We're relocating our family to Northern Virginia, and leaving Austin Children's Academy is genuinely one of the hardest parts of this move. Our son Benjamin has been a student here, and the growth we've watched in him during his time at ACA has been incredible. The teachers and staff didn't just teach Benjamin important skills like potty training and using utensils on his own -- they did it with so much patience and care that he hit these milestones happily and confidently. As a parent, watching your child grow through these big "firsts" is special, and we always felt like ACA's team was as invested in those moments as we were. What really sets this school apart is the sense of family. From the teachers to the entire staff, everyone made us feel like we belonged to a community, not just a daycare. Benjamin was loved and cared for every single day, and that kind of warmth is hard to find. If you're considering ACA for your child, don't hesitate. We are beyond grateful for everything this school has done for Benjamin and our family, and we'll carry these memories with us wherever we go. Thank you, ACA -- you'll always have a piece of our hearts. read more

What an amazing experience we had at ACA! Our two kids were at ACA for 2-4 years and there were so many reasons we loved it... amazing staff! Incredible teachers who truly care! And a happy, fun environment for our kids. We will miss ACA read more

My daughter has been at ACA for over two years and will be graduating and heading to Kindergarten this fall. We are sad to be leaving the school but so thankful for the teachers, staff and administration for giving her and us a wonderful experience while she's been enrolled there. Her growth while attending ACA has been remarkable, with her language (Spanish and English bilingual class), math, reading, and independent life skills being way above average. We give so much credit to the amazing teachers she has worked with in both pre-K classes she has been in...truly wonderful people who are not just educators but curators of the kids' minds and social/emotional wellbeing. If you are looking for a welcoming and loving Montessori environment to enrich your child's early education, I could not recommend ACA more! read more

Our daughter has been enrolled at ACA for about six months now and here is our experience. We moved to Texas from California and first enrolled her in another montessori school. We noticed after a few months that the teachers there were stretched thin and would ask us to teach her to sit still during circle time at home. We felt that wasn't in line with what we read Montessori is about (individualized care) so we began looking for another school. When we found ACA, i read through their About Us and noticed they deliberately overstaff in order to prevent teacher burnout, keep teachers happy and energized, which will in turn trickle down to how the children are cared for. I thought this was super wise and loving so we decided to go in for a tour. We met Estella, one of the owners of the school, and she shared their philosophy and showed us the grounds. I immediately felt her energy was starkly different from the energy of our prior school. I also asked if the teachers are actually montessori certified, which i found wasn't true for our previous school. she was happy to confirm they are indeed Montessori certified and go through rigorous and regular trainings to maintain/obtain/enrich their certifications. (note to parents out there, most montessori schools in austin are "montessori inspired", not montessori certified. basically BS. we've had a chance to meet and develop a relationship with owners Sam and Estella, Ms. Hong, Ms. Sara, Mrs. Gupta, and other teachers and staff of the school. And With every single one of them, there is genuine love, honesty, and long-term thinking. This is school is love and people first, profit second. they are reasonably priced as well. and if you're looking for a daycare for your child where your child will be safe, loved, and enriched, I cannot recommend this school enough. Not just because the other schools around Austin suck (which is generally true), but mainly because the folks at ACA actually care and come from love. read more

Our son has had an amazing experience with ACA. He has been attending for about 18 months and we have seen so much growth, in both academic and social skills. The school is well-cared for and the staff are extremely organized and accommodating. Ms. Lucy in the toddler class is truly a one of a kind teacher - we love her! read more

Our daughter has been going to ACA since January 2023 and my son was there during the 2022-2023 school year. The constant during that time is that both of them love their teachers and the kids in their class. The teachers both of them have had have been empathetic and warm and attentive to the kids' needs. My kids both always love(d) going to school and have learned so much in their time there. I recommend the staff and environment of ACA. read more

We are grateful for the wonderful environment that Austin Children's Academy has provided for our kids this year. They have really thrived in the Spanish Immersion classroom. I would strongly recommend ACA to families looking for a welcoming Montessori-style classroom, with lots of activities to keep kids learning. The front desk staff are very responsive, which makes pick ups and drop offs a breeze. Our kids love going to school now, which has been such a blessing. read more

