This school is excellent at cultivating community. Our son is on his second year attending and we have become friends with several families outside of school. The individualized attention we have received from the social emotional support team is outstanding. The gardening and hiking programming and presence of animals is a major draw for us. Highly recommend! read more

Austin Discovery School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am shocked at the 1-star reviews, not because I don't believe them, but because many years ago, this would not have been the case. The property the current school is on and the buildings they were in before 2016 were part of a larger campus (Travis State School) that closed in the 1990s. Leigh Moss invited me to talk to the students about the people who lived and worked there. We hiked to the area where the "farm' part of the campus used to be. We went to the old cemetery during the Day of the Dead celebration that the students participated in. The students seemed happy, open to learning, and wise beyond their years. I attended the groundbreaking of the current campus with my Mom. My Mom worked with me at Travis when the buildings you're in (cottages) were built. I was thrilled to see them getting a new life, and especially since Austin Discovery was going to be utilizing them. I don't know what will become of the place now, and it makes me sad. I wish all of you the best. Thank you for breathing new life and for loving the land for all these years. read more

I love that ADS actually implements true Social Emotional Learning. They offer a space for my child to be heard and grow in self awareness and confidence. My child has learned that they can set their own boundaries and how to listen to others about their boundaries. I know academics have not always been rigorous here, however, since they started Amplify, I've seen great growth in my child's ability to decipher and understand text. I believe next year they are going to be using a new math curriculum & I am excited to see my child grow in math skills. They are moving to a 4 day school week which is innovative for the area. They have Friday programs as well, and I look forward to being able to help the community grow by volunteering. The parent community is usually pretty tight knit coming together to put events together for the school. My child also gets to spend more time outside with weekly hikes & time in the gardens. They often are doing classes outdoors as well. I've seen so much growth in the last 5 years my child has been attending this school. I've seen changes that have been difficult to get through, but they always put the students first. read more

School year: 2022-2023 POV: I am writing this review as a teacher myself who has taught for a decade in public schools. I understand both the side of the school and the parent. We sent our child to this school (and not the district I have taught in) because they're active. We were drawn in by the idea that there is supposed to be hands on learning and hiking at this school versus sending them to a public elementary where we were worried they'd be sitting the majority of the day. -------------- THEY DO NOT GO ON A HIKE. They walk down a trail from the school, into a wooded area, where it is LORD OF THE FREAKING FLIES. This property is not owned by ADS, it is the City of Austin's property they're on. One side is a pasture, the other is Travis State Jail. The ratio is about 4 teachers to 50ish kids for lower grades depending on how how many classes go on the "hike" at the same time. The kids are not allowed to break sticks - but they all do, the kids are not allowed to climb anything, including the hanging vines and fallen trees - but they all do. It is all child-led; there is no guidance or structure to any of it. No "if you want to build with sticks, come over here" No "if you want to look for plant life and learn about plant life, come over here". They walk down and stay down in the area for an hour+. Muddy or not. The teachers are not separated monitoring everyone at all times, for the most part, they are congregating. They are yelling at kids from one spot over and over to climb down from trees, to stop using sticks "inappropriately" (they can only build with sticks, that is the rule), stop playing with trash (kids are picking up trash and throwing it, playing with it). FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR! We thought our child was actually hiking, as in walking for a while in nature and getting energy out for an hour every Wednesday. Talking with their classmates and teachers about nature, learning and doing activities throughout the hike with teachers and classmates. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. They walk down the hill. They let the kids run around for an hour or more without any structure. Then they walk back up the hill. The end. They also have minimal to no actual academics at all on Wednesdays as this is "hike day" and early release day (at 1:30 pm) every Wednesday. The day is filled with a morning meeting, hike (total of 1.5-2 hours), essentials (eco, art, music, or p.e.), lunch, and closing meeting. And since a large chunk of this is unstructured, it's essentially just daycare that you're taking your child/children to for the day. All I have to say is CHAOS, pure CHAOS, very minimal structure. *This is not the only reason for the 1 star. Overall this is just a VERY unstructured school environment that is lacking in many ways where the kids end up getting left behind academically, behaviorally, and emotionally. However, they recruit LOTS of families by waving the weekly "hike" in their faces. It is very deceiving. **IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS SCHOOL, REQUEST THAT YOU TOUR ON A WEDNESDAY, DURING A HIKE AND GO ON THE HIKE. Feel how the kids feel, open your eyes to everything that is happening from the unstructured atmosphere to the way they get up and down the hill on "hike" to the piles of carpenter nails laying outside of the buildings to the way the teachers speak to the kids/don't speak to the kids and just everything. The idea of the school sounds so amazing and so appealing, but it's just an idea, there's not enough structure, help, or staff/faculty to actually (currently) hold up to what they are advertising themselves to be. Everything is very unorganized, very little communication (if any at all, it's last minute), very defensive, and everyone expects a lot from the kids, but not putting in that much themselves. So there are lots of behavior issues popping up everywhere, all day long, and not enough people to put out all of the fires or get everyone to reset, get organized, or structured enough to run smoothly and show growth in teaching or learning. ***I have attached photos that have blurred out any children so that you can see where they "hike" for an hour. This review is not some quick jab because of one issue. Our child spent 2 full grades at this school and it was rough from day one, but we were strung along to believe things would change. It never did. read more

