Location: West Dripping Springs
Students served: Parent & Child Classes (child ages 0–3), PreK (ages 3–4), Mixed-Age Kindergarten (ages 4–6), Grades 1–8
Current enrollment: 59+
Model/philosophy: Living Oaks is a flourishing Waldorf initiative nestled on a serene 10-acre biodynamic farm! Living Oaks takes immense pride in offering a truly unique educational experience that blends the wisdom of Waldorf pedagogy with the wonders of nature. The campus, surrounded by the beauty of the hill country, provides the perfect backdrop for children to learn, explore, and grow harmoniously. Living Oaks offers an unmatched lunch program featuring locally sourced organic produce and meat. A commitment to sustainability not only ensures nutritious meals but also instills in students a deep appreciation for the environment and the food they enjoy.
Special features: Living Oaks is dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child, helping them bloom into confident, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals. The program includes handwork, games/movement, gardening, culinary arts, Spanish, art, music, and woodworking. The vibrant community comes together for traditional Waldorf festivals, regular family social events, moms’ and dads’ groups, and Steiner study groups.
Schedule: Monday–Thursday 8:30am–3:30pm; optional Friday Enrichment Days 8:30am–2:00pm with available aftercare until 3:30pm
Tuition: $14,523 for Early Childhood and $15,178 for 1st–8th grades. Tuition includes organic locally sourced snack and lunch prepared by the onsite chef. Sibling discounts available.
Contact: Antonia Wilemon, Enrollment Director | info@livingoaks.life
Each listing in this alphabetical directory gives you a snapshot of a small, independent, alternative school in the Austin area.
This frequently updated list spans several pages, with navigation buttons at the bottom. Clicking on the name of a school will take you to its own website. To easily find schools by geographical area, see our Alt Ed Maps page. If you know of a school that’s missing from this directory, please drop a note here, and see Alt Ed Austin’s criteria for “alternative” and “school.” You may also be interested in our directories of other recommended schools (which are mostly larger or more specialized or religiously oriented), as well as special programs for children and adults.
Full disclosure: Alt Ed Austin founder Teri Sperry has ties with several of the schools listed on this site. Her child, now in graduate school, attended two of them years ago. She has friends who direct, teach at, or are otherwise involved in others. Some programs choose to advertise from time to time on Alt Ed Austin as Sponsoring Partners. She firmly believes that all of the schools featured on this site (including the ones to which she has no personal connection and those from which she receives no advertising fees) are good choices for some kids, each for different reasons.