I was skeptical about enrolling my 18-month-old in school but I was pregnant with my second child and I knew I wouldn't have the time to attend to both after giving birth. I also knew that having my son interact with kids his age would help in the social milestones that our pediatrician inquired about. My in-laws had great experiences with Montessori schools with their children, so I had high hopes. They had my son in their older infant class to get him acclimated to the experience, but he didn't experience much as he was constantly out sick (I was expecting this much with the increased interaction with people/germs). After a few months, he was transferred to the toddler class with Ms. Beth. His immune system finally got used to the environment, so he was attending his classes, which we had set up for only two days a week due to my husband and my work schedules. He seemed to flourish in this class, although there were hiccups. His doctor suspects that he has autism so when we relayed that information to Ms. Beth, she started to lower the lights and play classical music during work periods which helped to calm my son and help him focus. After a few months, there were some administration changes and my son had to move to a different toddler class run by Ms. Lucy. Unfortunately, it seems that this teacher does not have much experience with autistic kids. In the Zoom meeting to introduce ourselves to the teacher, I informed her about the possible autism diagnosis, and it seems that she brushed me off, saying that it's typical for kids this age to be by themselves and that it's too early for this sort of diagnosis. I also told her that he was undergoing speech therapy because of his speech delay. The daily reports that were sent out didn't assure me that my son was getting the same level of care that he was getting in the previous class. I was also alarmed that we had found plastic beads, like the type used to make friendship bracelets, were found in my son's stool. I understand that Montessori schools are all about mixing kids of varying ages and having the kids be independent in everyday life, but I do not understand why choking hazards were introduced in my son's class. This institution was also very fast to fill out an "incident report" for a wound on my son's face when he arrived one day (the injury happened in front of my husband and I while he was in his speech therapy appointment). However, there were two instances where we didn't receive any report when my husband noticed bumps on my son's head. The last straw that made me pull my son out of school was the Zoom meeting between the teacher and owner who requested that we only have my son in school for half-days instead of full days, as the teacher (Ms. Lucy) couldn't give my son the care that he needs. One, that's not feasible especially when the tuition for half-days was only $100 cheaper. Two, the school was more cost-effective than hiring a babysitter/nanny to cover that same timeframe. They mentioned that they "have other autistic kids" at the school who are fine with the school, but one autistic child isn't the same as another. They recommended noise-canceling headsets and teething toys for my son, however, he refuses to keep things on his head and he dismisses the teething toys. They had the audacity to offer to care for my 6-month-old daughter instead so we could care for my son, but why would I leave my infant with them if they can't even care for my two-year-old son? read more

Our son has been enrolled in ACA for 1.5 years now and we couldn't be happier: management and organization are stellar: they are prompt, thorough, and on top of things. It's a well-oiled machine with attention to detail and focus on our toddler. The school is very clean, safety and security is on point, and of course, the Montessori approach drives the learning process. All teachers and staff have been nothing but amazing with our boy and make me feel at peace when I drop him off. You know the environment is warm and welcoming when your kid smiles constantly. I would not hesitate to recommend ACA to any parent who wants attention, comfort, safety and also a fun and enriching environment for their kid. read more

I moved from Houston to Austin when looking for a job I look at many other schools. My decision to be part of Austin Children Academy was the environment and the sense of family oriented team. I enjoy coming to work I rediscover my passion as a montessori teacher and appreciate the opportunity to share my experience of many years of been a montessori guide. read more

I've had such a great experience working at Austin Children's Academy. It was clear Mr. Sam and Ms. Estella really value their school, the families, and their employees. Everyone is respectful and kind to each other which is so very important. It was my first experience with Montessori and I was so impressed by the teaching methods and in turn, how the children were learning critical thinking and fine motor skills, gaining independence and the ability to communicate effectively with one another. Starting as a floater, I got to engage in different classrooms which gave me the opportunity to feel where I might serve best. And the other teachers were so patient and willing to show me the ropes! Unfortunately, after several weeks, I had to leave for a family emergency but Mr. Sam and Ms. Estella say they would welcome me back in the future! I'm so thankful to have met them and to have had the opportunity to work at their amazing school. read more