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I'm beyond grateful that my 1st grader is now attending Austin Discovery School (ADS). We started the school year at our neighborhood AISD elementary school. Within a month, my daughter was scared to go to school, was "having difficulty completing assignments in a timely manner," and cried a lot in class. While all of this was happening, my daughter was also diagnosed with dyslexia (independent of the school district). All this amounted to her being overwhelmed, not learning anything, and making school a negative experience. I attempted to address these issues with the staff; however, they appeared apathetic to my concerns. Given limited resources, the staff did their best; however, something had to give. I immediately toured a couple of schools, including ADS. Although I loved the philosophy and the general vibe of ADS, I also had concerns regarding the quality of the academic curriculum. Despite these fears, my husband and I enrolled our daughter at ADS. This was a quick process: I called ADS on Monday to ask about the next step; on Tuesday, she was enrolled at ADS and unenrolled at the neighborhood school, and my daughter started at ADS on Wednesday. It's been 6 weeks, and we've witnessed the power of transferring schools. Within days, my child went from dragging her feet to singing in the car about how great school is. She came home and talked about the strategies her teacher suggested to help express her ideas in writing. We now have a nightly dinner table ritual where we all go around and say what our favorite thing is that day, and that's because she wants to talk about her day! And to top it off, she's progressed in her academics, including reading. Although we're still settling in and need to set up IEPs and resources for addressing her dyslexia, she currently receives additional help from her teacher. In summary, we are so happy and relieved that we found ADS. It's made a world of difference in our child in record time. It's also one of the only places where I've felt I belong and can join the community as a parent. I implore you to check out ADS if you are looking into education options for your child. read more

First, notice the # of years ago the reviews were written. 2) Eco-wellness, hikes and gardening are the only true special thing about ADS. .... We have 3 kids - now all former students of ADS. Ive heard it used to be a good school. Formerly. ... When you read other reviewers say Lord of the Flies, chaotic, a mess and other illustrious yet painful descriptions please know those are all true. I would write to the school to let them know, but frankly only Deborah in the office would be truly helpful. I dont believe it is with malice that they are so disorganized - but we're talking about your child's education and future here. I have so many examples of the mess, I wouldn't know where to begin. My kids came home miserable, angry, uneducated and bored. Now @ different school I can see they feel cared for, engaged, educated and excited for tomorrow. The work they bring home now is hard - even challenging - what a relief!!! All the parents we know pulled their kids from ADS over the past year to their deep relief. Personally, I didnt understand what a disaster it was until we were on day one for each of the kids at their new school. If you're afraid of AISD or public schools because of the signs in their hallways (older post mentioned) then perhaps keep your kid at ADS if you feel they'll only learn about Gandhi from a sign on the wall. 3) If you love tie dye clothes and dreads then perhaps this school is for you. ... Im not kidding. More tie dye shirts per foot than Ive ever seen in my life. The parent / teacher conferences were a joke. i believe they reviewed another kid. I received poor reviews of our kids yet we've never received any of that feedback before or since - only ADS can create total educational apathy in kids. We had so many issues w staff / teacher turnover, poor communication, kid's behavior issues and anger issues from teachers / staff. We ALWAYS felt we were grasping in the dark to know what was going on. Sure - we could email the teachers, but poor teachers - the staff should provide them proper support beyond one stellar office staffer Deborah. For example, one of my kiddos was so excited to go to music class on day one. We counted the days - excitement everywhere. The day came and I saw tears - why I asked? I felt so sad the excitement turned to defeat. The reply "the other kids were all being so bad that we didnt get to have music class". These are kindergartners. I feel the staff or someone higher up is unwilling to address the real issues at this school. Frankly, they all seem too busy / over-worked. If someone from ADS reads this: why make the kids dump their backpacks on the dirt when they could easily keep them on their pegs / inside until class over? Why get ants in their lunch, backpack, clothes - then car and home counter unnecessarily??? The pegs were only 10 feet away inside the door where they hung all day. Perhaps the teachers are over-worked, underpaid, and uncared for by higher-ups themselves? It's strange to willingly be such a mess. AfterCare note = if you enjoy paying to put your kid in 105 degree weather everyday so you can work - and told your kindest kid has problems - yet no one / not a single other human has ever mentioned my extroverted, funnest kid ever has social interaction issues. I asked my kiddo what the issue was and they said "Mom, Im hot, tired, thirsty, hungry, bored and just got 100 more ant bites so Im feeling angry now. Can we please go home?!" At current non-ADS school I cant get them to pile in car for home they're having so much fun saying hello and bye chatting it up w school chums. It's not my kiddos - truly - it is the school. How do I know for sure? The kiddos actually want to go to school tomorrow. There were so many issues - some truly awful. In most cases the teachers made it clear it was our kiddos w the problem. We later discovered this was exactly how so many other parents felt. Done w ADS forever - yes!! Final review: So bad that I felt compelled to write this epic post. You can go on hikes and do gardening w your kiddo on your own. Find a school that'll help them in life instead. read more

