Phenomenal learning institution. The investment in the children here is top notch. 100% graduation…read morerate. And best of all kids are prepared for college. Love this school .

Wonderful school with amazing opportunities and a kind, inclusive community. We are so pleased.read more

Terrible school, fails to prepare students for life after high school. While some may say that they…read moremoved to Hyde Park to avoid vaping and smoking, Hyde Park has a huge vaping problem and the staff continues to look the other way.

I attended this school some years ago, and it was, and still is, a joke. Will you get a better…read moreeducation here than in public schools? Maybe in regards to math. But will your child leave here better off and prepared for the life ahead of them? No chance. The school is a sheltered island that practices borderline cult-esque ideals of religion and tries to indoctrinate students with a perspective of 'how the world should be' but completely fails to prepare them for how the world actually is. For all the heavily religious people out there, consider this. Roughly half of the students I know who attended Hyde Park no longer believe in God and directly point to this school as one of the primary reasons. I've never been religious but if I was that would be a horrifying statistic to me. And for those who are not religious, this isn't because the school promotes open minded thinking but rather is so far down the evangelical black hole that it ruins religion for most. Oh and if you actually care about the education aspect (which most parents at this school do not and are primarily focused on religion), check where their graduates go to college. The majority of them go to small, relatively obscure colleges because the school is not focused on education, but primarily religion. Students who attend a private school and pay for an elite education should not be struggling to get into Texas A&M if they're just outside of the automatic admit percentile. Yikes. Glad I graduated from a different school.

Our journey with Hill Country Christian School began in a unique and very personal way. I first…read morejoined the Hill Country family as a middle school girls volleyball coach in 2019 and was later hired on as a teacher in 2022. What I couldn't have predicted then was how much joy this place would bring to my family and me. Very early on, I knew in my heart that I wanted my own children to experience that same joy, love, and purpose. One of the most beautiful things about Hill Country is how the school truly lives out its mission: to know your child, love your child, and prepare your child. The teachers go above and beyond in caring for my child not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally. Every day, I see the intentional ways they invest in him, and it's deeply moving as both a parent and an educator. The spiritual growth I've witnessed in my son has been incredible. He's only in Pre-K, but already he's learning to pray, engaging with God's Word, and building a foundation that will last a lifetime. Hearing him pray every night before bed, without prompting, is one of the greatest blessings I could ever ask for as a mom. What makes Hill Country especially impactful is how every subject is taught through a Biblical worldview. It's not just about teaching math or reading; it's about teaching truth, character, and purpose. Our children are learning to love Jesus through every lesson and every experience. This matters so much to our family because we want our children to grow in their relationship with Christ, not just know about Him. Hill Country creates endless opportunities for families to be involved and serve together. It's a place where students and families are encouraged to be the hands and feet of Jesus in every area of life. That kind of culture is rare. If I had to choose one main reason to recommend Hill Country to a friend, it would be this: community. You will find a deeply caring, Christ-centered community here. We support each other in tangible ways through prayers, shared meals, encouraging words, and acts of kindness. It truly feels like family.

We had a very disappointing experience at Hill Country Christian School. My son struggled to stay…read moreengaged and focused, and instead of working with us as parents, the principal, Tracy, took it upon herself to intervene in ways that crossed boundaries. After I had specifically told her I would speak with both the teacher and my son's pediatrician, she removed my son from class and told him directly that he needed to see a doctor for his behavior. When I picked him up, he was crying and asking, "What's wrong with me, Mom?" No child should be put in that position, and that conversation should never have been had with him -- that was my responsibility as his parent. This was not an isolated incident. I had emails to teachers go unanswered, and overall the partnership we expected from a private school simply was not there. Since leaving, I've learned that other families have had similar experiences, where the principal seemed to push an ADHD diagnosis despite disagreement from teachers and parents. In our case, both my son's third- and fourth-grade teachers at HCCS and his pediatrician did not believe he had ADHD. When my son transferred mid-year into public school, the difference was night and day. His new teacher said he was incredibly bright, just likely bored, and he immediately began thriving. He made straight A's, came home happy, and was excited to return to school each day. The contrast showed me that the problem was not with my son but with the way he was being handled at HCCS. We expected much better from a private institution, but sadly, our experience was one of disappointment, lack of communication, and a principal who placed her opinion above parents, teachers, and even doctors.