ACA has given our daughter a wonderful Montessori experience. I have no doubts that her years at ACA have formed a foundation for learning that will benefit her for a lifetime. ACA's teachers and staff make you feel like family! read more

ACA is amazing. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. My kiddo was a Covid baby, shy, didn't want to even think about going to school, until he started ACA. The warm and inviting environment really made him comfortable. His amazing teacher Ms. Maria really helped him come out of his shell. Ms. Maria is so amazing. She helped us through so so many milestones that we went through from starting school, to potty training, to adding a baby brother to the family. Through all those things, Ms Maria was so helpful and supported my son (and us) in More ways than I could have asked for. Aca is the best! read more

Our son currently goes to ACA. The staff and management have been kind and supportive since we first registered. We see him blossom everyday and understand what interests him through live updates. We feel it's a safe, diverse and secure environment that's conducive to child development. Glad we chose ACA and highly recommend it! read more

We were caught of guard in July with the news that our daycare was closing at the end of the month and had to scramble to find full time care for our 3 y/o. I'm sure you can imagine how hard it would be to find care for a young child, when we as parents weren't able to visit the school and inspect it for ourselves. Thankfully, Little One's cousins were already going to ACA and only had great things to say. If we had to send him somewhere without personally vetting it, this was the best case scenario. In the transition process, ACA was so friendly and patient with all of my questions and really understood how to make it easier with the covid restrictions. It's always hard to drop your kid the first day at a new place- but everyone on the staff that we interacted with was so kind, so cheerful and so eager to help. Three months in, I continue to be amazed- this time at was Little One is learning. He surprised me just the other day by spontaneously writing his name- WOW! As a mother, I would recommend ACA to anyone who is looking and is nervous about placing their child in stranger's hands. I'm super thankful for them! They have been super transparent about their covid procedures and I am fully confident in how they are handling things. read more

My son has been going there for 2 years. He goes inside on his own every morning and comes out happy. He has learned independence and a can-do attitude that is a joy to behold. I can't recommend them enough. We will be sending our 2 month old there in 4 months. read more

My son has been attending ACA for almost a year. Since he has attended we have seen a huge increase in his speech, exploration, and "I can do it" attitude. ACA sent us photos daily so we could see our son in action which helped relieved the anxiety of being a new parent. The staff was always so friendly and nice and they adjusted to COVID policies very well :) We are sad to have to leave due to my job otherwise my son would have stayed until school age. Highly recommended!! read more

As a new mom and educator, I was extremely picky about where I wanted my child. The ACA staff and teachers kept their composure and were able to answer every and any question I had before my child started. I was able to address every concern that I felt uneasy over after reading a few of the negative reviews and they completely calmed my nerves as we transitioned our child to ACA. I love seeing how much the staff and teachers care for my little one when my husband and I are at work. I honestly loved it so much I became part of the staff. read more

Austin Children's Academy has really stepped up during the Covid 19 Crisis. After temporarily closing, they have been able to reopen with full safety measures in place to keep students, parents and staff safe. My wife and I are essential workers and have been struggling to find a child care situation until we heard ACA was accepting children of essential workers in the community. The staff is phenomenal and friendly and we are impressed with the level at which our daughter is at with , math , speech and her creativity . She was so happy to go back to school and talked about her day when we picked her up. If you are in the area and in a similar situation and are looking for a good trustworthy Montessori we highly recommend Austin Children's Academy! read more

What a fantastic business they've created at Austin Children's Academy! From the moment you walk in the door you can feel the energy and love for children. They even had our names on their welcome board! What a nice personal touch! But the real treat was seeing first hand the ability to teach children who are barely old enough to walk that was amazing. The teachers all seemed very caring and patient with the children. If you have kids under the age of 7 and want them to have a phenominal education and more...go see Sam and Estella at Austin Children's Academy!! read more