We've been at Austin Discovery School for three years now, and our kid loves it. They get so much outdoor time and hands-on nature instruction (Ms. Thora, the Ecowellness teacher is the best!), and take hikes every week. The campus is spread out across different buildings so students aren't just shuffling from one room to another all day. They have a dedicated "Restore" room where really amazing, dedicated SEL (Social Emotional Learning) staff help kids who need a little extra support in staying regulated and on-task, giving them a safe space to chill out and learn calming strategies. Our child has ADHD and unlike other schools I've toured, I never worry that my child's challenges are going to be ignored or punished unfairly. The parent community at this school is also amazing - it's a really great group of people to be with, and my kid has made some awesome friends here. The school is incredibly inclusive and especially attuned to the LGBTQ+ community. The pandemic and high teacher turnover have thrown some challenges at the school in the past few years, and the administration has not always been up to the task. But watching the school turn itself around (we now have a really engaged and communicative principal, a few staff leaders who have worked to improve some process at the school this year, Stephanie our front admin who is always responsive and on top of things and is just as invested in the school as we are because her kids go here too) has been amazing, and the feeling of community is palpable. I see some negative reviews, and in my experience I've found that the more involved you are as a parent the better outcome you are going to see. I believe that is true at every school, but at ADS in particular it's the community and the communication between parents and teachers that can make or break it. Parents are invited and encouraged to go on the hikes with kids and doing so is an amazing chance to see your kid and his class first hand, and meet other parents. Parents are also asked to volunteer 20 hours a year, helping out in the gardens, library, etc. In my experience the parents who are unhappy and complainy here are the ones who are constantly missing the many emails and announcements that staff send out. Also admittedly ADS is not known for its high academics (something that we were aware of coming in and plan to augment with tutoring if need be). But if your child has any sort of special needs, or benefits from an environment that is more inclusive and less traditional, then this is the place for them! read more

I am so impressed with Austin Discovery School. The school is set up to support the social and emotional needs of the students, as well as foster learning through hands-on projects and outdoor activities. The community of caring parents and teachers is incredible. read more

