Location: South Austin
Students served: 18 months–2 1/2 years old
Current enrollment: 12
Model/philosophy: The Nest, a small and intimate environment, is primarily designed to provide opportunities that help support the young child’s initial transition from home to school. Indoor and outdoor prepared environments are thoughtfully designed to support the child’s budding independence as well as their need for exploration. The curriculum integrates nature and art while remaining strongly rooted in the Montessori philosophy.
Special features: The Nest provides engaging indoor and outdoor environments in a nurturing home setting in south Austin. Strong nature and art curriculum, including an annual Outdoor Art Show featuring the children's work. Regular community events and strong parent support, including support in the school search process.
Schedule: Families may choose between 3-day or 4-day enrollment, Tuesday–Thursday or Monday–Thursday. Hours of operation are 8:30am–12:30pm for both options. The Nest generally follows the AISD calendar with slight variations. The school year runs from August through May, with an optional month of summer camp through the end of June. The Nest closes for one week in the fall and spring and two weeks in the winter.
Tuition: Tuition can be paid monthly or annually. Annual tuition for 3-day enrollment is $7,750. Annual tuition for 4-day enrollment is $9,250. First-Time Enrollment Fee is $300. Annual Materials Fee is $400.
Contact: Laura Delgado, Owner/Director/Guide | themontessoritree@gmail.com
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.