ACA adheres to the Montessori philosophy while also showering the children with love and affection. We've been thrilled with our experience so far. We've seen our child evolve beautifully over the course of 12 months. He is now an independent little man who cannot wait to join his teachers and friends in class every morning. The front staff are very welcoming and know everyone by name!! The teachers are very nurturing and approachable, and the owners are frequently there making sure everyone is satisfied. read more

Our son (2 years old) absolutely loves his teachers (Ms Maria and Ms Daisy) and the ACA staff. The staff is very accommodating and always answers the phone or calls back in a timely manner if we had questions. We have been so impressed with how much our son has learned in less than a year! Highly recommend ACA! read more

My son has been going to ACA since July and we have had a wonderful experience with them since. The admin staff is very organized and responsive when we have concerns and questins. The teachers and assistants that my son has had were very nurturint, encouraging and experienced. I feel that my son is in good hands with them. In this pandemic world the school takes strict precautions by making sure the kids are screened and temperature checked before they get checked in. All staff also wear masks at all times. If they sense that the child is not feeling well they notify the parents immediately. I also like that they track everything about your child on their online app from the time he was checked in, his diaper changes, feedings, nap sched etc. What I enjoy the most is receiving live photo updates and a summary of the days activities sent my his teachers. As a working mom I still feel super involved in his day even if Im not able to be with him physically throughout his day! Thank you to the ACA Team! Keep it up! read more

TL;DR - 5 stars for the teachers and our direct experience in the classroom. Broader notes for prospective parents included. My daughter was enrolled at ACA for a total of 5 years (5 months - 5 yrs, 2017-2022) and spanned all available classes. Overall, our time at ACA was positive. The absolute best thing about ACA is their teachers. We had so many amazing teachers, especially primary-level teachers Akansha Agarwal and Rooya Shams. They cared for my entire family like their own and we love them so much. Rooya is creative and nurturing. Akansha is structured and intentional, accommodating and understanding. Both are incredibly kind and smart. My daughter absolutely thrived under their instruction and care. Some things I would have liked to know as a prospective parent: 1. Parents are not allowed in the building for any reason (as of August 2022). This began during the Pandemic and has not changed. Parents hover around the front entrance for pick-up and drop-off. 2. There are cameras in the classrooms but no video feed for parents. Teachers and admin occasionally take and send photos home but visibility into the classroom is extremely limited. 3. Communication with teachers is primarily through an app and has been fine. Current teachers and admin are very responsive. 4. Prices increased roughly 30% since 2020. 5. Snacks are provided but no meals (with the rare teacher-purchased exception). 6. Teacher turnover in the younger classes was ridiculous. Once we reached primary classes (age 2.5-6) turnover stopped and we benefited from the most incredible long-term teachers. 7. ACA did follow through on their commitments to us. Their Montessori program is solid and begins early, but not in an overly pushy way. They were essential in helping us potty-train at 2 yrs and my daughter is well-prepared and ready for Kindergarten. She is reading, writing, doing complex math in her head, and has a general love for knowledge. She learned kindness and manners and, perhaps my favorite, tools to help her deal with anger and stress like yoga and meditation. I'm glad we spent the last five years at ACA. I'd do it again and would recommend the school to prospective parents. read more

My son attempts ACA infant program since May 2021. We decided to enroll ACA, because we are happy with ACA's covid-19 procedures and responses. During this time, we did get notified about individual cases, although glad there's no classroom transimission. My son had 2 wonderful head teachers and other staffs working there are kind and responsible. There daily updates on kid's activity and photo sharing are always wonderful moments of our day. read more

We attended ACA for over 2 years and I truly believe we could not have found a better environment for our two children to both learn and play. The teachers and staff genuinely cared about my children and their development, particularly Ms. Akansha and Ms. Maria. My son had severe separation anxiety that they helped him work through. Also, we personally experienced no teacher turnover despite the challenges that came with COVID pandemic- which is unheard of in the preschool world. My children are more curious, confident, social, and kind thanks to the dedicated professionals at this school. Thank you ACA! read more