I went to ADS for 4 years, here's my experience. I was bullied. Staff and administration did NOTHING. I had to quit going to school there because of this. I also never felt safe at this school because of the administration and teachers who just let the bullying keep going. Communication is also a key issue with this school. There were many times where I was failing and the teachers failed to communicate that with my parents, and also failed to do anything to get my grades back up. This school only usually communicates with parents if you've done something "wrong". The so called "safe space" in each classroom where you're supposed to feel safe, is actually typically used as a punishment in my experience. The classrooms are also VERY dirty. The concrete floors are covered in dirt, and everything else has lots of dust on it. The water fountains also had mildew growing on them a few times and it was there for months. The campus also has a history of flooding if it has been raining for a few days. There is very little actual punishment for bad behavior. There was an occasion where a kid threw a chair across the classroom and nearly hit another student, and was not really punished. And also they never actually do anything about bullying. They pretend to address it, but don't take action. My whole math class in 6th grade fell a WHOLE YEAR behind because of ONE kids behavior issues that weren't being addressed. The poor teacher couldn't even completely get through one lesson! Hikes were chaotic. We went even if it was 100° outside or even if everyone was going to get caked in mud. There were also multiple times where students ran off onto the hiking trails by themselves. If you didn't bring any water you had to ask another kid for some or go without. And if you had to use the bathroom while on a hike... you went outside. I had to do PE even though I was in pain or feeling sick multiple times. I had an undiagnosed bleeding disorder in late 2018 causing extreme pain, very heavy bleeding, and menstrual cramps and I was still forced to do PE unless I wanted a 0. Once I was diagnosed and was allowed to sit out, my friend who has the same condition but was undiagnosed was FORCED to do PE simply because the teacher didn't like her, while other kids who had nothing wrong sat out too. I could say SO much more about this place, but it'll never be a happy place for me. Just hike and garden at home, public schools are way better than this. read more

We love ADS! My son attended in a 3rd/4th grade split a couple years ago. We were really bummed when we moved back to Washington, because there is nothing that compares up here! Washington really needs to get their act together regarding the Charter School thing.....ehem....anyhow.... ADS is the school I wished for as a kid. It's all about active learning and community. No sitting at your desk doing worksheets all day here. You actually DO things. And the outdoor environment is incorporated as much as it can. Self expression encouraged as well. A very diverse range of children attend ADS. The teachers and staff are great. Parent involvement is expected and highly appreciated. You really feel like you are a part of the school experience with your child. As the previous reviewer mentioned they are relatively new and are still growing as an organization. Working out the kinks, but you couldn't do it with any better group of people. Parents even drive their children upwards of 30 - 45 mins each way just so they can go to this school, that says alot! There are carpools that parents have organized to accomodate the distance and gas expense. Be sure to connect with one if you are considering the drive. The teachers are excited about what they do and really engage the children in the process. They work from a shared teaching perspective, having two teachers in every classroom and two grades combined. The teacher to student ratio when we attended was 17:1. Really good compared to most public schools! The dual grades and teachers was a big plus for my son. He was behind in some areas grade level wise and in others he excelled, so being able to flucuate between levels without feeling like he was 'dumb' helped alot! It really increased his confidence. The school is located on a large piece of property in East Austin, off of 969, that used to be some sort of state school. ADS has acquired a few buildings and utillizes the space very well. The property joins up with the Colorado River. When we attended, they had hikes to the river and back, allowing lots of new discoveries. The junior master gardeners program also adds to the educational opportunities here. ADS has before & after school care available on-site and they offer parent education classes. Field trips are really fun as well as the end of year camp-out (which we missed, boo hoo!). Don't hesitate to go check out ADS and see what a wonderful place it is for yourself! read more

Austin Discovery School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

Although this school has a small amount of money, it is a great place for stunts k-5 to learn.

At the beginning of my child's kindergarten year we started out great! They made great promises and had great intentions, HOWEVER the reality was very different. I do not recommend this school and will update details at a later point. read more

We have been an ADS family for 5 years. It's the only school my son has been to, and the only place I can imagine him being. So many people that make up the school have a big heart and a vision that they work really hard to uphold and keep it feeling like a community. They are definitely a non-traditional educational experience and that's what I wanted for my son. We call it the cool school. They're loose and laid back and the kids don't spend all day at a desk listening to lectures - learning is hands-on and project based. I like that my son gets plenty of outdoors time and does art, music and theatre, and has learned to care about the environment, grow his own food, and be a kind person. I love that they have concerts and festivals and go on hikes and get dirty. It's so different from the type of public school I went to growing up, and I've loved watching him blossom here. read more

We are so happy with this school and it's staff. They nurture our children's minds academically and artistically. The campus is very nice and their gardens and hiking areas are wonderful. Our children are better off having attended this school, socially, academically and environmentally. Thanks ADS! read more

Not a safe place for your students! Children have left classes and gone on hikes alone, they do not keep parents updated as to how each individual student is doing in class, they don't require students to check out library books or encourage them to read independently. I only gave ADS 1 star because 0 isn't an option! read more