Our family loves St. Francis School (SFS, a pre-K through 8th-grade private nonprofit…read moreinterdenominational school operating for 30+ years near the ACC Highland campus in north-central Austin). After a mixed but ultimately disappointing experience in 1st - 3rd grades at a crowded, overpriced, chaotic start-up foreign language immersion school, our family needed a fresh start. Our once confident and joyful learner of a child had been reduced to an overstressed student who loathed school and struggled through hours of tedious homework each night. St. Francis provided the small, truly diverse and welcoming community environment we wanted for our child, with a balance of challenging academics, ethics reinforcement, and attention to the nurturing & development of the whole child by experienced educators who really know how to differentiate instruction to many types of learners. This approach has totally turned around our child's experience of school and his learning & achievement have skyrocketed over the past 2 years. His school grades are now more in line with his always high standardized testing results, and homework no longer comes to tears! Another parent reviewer said it well when she described the diverse and "unpretentious atmosphere" at SFS. Every imaginable demographic is represented in both the student body and faculty. People are kind and friendly and welcoming, and individual differences are celebrated. Every time I'm on campus, I just feel inspired and hopeful. Because SFS keeps class size (max of 15) and total enrollment (around 400) in check and teachers love the place so much they stay for decades, the small, cohesive "neighborhood school" feel is maintained. Huge props go to the incomparable founding head of school, Barbara Porter, who has since 1985 guided SFS on its core mission of "excellence without exclusivity." SFS backs that sentiment up by supporting 25% of the student body with scholarships and charging one of the lowest private school tuition rates in the Austin area, while consistently graduating their students into the most competitive public school magnet programs and private high schools. Another wonderfully unique feature among area private schools is the SFS Learning Center, where students with special needs can receive tutoring and additional services to support their success in school. Kids with learning differences are fully integrated into SFS classrooms and are able to thrive as part of a truly diverse school community. At the same time, a large proportion of the student body would be described as "gifted & talented," demonstrating highest performance in academics, the arts, and sports. Each Friday morning, an optional hour of "chapel" is held in which the entire student body and faculty, as well as any parents & family members who wish to attend, gather together in the gym to share an uplifting community-building and/or character-building assembly or pep rally to celebrate that month's achievements. It's not actually religious (although some religious content is shared from time-to-time; the school is named for St. Francis of Assisi, after all). The 8th-grade year culminates in a transformative Spring Break trip to Italy to visit the hometown of St. Francis (among other sites), and the kids raise all of the money for the trip themselves over the course of their years at SFS. I could say much more about all the reasons we love SFS, but if you are considering private school or are just looking for a better school for your unique learner, I encourage you to take a tour and see for yourself. Curriculum and other details are available on the school website at http://www.stfrancis-school.org.

Well run institution with a great culture…read more Pro: - Long Term: with over 35 years in operation, they've had time to build a strong program that will last through economic downturns. - Culture: teachers, students and parents are fully bought-in to the schools values (see school site for details). - Student attention: lower than average student/teacher ratios plus a dedicated, free-standing tutoring building adjacent to the school. Con: - Playground: nice but not inline with the quality of the rest of the institution. - Admissions: it's a centrally located, high quality private school in a growing city, meaning demand is high Personal lessons from our school search: After spending 12 months searching for the 'best school', we realized the importance of finding the 'best school for our child'. Initially, I was too tied up in rankings to spend the time to understand what was important for our family and how that lined up with each program. In the end, we loved the goals at St. Francis of (1) excellence without exclusivity, (2) a meaningful commitment to diversity and (3) attention to the needs of every student. Covid-19 update: School is really stepping up to deliver for students in a difficult time. The teachers are really going above-and-beyond.

100000 stars!! There aren't enough words to say how AMAZING this school is!!! Athena is a special,…read moremagical gem and we feel so absolutely lucky to have found it. The teachers and the atmosphere just radiate peace and positivity. The quality of education is incredible. My son turned 5 yesterday and is already about to start reading!! The amount of personal attention and care each student receives is incredible. My second child is about to "walk through the gates of life" this May and head to kindergarten.. I am honestly heartbroken to not go there everyday anymore lol! We have had a child there for the past 5 years and if I could keep them there forever, I would! We have had the honor to get to know Ms. Alex, Ms. Jazmin and Ms. Morgan over the years and these women are absolutely INCREDIBLE! They have huge hearts and really LOVE what they do, and it shows!! They have a magic way of connecting, communicating and relating to the kids. We are so THANKFUL for the values and knowledge they have bestowed in our children that will shape who they become forever!! We love each of you so much!! My kids made me promise to always take them back to say hello as they grow...that speaks volumes in my book. Athena is a purely magical place!

We have been blown away by our experience with Athena. The support and caring from the staff has…read morebeen amazing. Our son has flourished at the school. The growth from August until now has been exponential on all fronts. He is more independent, communicating more and becoming a member of his classroom community. The other parents as well have created a lovely community and support system as well. My husband and I didn't realize just how lucky we were to get a spot in the school!

