Compiled by Joe Olivieri and Kelli Weldon

AESA Preparatory Academy

The private college preparatory school for grades 3–12 is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools–accredited, NCAA-approved, has a 4-to-1 student-teacher ratio and partners with Brain Game Tennis to offer tennis instruction to about one-fourth of its students.

14101 Canonade Drive, 512-560-5584, www.aesaprepacademy.com

Austin Children's Montessori

With the motto "Let's prepare your child for life," the school provides an enriched Montessori education for each individual child while providing a home away from home.

8807 Manchaca Road, 512-291-5522, www.acmontessori.org

Austin Christian Academy

The small private school serving grades K–12 focuses on each individual child's set of gifts and talents and incorporates hands-on experience and field trips.

1010 W. FM 1626, 512-292-7848

Austin Montessori School

The school provides an integrated, inclusive, highly personalized educational environment for children from 18 months to 15 years old.

5006 Sunset Trail, 512-892-0253, www.austinmontessori.org

Austin Waldorf School

From kindergarten to high school, students are surrounded by artistry as part of their academic experience. Mathematics, sciences, world languages and humanities incorporate elements of music, movement, drama, poetry as well as arts and crafts to develop the capacities of mind and soul.

8700 S. View Road, 512-288-5942, www.austinwaldorf.org

Bannockburn Christian Academy

Bible-based teaching is combined with accredited higher-level education for K4, which educates students one year younger than kindergarten age, through 8th grade students in small class sizes.

7100 Brodie Lane, 512-892-2706, www.bcaaustin.org

Barton Creek Child Development Center

The developmentally appropriate curriculum includes a wide variety of organized sport activities, hands-on experiences, play-based learning and organic gardening to enrich the whole child.

5611 Travis Cook Road, 512-301-4788, www.bartoncreekkids.org

Cedars Montessori School

Developing a respect and sense of responsibility to the natural world is an integral part of the mission of the school, which is located on 16 acres of land and serves students age 3–12.

9704 Circle Drive, 512-288-1245 (primary), 512-288-2776 (elementary), www.cedarsmontessori.com

The Children's Courtyard

The school provides child care based on the work of developmental psychologist Jean Piaget and centered around the idea that children learn best through hands-on experiences.

5914 W. William Cannon Drive, 512-891-6500, www.childrenscourtyard.com

El Jardn de Nios Interlingua International School

Serving children three months to age 12, the Spanish immersion international school combines multilingual and intercultural education, promoting international awareness. In a dual-language Kinder-Elementary program, students learn about different subjects in an integrated fashion instead of learning about each subject individually.

8707 Mountain Crest Drive, 512-299-5731, www.austinbilingualschool.com

The Goddard School

Teachers assess each child's developmental achievements and plan engaging learning activities that encourage exploration. The school's approach is based on academic research that states children learn best when they are having fun.

2111 Frate Barker Road, 512-280-1713, www.goddardschool.com

IDEA Allan Academy and College Prep

IDEA Public Schools is a growing network of tuition-free public charter schools focused on sending all students to college.

220 Foremost Drive, 512-646-2800, www.ideapublicschools.org/allan

The Khabele School, Brodie campus

With three Austin campuses, the school serves early childhood through 12th grade beginning with a Montessori foundation and progressing to college prep. Its motto is "A Community for a Peaceful World."

9607 Brodie Lane (elementary campus), 512-443-8843, www.khabele.org

KIPP Austin South Campus

KIPP is an open enrollment private college preparatory school. The school's "Five Pillars" are high expectations, choice and commitment, more time, power to lead and a focus on results.

5107 S. I-35, Ste. A, 512-651-1918, www.kippaustin.org

La Petite Academy

The school's Journey Curriculum emphasizes language and literacy, cognitive development, social-emotional skills, physical activity and creativity in a safe, stimulating environment.