Austin Discovery School includes a gardening program and fifth graders graduate "Junior Master Gardeners" which is quite an accomplishment. The atmosphere is nurturing and encouraging. You wouldn't walk down the halls in ADS and see signs with things written on them like this: "Walk in a straight line," or "Look with your eyes, not your hands." Maybe you've seen the types of signs I'm referring to in your children's public school building. These are quite oppressive and conjure up feelings of forced conformity to me. ADS promotes individuality as well as creativity. You'll most likely find art and quotes of Mahatma Ghandi in the halls of ADS -signature creations of the students. The school is growing and learning together. read more

The school is chaotic. Visit campus on a day that classes are in session, and you will find a perfect metaphor for the school itself: Yes, there are beautiful murals and fine gardens. There is also trash strewn about, discarded and misplaced school supplies, broken sidewalks, bees and flies buzzing around, often the wafting odor of the wastewater treatment plant just west of campus, no order to the buildings themselves, no site planning, and no fence or barrier to keep kindergarteners away from the surrounding road. Usually there are ten or so kids wandering aimlessly with no supervision as well. Inside the buildings, there is no carpet, only dusty, untreated cement floors because the school ran out of money for any type of floor covering. The bathrooms are filthy and often not working. The lights are usually off because the cheap, "eco friendly" florescent lighting gives teachers migraines. The sounds from music classrooms overpower lessons in adjoining classrooms. Paint is already peeling off the walls, after less than a year since the school was renovated. Oh, and this imaginary visit is based on the assumption that you can even find a parking place in the field "parking lot" that only holds enough cars to accommodate the vehicles of one grade. Let's end this metaphor and get down to the nitty gritty. In the fall of 2016, the school and its board of trustees failed to meet a deadline to have renovations completed at the new campus. First school was delayed by two weeks, with the promise that classes would resume after Labor Day. Then there were several weeks of field trips, so we had to haul our children to various locations in Travis and Bastrop Counties. Then we were told to take our children to NYOS in North Austin for several weeks. Then another week of cancellation. And then, finally, we moved into the new ADS campus after Columbus Day. Each step of the way, we were promised that "this would be the last delay." It was not. Communication was non-existent. Many lies were told. Trust was lost, completely, and children fell dangerously behind. Lucky families found openings at other schools during that time, but my family was not that lucky. Once school finally began, the chaos continued. Classroom management was nonexistent because the teachers never had a chance to enforce it at the beginning of the year. Before Christmas break, my oldest child's classroom lost more than half of the students due to unaddressed problems with bullying. The principal and teachers were completely unresponsive to the situation and even seemed to encourage some of the bullied victims to leave. By the end of the year, it became clear that the school can only fail from here on out. More than half of the teachers have chosen not to return, and only five of the eighteen students in my youngest child's class are returning next year. The administration's communication with parents has only gotten worse, and any attempts by parents to improve the school are met with board members quite literally telling them that their help is not wanted. If you talk to administrators, they will most likely tell you that parents are leaving because school was delayed or because traffic is too bad or because of any other number of false reasons. The truth is that the school was starting to fail even before it moved to its new campus. Their approach to academics as "unimportant" leaves children falling dangerously behind in reading and math. I estimate that by third grade, students at ADS are at least a full grade behind in math compared to their peers at AISD schools. But academics are not the mission of the school, so this does not matter to them. Their focus is on nature and socio-emotional growth. Yet students are regularly the victims of bullies and thieves, and nothing is done to prevent those continuing problems. I, quite honestly, do not know what the school does well apart from express ideas; they surely do not act on them. It is also worth noting that a main component of the school is the weekly hikes. These are not Scout-type hikes. They, again, are chaos. Students, many of which wear flip flops and sandals, navigate down a dirt hill toward fields of poison ivy and dry creek beds, over barbed wire fences, and onto completely unmaintained property that is most likely owned by the city or county and is also most likely used without the owner's permission. This property is also adjacent to the Travis County Jail. If a student on a hike forgets their water bottle, they do not drink. If they have to pee or poop, they do so in the woods. Hikes are only cancelled if there is thunder and lightning, so they continue on the hottest days. It is only a matter of time before a student is crushed by a falling tree or bitten by a snake. Then the school will most likely blame the teacher because the administration has yet to take responsibility for any of their problems. read more

My son has attended ADS k-5th. He loves learning and loves his school. We were first excited about the hikes and eco-wellness program. We do love those aspects but my son has learned what it takes to build community and participate in a community. ADS does not "teach to the test" so I was ready to accept low test scores. That was not the case. My some was in the 95% in trading and math.... and 90% in writing. I don't think those tests are the only measurement of success but I was pleased he was successful. read more

