year because there was no way we would be able to afford tuition. And actually, we were already receiving a 50% discount. This was devastating for a plethora of reasons. One, I was desperate to have my child keep receiving a Christ centered education AND, I was so scared to lose touch with the community that we had built over the past year. So with a heavy heart I went to Karon (the Director) and Laura (Director of Community Engagemen) and told them we needed to unenroll my daughter from attending the next (THIS YEAR 24-25). The first thing they said was not, ok lets get her unenrolled but: We're so sorry this happened - do NOT unenroll her. It is more important for her to have this Christ centered education than it is for you to worry about how you will pay for it. We WILL work this out. And also, how else can we support you? They will forever have my heart for how they handled this. I also love it for the fruits I see taking root in my daughter. Conflict resolution, spiritual and emotional character development. They see the child as a whole and fully formed person and they nurture them. The community is just, beautiful and kind and loving and SAFE and everything I really wanted/needed as a child. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts! Love, The Horning Family

We began going to Growing Imaginations almost a year ago and I can honestly say it's one of the…read morebest early child learning centers we have experienced! We previously used to drive downtown to take my son to a daycare near my husband's job but the commute from South Austin was too long. A few friends had mentioned that they heard great things about GI and when we toured the facility we could tell it was not your average pre-school. The atmosphere is so encouraging and very engaging. My son has learned so much Spanish in just 8 months. But what I love most of all is that everyday he comes to school it feels like he has a welcoming committee waiting for him. They rv Ms. Terran, Ms. Candace and Ms. Jessica have such a loving approach and you can tell that they truly love each child, Lastly the food is amazing. Everyday my toddler asks me what is for lunch or breakfast because he loves the way the food is seasoned. I have tried to replicate the dishes without success but at least I know he is getting 2 good meals per day LOL! We will be leaving in the fall but it's bittersweet because the staff here feels like family. Thanks for loving my son so well GI!

I have been sending my two children to GI for 4 years now. I have nothing but great things to say…read more There is no turnover because it's a family business and my children have always loved going to school there. The staff truly treats each child like family. I have also referred many neighbors and they have all been loving the experience at GI also.

I don't know if I can write a reviewing glowing enough to express the gratitude I have for this…read morepreschool and the way they treat the children like family. From the moment we showed up to Child Craft Ms. Rachel and Ms. Joni have welcomed us with open arms. The staff is super attentive to the children and I have never picked up my son without him having the time of his life. Even when we walk out the door to go home for the evening he still wants to hang back in the playground and play just a little longer. In the toddler room you will find Ms. Dione. She greets the kids with a very warm and energetic greeting at 7:30 am. She is happy to see the kids and this lasts every day all day until each one leaves. There is a genuine warmth that she presents and if you choose this school you will feel it too when you drop off your child. The children eat their snacks outside (weather permitting) and play to get some of that morning energy out. They continue on to class where they learn how to improve their motor skills and how to share with the other children in class. They have tons of hands on activities and produce a substantial amount of artwork for you to hang on your fridge at home or give to the grandparents, aunts and uncles. In the next room is another loving teacher in Ms. Brenda. My son has grown a strong connection with Ms. Brenda and I believe its because she reacts to him the way we would react to him. From the playfulness she has with the kids to the calm redirection she issues when needed, Ms. Brenda does things exactly they way we would want them done every time. She provides verbal reports on every student during pick up and always gets hugs from the kids when they leave for the day. Now that my son is using more words he always includes Ms. Brenda and their classroom and playground adventures in his stories. At night during prayers he never wants to forget to pray for Ms. Brenda, Ms. Dione, Ms. Rachel or Ms. Joni. This preschool/ day care is a place that allows your child to be their own person and doesn't try to make them conform to something they are not. So whether your child is a rule follower, free thinker, artsy, or just a child who wants to be a child this school is for them. If you are in the market for a school who is going to love your child and care for them as you would like then I wholeheartedly recommend Child Craft as the day care for you.

My little has been at this school for the past 2 1/2 years and has been provided wonderful care of…read moreby their loving staff. Would recommend to anybody who wants a safe, fun, play centered daycare. She is now about to start kindergarten and it will be bitter sweet to leave but she has been given the foundation she needs. I will be forever grateful for "her tribe" that has nurtured her through her toddler years.

My little girl has been attending ACLC since she was 12 weeks old, and we couldn't be happier. Of…read morethe 8 centers I toured, this one was instantly my favorite. It's bright, clean, and all the kids seem so happy. The teachers are so sweet, and it's clear my girl loves them. She can be fussing all morning, but as soon as she sees Rosalba, it's all smiles and giggles. It was hard getting started with the naps on demand- first she slept too much and now she doesn't sleep enough. She's very social and always on the move. They group 12wk- about 11mo when they're walking which is great. Some centers group 12wk- 18mo, and I worried about her getting stepped on. The staff is very responsive, I highly recommend them.

Amazing and energetic staff. My grandson loves it here. From prek2 to prek 4. They are AISD…read morecurriculum certified for smooth transition towards kindergarten.

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.