322 W. William Cannon Drive, 512-447-8141, www.lapetite.com/our-schools/austin-tx-7530/

Mariposa Montessori School

Instructors, or guides, encourage independence while ensuring students learn necessary materials. The school serves children ages 8 weeks to three years in its Birth to Three program, age 3–6 in its Children's House, and age 6–9 in Lower Elementary.

7809 Brodie Lane

4622 S. Lamar Blvd.

512-428-4280, www.mariposamontessori.com

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and Preschool

Serving children ages 18 months to pre-K, the school offers a Christian environment with a teacher-to-child ratio lower than state standards and was recently awarded National Lutheran Schools Accreditation.

10408 W. Hwy. 290, 512-288-2330, www.mtoliveaustin.org

One Day Academy

The school was founded in 2005 to provide parents with support to homeschool through high school and now offers classes on 13 campuses. The preparatory schools' degreed instructors offer classes one day per week in a Christian setting.

South Austin Cornerstone Campus Westoak Woods Baptist Church

2900 W. Slaughter Lane

Southwest Capstone Campus, Western Hills Church of Christ,

6211 Parkwood Drive, 512-689-7021, www.onedayacademy.com

Parkside Community School

Parkside is a Montessori school serving ages 3–12. The school aims to provide a Montessori education as well as cultivate social skills and a sense of community, according to its Web site.

1701 Toomey Road. (Moving to 3207 W. Slaughter Lane next summer), 512-472-2559,www.parksidecommunityschool.org

Real Learning Academy, Wayside Schools

The school teaches pre-kindergarten through third grade. Its mission is to develop students who are competent, confident, productive and responsible young adults who possess the habits, skills and attitudes to succeed, according to its Web site.

6405 S. I-35, 512-438-7325, www.waysideschools.org

Regents School of Austin

Regents School of Austin is a private Christian K–12 school with a classic orientation to subjects, emphasizing grammar, logic and rhetoric in the liberal arts and sciences.

3230 Travis Country Circle, 512-899-8095, ext. 168, www.regents-austin.com

Skybridge Academy

The private junior high and high school uses written evaluations instead of grades and its own benchmarks versus standardized tests to support students in learning and developing a sense of what motivates them.

13317 Fitzhugh Road, 512-484-4976, www.skybridgeatx.com

Stepping Stone School

Offering pre-K, the school is a comprehensive early care and education program that nurtures children and prepares them for lifelong happiness.

9405 Brodie Lane, 512-233-4944, www.steppingstoneschool.com

St. Andrew's Episcopal School

The Upper School Campus, serving grades 9-12, provides an Episcopal college preparatory education with an emphasis on respect for others.

5901 Southwest Parkway (Upper School), 512-299-9700, www.sasaustin.org

St. Gabriel's Catholic School

A challenging environment fosters character formation through scholastic excellence and physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. The school's goal is to instill in each student a lasting love of learning and a lifelong commitment to Christian values and service.

2500 Wimberly Lane, 512-327-7755, www.sgs-austin.org

Strickland Christian School

Serving pre-K through 8th grade, the school aims to provide low cost, basic education emphasizing Bible knowledge, advanced phonics, writing and mathematics.

7415 Manchaca Rd., 512-447-1447, www.stricklandschool.com

Veritas Academy

The accredited prekindergarten through 12th grade college prep school employs a classical and Christian curriculum in which students' courses follow a schedule of Mon/Wed, Tue/Thur, and Mon/Wed/Fri classes with independent study in between.

First Evangelical Free Church, 4220 Monterey Oaks Blvd., 512-891-1673, www.veritasacademy.net

Verona Schoolhouse

Through its Pre-K/KinderPlus enrichment program for ages 4–7, the school offers a small class size in a safe, warm home environment emphasizing hands-on learning and community enrichment program.

8905 Verona Trail, 512-417-4558, www.veronaschoolhouseaustin.com

This is an expanded version of the guide published in the July 2013 issue. This list is not comprehensive.