I am glad we chose not to send our child here. I found the administration noncommunicative...and when I tried raising that as a concern or anything else unpleasant (like inquiring about teacher turnover rate) I was met with defensive and dismissive non-answers. Considering the feel good image they try to project I sure got hit with some bad vibes. I would really encourage prospective parents to do their research and ask the difficult questions before committing. read more

Hands down the worst thing we ever did for our child, and we only made it a few months. They are in a financial deficit because people are leaving in the masses. The school is so so poor and will always be asking you for money because they can't keep seats filled. Negligent supervision, abusive practices, they don't truly use conscious discipline as they should because their training is so poor, academics are crap, teachers intentionally hide things from parents.... mine was a physical incident that landed my child in the hospital, many others have had similar experiences to my kiddo, and there has even been a report of sexual assault. It is bad. Gardening and hiking isn't worth it for all of the bad they will experience. Garden and hike with your kiddo, but place them in a school where they won't need massive amounts of supplemental education and therapy to overcome all of the bad that is ADS. read more

Sending our daughter to this school was the biggest mistake we have ever made. This school might be ok for a typically developing child, but is the worst nightmare for any special needs or special education student. They go out of their way to deny services, than once your child does have services they do not follow the IEP's. The teachers are out of date on essential training (like restraint training.) They also move gen ed substitutes or special education aids into special education teaching positions- without additional training. There is actually a question as to whether all their special education teachers have valid certificates and licences to teach special education. Our daughter has digressed in behavior and even started showing dangerous behaviors she doesn't exhibit anywhere else but school. I could not in good conscious recommend this school to anyone- but definitely do not go to this school if your child has any disability. read more

ADS is an amazing, progressive, project-based learning school and community that nurtures the whole child, integrates social-emotional learning, makes nature hikes and eco-wellness a core part of the curriculum, and is full of dedicated, big-hearted and talented teachers and administrators! read more

Love this school! My son's teachers are excellent and very tuned into him and his needs. He is doing super well. He loves his "essentials": music, art, PE and eco-wellness. The educational philosophy is very much in tune with my own. I feel very lucky that there is an option like ADS available to us. Having finished a school year I wanted to add in more of my observations and why I will again choose a 5-star review. Both of my son's teachers were top-notch and I was very impressed with how well they handled the classroom. There were kids of all kinds of backgrounds and ability levels and they managed the course room so well that the kids got along and everyone was able to progress at their own pace. I had the opportunity to participate in the weekly hikes as well as different classroom activities so got to observe the class a lot and was consistently impressed. Maybe other classrooms are different and not all the teachers are at that level but I just wanted to say that I think the education my son and his classmates received here was very high-quality. It is true that there are issues with parking, traffic congestion, etc. I didn't get the school newsletter for most of the year. But this was the first year in a new location and I think these things will improve. In any case, these things are very secondary to the quality environment and education my son is exposed to and I would say these are 5 star. read more

ADS is fabulous. We have been so pleased with this creative and supportive academic community. Our children are thriving with more exercise and outdoor time than the typical school; with the focus on social emotional wellbeing that creates a warm friendly student body and with an individual approach to teaching that does not use state testing as the guide but a wholistic approach to all subject levels including math and reading. Love this school and all they represent! read more

We pulled our six-year-old (kindergarten) out of our neighborhood elementary school after one month there and were lucky enough to get a spot at ADS. His experience at the neighborhood school was awful, as he has learning differences (including some emotional challenges related to HF ASD) and they simply did not have the resources to provide a classroom aid (at all) for their kindergarten teachers. They were not helpful at all in getting the ARD process going (despite our son having had a wonderful IEP in our previous school district in Virginia for pre-k). AS SOON as we started at ADS, the faculty got right on the ARD process! They have been wonderful. His two kindergarten teachers are great, and the school follows the Conscious Discipline program (he had this in VA, too), which works wonders for him as compared with other "disciplinary" methods. They're also a very nature and science loving school, totally inclusive, and they have extra outdoor time and hiking days. The fact that it's free? Huge bonus for our family. We love ADS! read more

We have been so pleased with my sons last two years at ADS. His teachers have been second to none, not just keeping the kids up academically, but also really fostering a community. read more

We love ADS! Great teachers and staff working hard to create an amazing learning community. My kid is thriving here!