We tried this school for one of my children. I didn't agree with many things at the school; their…read morepolicies don't require teaching licenses, special education and learning disabilities aren't a priority. Some teachers are barely available for meetings with parents and the outside therapists that support special needs. But really, expect to provide almost everything yourself that your kid needs here. And you might be mocked anyway for bringing or providing it for your child.

We have three children at HFCS--kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade--and we have been extremely…read morepleased with our experience. Our kids are not only happy but also thriving in their learning. What matters most to us is that they feel safe and are growing in their faith. We are so grateful for the dedicated teachers and administration who make our children feel truly valued and loved.

The church is very involved in helping the community. They offer utility assistance and help every…read moresix months. I have referred people there and they have received a meal and help.

The church is very expo they can help you bill rent and other resources thank you all thanks for…read moreyour business

It's been one solid year now, and GATEWAY has officially become our church home!!! We love coming…read moreto Gateway because they open their doors with a welcoming heart and a no-judgment approach. Heck, it's even their church motto, "no perfect people allowed". I'm personally drawn to sermons that pair Scripture with practical, everyday applications and personal stories, and their pastors deliver every single time. Though we started at the South campus location, we've been branching out to the other locations to switch things up. We've seen Carlos (senior pastor of Gateway) and the North campus several times on screen, but unfortunately never in person, so we decided to take a little road trip. Campus size, HUGE. Production, HUGE. Number of churchgoers, you can guess what my answer is. While we were unable to catch Carlos this time, we had the pleasure of Justin, executive pastor preaching to us instead. We're looking forward to our next trip!

I'm sure this church is doing a lot of good work, but I left with some concerns. The sermon focused…read moreheavily on being mindful of our behavior outside of church because people--especially younger generations--are watching us. We were encouraged to be intentional about how we speak, act, and even how we treat people in everyday situations. What we do can easily turn a young mind away from Christ. That message made the music choices particularly concerning to me. Secular music was playing when we walked in, and immediately after the sermon, as we were leaving, Beyoncé was playing while we were being encouraged to stay for a children's event. Given the very intentional message about what influences we expose ourselves and our children to, I found that contradiction difficult to understand. There is so much excellent Christian music available that I found it surprising that a church would choose secular music, particularly music from an artist whose imagery and spiritual themes may be concerning to some Christian families. Beyonce in particular is well known for her anti-Christian beliefs, satanic imagery, and the obvious provocative displays. Not someone a church should promote even if you do like her music in private. I recognize that others may have a very different perspective on this, and perhaps this was simply an oversight or an indication that the church is more liberal-minded than I realized. For me personally, though, these details matter. In an age when children are constantly exposed to competing, and demonic, messages and influences, I believe churches should be especially intentional about what they normalize and promote. Because of this, I don't think this is the church for me, but I wanted to share my experience for others who may have similar concerns. The sermon was otherwise fine.

Taught me absolutely nothing. Lessons were extremely basic and poorly made. The uniform policy is…read morevery strict (I was sent home a few times because I was wearing shorts on a skirt day, for example), and the garments themselves are incredibly overpriced and poorly made.

This is a true college preparatory school and that is only a portion of it. I have two children…read morewho started here in kindergarten. One will be a senior, the other a 9th grader. Both have made National Honor Society, received recognition in extra-curricular activities, and are taking college level courses. This is culture at Brentwood, to work hard and push past personal limitations. They are being prepared for college and life but still are allowed to be kids and have fun. I have my kids here for 3 reasons: 1) the academic expectations are substantially higher than most public schools and many private schools so being taught at levels well beyond the standard will set them up for success in whatever they choose to do, 2) they can participate in any extra-curricular activities they want to be in, 3) it is a Christian school, meaning the moral and ethical standards they are held to are high. The community is great as well which makes it even better for parents and students. Is it perfect? No, but if you want the best for your kids, academically, spiritually and help them grow to be strong minded adults who add to society this is a place for them. Brentwood students compete and win at high levels in state competitions for academics, arts, sports, etc. Tuition is less than many other private schools yet they are still at or near the top in academic ratings and categories. It has been a great investment in our kids.

Beautiful church. Went before the Mass and prayed through while the choir was practicing beautiful…read morerepertoire. Reminds me of when I used to sing in church choir where I grew up. This is a place of solemnity and joy for those who need the refuge from the literal and figurative noise outside. Love the huge parking and the fountain that looks like the baptismal fountain.

I love my church they are so welcoming and they all are amazing when you need help they are always…read morethere I will never change churches I've been a parishioner for almost 12 years and I go to church three times a week and I if I could go every day I will go every day we all need a little bit of more God and kindness in our hearts and in our now. If you guys had 100 stars, I will give them 1000.