Today is our son's last day with ACA because we are moving, and we are so sad to be leaving ACA. Our son started at 3 months and has grown so much during his time with Ms. Denise. He's exceeded all of his developmental milestones and I strongly believe it's been because of his participation in the infant program. As a new mom, I have also learned a lot from all the updates and information Ms. Denise shared every day. I was also so appreciative of the ACA Covid policies during this time, and the proactive communication with the families around any healthcare concerns. We are going to miss ACA and would highly recommend them to any family! read more

We love ACA, we have been with them since 2018 first with my daughter and then my son. The kids love their teachers, they are in constant communication with the parents, every day they send us by email a report of what the children are learning and they send photos of what the little ones do during the day. The children return home happy at the end of the day. The facilities are very clean and they take great care of hygiene. The staff is friendly and everyone calls the children by name, which makes them feel a sense of belonging as well as being loved. In ACA with the montessori method, my children are becoming more independent and organized. We love It. read more

This team is fantastic. I've really loved that my son works with them. They make a positive effort to retain their staff for continuity and quality purposes. The fact that they have several long tenured teachers and they are family run is indicative of their level of care both for their team and their students. read more

We love ACA!!! My child has been doing here since she was 15M, and ACA has been with us through some of her biggest milestone. I love how ACA allows every child to learn at their own speed and they incorporate Montessori in everything they do. I can communicate with her teacher anytime I need to through the app. I'm very happy with all the changes they made to keep my child safe during these times. I would definitely recommend ACA. read more

We have been sending our daughter her since she was an infant all the way through toddlerhood. They have done a great job with her, and she is always excited to go to school in the mornings. Fun weekly/monthly themes, great learning activities, and most importantly she gets all the social Montessori-style interactions with her friends at school. read more

My daughter has attended ACA for the last year. There was a gap in her attendance due to covid but they have transition amazingly to the new health safety requirements. The teachers are amazing and seem to be treated well since a lot of them have been there for years! I love the low turnover and will be sending our new little one to ACA. read more

My daughter has attended ACA for five years. My first nervous drop off at 12 weeks started with a kind greeting from the Director and everyone from the morning/afternoon staff, administrators, owners, and teachers have been very engaged. ACA provides more than just basic child care, the teachers work very closely to encourage students to explore, learn, and play in age appropriate ways. They show children age-appropriate manners and turn even everyday things into opportunities, like "fancy Friday lunch" as opportunities to teach children table setting and proper use of utensils. With the COVID factor this year, we opted to enroll my daughter in ACA's private Kindergarten program instead of virtual public school. I am 100% confident she is advancing at a faster pace than her peers because of the extra in-person attention. read more

My son has been a student at ACA since July 2019. I was recommended by another mother whose child used to attend and spoke highly of it. After touring a few other schools, I knew this was the best option. Witnessing my son's growth and development in both social and basic cognitive skills has been a joy to witness. The teachers and staff are friendly and kind and most importantly, they are kind and patient with my son. He absolutely loves going to school every day! As a working mom, it's hard to spend so much time away from my son, but I have peace of mind knowing he's being guided and directed by people that truly care about him. read more

We brought our daughter to ACA from another Montessori school in Austin. What set ACA apart from other schools we visited was the sense of family, the weekly newsletters from my daughter's classroom teacher that discussed the activities during the week, and the fun events put on by the school (such as their Halloween bash, Thanksgiving spread to which parents and family were invited, Texas Stars games for which the primary class sang the national anthem, and so on). My daughter made some fantastic friends and really blossomed as a learner, an individual, and a peer during her time there. The only reason we left was to move out of state... I wish I could have taken ACA with us, because it's been a huge challenge trying to find a school in our new area that matches the comfort, warmth, and convenience that we had at ACA. I took a star off the review because my daughter was only enrolled for 6 days of the month shortly before our move but I was still required to pay an entire month's tuition. I realize they have salaries to pay and a building to maintain... I only wish they'd have worked with us a little given our circumstances. read more