This school is such a mess! We did a year there, it was agony, we left, and now we look back and laugh at what a ridiculous mess it is. There are parents who are super gung-ho about this school. You need to know that--take the glowing reviews with a big grain of salt. These parents know about the problems--the traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up time (every day, seriously, consider the impact on the environment and your schedule), the teacher turnover, poor communication from the administration, last-minute changes, late announcements, and on and on. Most ADS parents know about this glaring issues but turn a blind eye--I think maybe they are just afraid of AISD and feel ADS is this charming little hippie school that fits their lifestyle, values, and aesthetic so they WANT to love it. ADS parents are cool, that's for sure. Tattoos, dyed hair, and they have cool jobs like acupuncturist, midwife, artist, yoga teacher, etc. But really people, so what? THIS SCHOOL IS A MESS! There are basics they just don't have in place. Like safety. They lost our Kindergartner--twice! Both times, it was at end-of-the-day pick-up. With so many cars in and out at that time, he could've been snatched. Who knows? But they weren't concerned--we were told to go look for him ourselves! We had to email the principal 3 times about it before getting a response and then her response was "I have delegated this issue and it's being handled." WHAT? YOU LOST OUR SON! She didn't take it seriously at all. Our Kindergartener was in a class of 18 with 1 teacher (who had a broken collar bone in a sling) and no aide for more than 6 weeks. They kept saying they were looking, it was taking time, we needed to be patient. Meanwhile, the kids were bouncing off the walls in there. Our child fell way below learning goals during this time and kept getting in trouble for his behavior. Even when they had an aide, the class environment was chaotic. The whole school feels like a non-stop festival. Our kid didn't eat lunch for the first 3 months and after that would eat a few small items. How can a kid learn well and behave well if he's not eating lunch--because it's too chaotic to eat? Since our child was having trouble learning and focusing in this wild environment, the teacher started to pressure us to enroll him in special ed. I got on the ADS Facebook group for special needs families and read a lot of posts about students who had special needs accommodations that weren't being met. Like our classroom's need for an aide, special needs parents were being told to wait, be patient, the school was working on it. I had to wonder why, if ADS was not able to serve its current spcial needs population, the teacher was pushing so hard for my son, who is neurotypical (but he's a boy, so he's active), to be enrolled in special ed. Then I learned that the State gives ADS extra money per day for each special ed student depending on their needs. That money is supposed to be used to deliver these students their accommodations. But it seems ADS is unable to fully meet that obligation. Hm. Kinda made me wonder. The next year, we enrolled our son at the plain-old AISD neighborhood school and he's doing so well there. Excellent behavior. Achieving and exceeding learning goals. No mention of special ed. Unfortunately, I had to conclude ADS just didn't have the skill/expertise/talent to manage and teach our kid. read more

A great school, all around. Everyone involved with the school - teachers, administrators, parents and kids, are passionate about this school. Learning is project oriented. There is no "drill and kill" that fills so many regular public schools, and the kids don't take a single test prior to the TAKS in third grade, yet the school's scores are quite good. Kids graduate from ADS knowing that school and learning are fun. They have an excellent grasp of the basics (reading, writing, math, social studies, etc) and and understanding of their own place in the world and the environment. This is a great place to educate your kids if you want them to become independent, critical thinkers who care others and the world. read more

Not a school. More like a group of buddies running a fundraising machine that feeds back into their close knit group. "Oh, you're a parent? wanna be an administrator? hired. Oh, I know you from somewhere, wanna teach?"...the ridiculous list goes on and on. Look at how often parents and staff bounce around from position to position, all of which they would be completely unqualified if vetted by any other charter, private, or public school. But hey, they can all hold hands and sing good intentions while the education and emotional health of young children are sacrificed. The complete disregard for very basic standards and regulations has harmed children at ADS. Don't be fooled. ADS carries some dark secrets. Investigate before you enroll your child. read more

Well, the bad news is that this school caters to children , mostly boys, who have behavioral problems.My daughter attended for years before I understood the weight of this.Although the staff members can be invested, it doesn't override the chaotic and dirty conditions of the facility.Lots of days where there are substitute teachers in place of regular staff.Lots of interruption to daily learning, because there are kids here who can't follow basic procedures of a classroom environment.Every year my daughter was a student here, teachers would leave at the end of the year (as would students).It wasn't until my child transferred into a healthier school environment that I appreciated how unusual this was.Every year the administration was in a state of transition and upheaval.If you want a quality education for your child, you should look elsewhere.Good intentions are not enough. read more

