These schools follow the Montessori method approach to education that is child-centered and typically includes a more hands-on curriculum.
Austin Montessori School
Ages served: 2 months-15 years old
Enrollment: 355
Tuition*: $11,700 (ages 6-11 years), $13,200 (ages 12-15 years)
Extracurricular activities: art, choir, handwork, Spanish
5006 Sunset Trail, Austin
5677 Oak Blvd., Austin
512-892-0253
*Also serves children ages 18 months-5 years at a different rate
Headwaters School: Elementary Campus
Grades served: kindergarten-fifth grade**
Enrollment: 190
Tuition: $11,615-$11,955
Extracurricular activities: theater, art, Spanish, PE/sports club, gardening, music
9607 Brodie Lane, Austin
512-804-2708
**Headwaters School has its middle and high school campus located at 807 Rio Grande St., Austin, in Central Austin. Headwaters School also has an early childhood campus located at 6305 Manchaca Road, Austin.
Mariposa Montessori School
Ages served: 2 months-12 years old (sixth grade)
Enrollment: 170
Tuition: $13,575 (8 weeks-17 months), $10,475 (18 months-2 years), $10,000 (3 years-5 years), $10,475 (6 years-12 years)
Extracurricular activities: Spanish, art, soccer, yoga
3338 Paisano Trail, Austin
512-428-4280
Parkside Community Montessori School
Grades served: prekindergarten-sixth grade
Enrollment: 130
Tuition: $11,000 (rates may vary)
Extracurricular activities: guitar, physical education, Spanish, bike club
3207 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin
512-472-2559
Religious-based schools
These schools are associated with a particular religion and may require families to also practice that religion. Catholic schools, for example, will typically include chapel services and prayer into the curriculum, which may follow different standards based on accreditation.
Austin Christian Academy
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 75
Tuition: $4,400 yearly enrollment
Extracurricular activities: details available on school website
1010 FM 1626, Austin
512-292-7848
Regents School of Austin
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 1,000
Tuition: $10,874-$17,353
Extracurricular activities: athletics, fine arts, science and nature center, community service, computer programming, interscholastic competitions
3230 Travis Country Circle, Austin
512-899-8095
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 950
Tuition: $22,708 (kindergarten-fourth grade), $26,146 (fifth-eighth grade), $29,187 (ninth-12th grade)
Extracurricular activities: competitive sports, fine and performing arts, filmmaking, robotics club, ecology and environmental engagement
5901 Southwest Parkway, Austin
512-299-9800 (lower school)
512-299-9850 (middle school)
512-299-9700 (upper school)
St. Gabriel’s Catholic School
Grades served: prekindergarten-eighth grade
Enrollment: 455
Tuition: $10,950-$14,900 (prekindergarten), $17,525 (kindergarten-fourth grade), $19,575 (fifth-eighth grade)
Extracurricular activities: N/A
2500 Wimberly Lane, Austin
512-327-7755
St. Michael’s Catholic Academy
Grades served: ninth-12th grade
Enrollment: 375
Tuition: $22,100
Extracurricular activities: athletics, dance, cheerleading, band and drumline, various clubs
3000 Barton Creek Blvd., Austin
512-328-2323
Strickland Christian School
Grades served: prekindergarten-eighth grade
Enrollment: 150
Tuition: $3,996 (half-day prekindergarten), $5,940 (full-day prekindergarten), $4,680 (first-third grade), $4,980 (fourth-eighth grade)
Extracurricular activities: interscholastic competitions, art, music, competitive sports
7415 Manchaca Road, Austin
512-447-1447
Veritas Academy
Grades served: prekindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 552
Tuition: $3,500-$9,830
Extracurricular activities: competitive athletics, fine arts, independent research, online programs through the academy’s schole school, various clubs
13401 Escarpment Blvd., Austin
512-891-1673
Traditional schools
These tuition-based schools may focus on more rigorous college-preparatory coursework and higher academic standards.
AESA Prep Academy
Grades served: first-12th grade (some kindergarten students may be accepted)
Enrollment: 110
Tuition: $17,000
Extracurricular activities: International Immersion Program (travel abroad program), Hill Country Indoor PE program, Polo Club High Performance Tennis Program, TexArts Professional Theater Arts Program, Local Business Internship Program, virtual reality/drone club
13730 Hwy. 290, Austin
512-560-5584
Austin OneHeart School
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 12
Tuition: $13,000, with 50 percent sibling discount
Extracurricular activities: swimming, rowing, parkour
8601 S. First St., Austin
737-808-3318
Skybridge Academy
Grades served: sixth-12th grade
Enrollment: 70 students
Tuition: $14,500
Extracurricular activities: Dungeons & Dragons Club
26450 RR 12, Dripping Springs
512-484-4976
Waldorf schools
Known for integrating the arts into the curriculum, these schools also have a more hands-on approach to education that includes music, dance, theater and writing.
Austin Waldorf School
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 350
Tuition: $11,995-$15,100 (prekindergarten-kindergarten), $15,400 (first-fifth grade), $15,900 (sixth-eighth grade), $17,995 (ninth-12th grade)
Extracurricular activities: volleyball, football, basketball, swimming, tennis, golf
8700 S. View Road, Austin
512-288-5942
Charter schools
Charter schools are different than both public and private schools. In Texas, charter schools are public schools open to any student, and these schools may not charge tuition, according to the Texas Education Agency. These schools do receive state funds based on their average daily attendance of students, and they may also accept donations from private or public sources, according to the TEA. Charter schools also administer the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test.
Harmony Schools
Harmony Schools has two South Austin campuses with two separate schools.
Harmony: School of Excellence
Grades served: sixth-12th grade
Enrollment: 547
2100 East St. Elmo Road, Austin
512-693-0000
Harmony: School of Innovation Grades served: prekindergarten-fifth grade
Enrollment: 443
2124 East St. Elmo Road, Austin
512-300-0895
IDEA Public Schools Bluff Springs
Grades served: kindergarten-4th grade, 6th grade-8th grade, plans to open a 5th and 9th grade in 2019
Enrollment: approximately 1,000
1700 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin
512-822-4200
KIPP Austin Public Schools
KIPP Austin Public Schools has a South Austin campus with three separate schools.
KIPP: South Austin Campus
Grades served: kindergarten-12th grade
Enrollment: 1,250
5107 S. I-35, Ste. A, Austin
512-651-2069 (Obras School)
512-651-1918 (Beacon Prep School)
512-651-2225 (Brave High School)
Valor Public Schools
*Grades served: kindergarten-eighth grade
Enrollment: 465
220 Foremost Drive, Austin
512-646-4170
*School plans to expand through 12th grade in the future, adding Ninth grade next year
Wayside Schools
Wayside Schools has three South Austin campuses with five separate schools.
Wayside: Altamira Academy and Wayside: Sci-Tech High School
Grades served: prekindergarten-fifth grade (academy), ninth-12th grade (high school)
Enrollment: 477 (academy), 235 (high school)
10704 Bradshaw Road, Austin
512-953-8301 (academy)
512-220-9104 (high school)
Wayside: Eden Park Academy
Grades served: prekindergarten-fifth grade
Enrollment: 344
6215 Manchaca Road, Austin
512-358-1800
Wayside: REAL Learning Academy and Wayside: Sci-Tech Middle School
Grades served: prekindergarten-fifth grade (academy), sixth-eighth grade (middle school)
Enrollment: 665 (academy), 370 (middle school)
6405 S. I-35, Austin
512-358-1800 (academy)
512-220-9120 (middle school)