This is truly a great school, both my kids likes to go to school very much, they had a lot of fun and enjoy everyday with teachers and friends here. My first child is very sensitive and she cried a lot at other schools, after joining ACA, she told mommy she really likes here and she really had a very happy time. Meanwhile, while other daycare don't rally tell parents about your child, ACA stuffs really cares children and always share kid pictures and learning experiences. Besides, while we don't speak English at all at home, both of my kids learn speaking, writing and reading English at ACA, I am very surprised my daughter learned so much from teachers/classmates in ACA. It's really amazing! In addition, Dr. Maria Montessori's educational philosophy is really great. My daughter really changed a lot and become much more independent and self-confidence. She also learned from the big kids and also know how to take good care of the younger ones. I highly recommend you come to visit this place as soon as possible. There are much more than your eyes can see, all the parents are really great and care, too. I really appreciate The Gupta's effort for all the kids parents, and stuffs in ACA. read more

I toured this place recently. The location itself, is not appealing, however, I was willing to look past it. 1. Play area seems to have combined classes - too many kids runnning around and you can see the cars go up the road, while watching from the play area 2. I saw 2 classes, in which the teachers were changing the diapers of the kids in the bathroom, just stripping the kid down, putting on a new diaper while the kid was standing - also in front of all other kids and it was directly visible to folks like us , touring the facility. 3. The third class had a teacher changing the diaper in the mainclassroom - some kids were eating, this kid was leaning against a wall while the teacher did a quick diaper change - again in front of all kids. It seems like this place doesn't have a diaper changing station, which seems like a very basic need. Where is the sense of hygiene or privacy ? I will not recommend this place. We cut short the tour and tossed the brochure in the trash. read more

Our son started going here - his first experience not being with mom or dad - and within a month, he was smiling at his teachers. He loves them. Not to mention the admin staff who are so extremely personable and responsive. We get updates on Temi every day from his teachers, as well as adorable photos, both of which we are so grateful for since with Covid we currently can't go into the school and see him in person while enjoying it all. Soon though! ACA has also been very very safe and cautious with their preventive measures which has made us feel comfortable even amidst this pandemic. We did a lot of research and visited many Montessori schools, and we're so glad we chose ACA!! read more

Updated review after we have been there for almost 2 years! My daughter has been attending ACA since she was 13 months old. It has been an amazing experience for her, and for us as first time parents. She is now 3 and is in the pre-school/primary classrooms. She has learned so much and has blossomed into such a sweet, talkative, little girl. From her first few weeks when she started she began using her sign language, talking more, and now at 3 she can recite her ABC's, the months of the year, days of the week, and count to 20! She loves her teachers, and the staff so much. She also has made friendships with some students and talks about them constantly when home. I love that they are also putting money back into the facility by updating the teachers lounge, putting new signage on the buses that pick up after school children, new sign out front, and they even turfed the once mulched play area outside (which is covered). They offer fun things for the children throughout the year - splash days, culinary days, music days, library days, fathers day/mothers day breakfast, recitals for the spring/winter, and so much more. It is so incredibly evident that the owners Mr. and Mrs Gupta and the other family members of this facility really care about the children and staff members. Each and everyday they strive to greet your child by their first name and assist them to their classroom, and are always quick to respond when you have questions and concerns. We tried another school closer to our house, but ended up having a terrible experience and my daughter missed ACA so much so we have been back for a few months now and she couldn't be happier. I AM SO THANKFUL for ACA and cannot wait for my son to start soon. read more

We had a great experience with Austin Children's Academy. My son started at ACA when he was 3 and loved it. The skills and knowledge he gain at ACA more than prepared him for Kindergarten. He went into kindergarten with confidence because he knows how to read, knows geometric shapes, he can do addition and subtraction and he's able to write his name. We are very thankful to the Gupta's and the entire staff at Austin Children's Academy for making Jonah feel loved and appreciated during his time there. They taught him well. read more