I have been at ADS for years now and I know all schools have their problems . I think this school is great. They work hard to make strong connections to children and bonds. ADS gives students a "think out of the box" education. How many school do you know of that go hiking and have gardens for students to work in? I also have a Special Needs Child which I will say this, THIS is a school of choice so if you aren't happy then go back to your home school. Now there are some parents who do not like the school because they didn't get their way, or they have a certain ideas on how something happened but I can tell you this school has been amazing. So before you let a review change your mind, go see it and visit with the folks at ADS. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Wow cannot believe this school has such low ratings it has been absolutely wonderful for our family. Maybe because I am not part of PTA I don't know all the "dirt" everyone is talking about..however I do know one thing my son is happy! Hasn't been happy with school in a few years (he went to public school after being in a charter due to it being the only viable option and he learned to HATE school really fast in those few years.) Since being at ADS he has found the love of learning. He struggled greatly in traditional school because he has dyslexia, and a few other learning disabilities. He really seems to grasp the concepts they teach, as it is delivered in a different way. He seems more motivated, and excited to do tasks he previously would dread. The student services staff are great, they really work with you. They are knowledgeable, and actually have the best interest of my child in mind. (As my experience with public school previously was not so good, they fought you every step of the way.) Any issues I had I simply wrote an email to the teacher. I would set up a meeting or get a direct response. They were on top of my issues, and handled them exactly as expected. He was being made fun of when he first started (by one kid) and it was nipped in the butt, and has not been a problem since I brought it to their attention. They are however a charter school with different values, and expectations. I see people complaining about the food policy. They make you very aware this is a priority for the school, and there are many who send their kids to this school for that exact reason (and probably many other reasons as well.) I also found it not that difficult to adhere to the food policy as I feed my child organic food and whole wheat anyways. I have also sent my child with items not really in accordance with the policy, he was not withheld his food at all. He was allowed to eat it. In public school lunch time was miserable. They ate a bunch of processed food, and could not talk...that's right could not talk. Here lunch time and recess time are what they are meant to be. A time to relax and just be kids. My son loves the playground, it is older, but he has a lot of fun. Also a big grassy space to run nearby (his other school had very little open area and they could not run on the playground?!?) Also my kid loves the hikes...hot or cold he is ready, and very disappointed when they are cancelled due to weather. The school is very forthcoming with both the food policy and that they take hikes weekly. Not sure why you would put your kid in this school, then complain about these aspects. My son loved all the specials as well eco-science, library, PE, art, and music. Which he loves them all (and in his public school hated everything except the library because the teachers were mean...sad when you can't even enjoy specials because of mean teachers.) Anyone with kids in public school knows the homework is horrible. Have to say they send fun and engaging homework home, when they do. My son actually doesn't mind, and that says a lot for a kid with disabilities. While being fun he is also grasping the concepts, and "gets it" like he hadn't previously in his public school. I can only base my review off of our previous experience with a public school, and my child's personal experience at the school. I have to say it is great. I will say I am very involved in my child's life I am not so much involved in the school life aspect (PTA etc.) maybe that is why I don't see the problem. However like I said in the end it is not my personal thoughts on every change that really matters, however it is my son's happiness and education. He is doing great with both at this school. read more

My daughter started Kindergarten this year and is loving school. Her teachers are wonderful. This school is a great option for those wanting an alternative to state run public school. They have a great eco-wellness outdoor program and take hikes as a class one morning each week. Overall so far it seems like an awesome school. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because some of the logistical stuff seems to be a little rough at times, i.e. communication with parents etc. Not that it's not there, just sometimes there is not enough notice. read more

All that on the wab page about teachers working together with parents to benefit the children is a complete farce. ADS is working for ADS to generate funding just like any other public school. As long as you don't have some idealized notion that this school is any different than any other public school, you should be fine. It probably is just as good as some public schools in Austin, but it is currently listed as academically unacceptable, so... This year they have over promised and under delivered. read more

Please do not put your child into this school, please! It will be the worst decision you will ever make, I promise you that. My child used to go to this school, and before my child was well above grade level and now my child is below. I wasn't made aware of this situation until a couple of months before school was over. They have so called teacher teaching class they never taught before or even went to school to learn. The facility is sooo nasty. Many parents have pulled there child out of the school early, and many will never re enroll there child again. It has to say something about this school that one of the founders of this school was once apart of the administration is no longer with the school and neither is their child. This says something, please do not put your child in this school. They will not tell you what is going on with your child. read more