Location: South Austin / Manchaca
13203 Gunsmith Dr.
Manchaca, TX 78652
Students served: Grades K–12, with openings for older students. Three mixed-age communities: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), and Adolescent (6th grade and up). Accredited by the Middle States Association; member of the National Microschooling Center.
Current enrollment: Rolling admissions for 2026–2027, with intentionally small class sizes to ensure personalized attention and a student-to-teacher ratio not exceeding 12:1
Model/philosophy: Austin Micro School reimagines education with a human-centered, hands-on approach. AMS doesn’t just teach subjects— it teaches students how to think, using a First Principles approach that breaks complex ideas into their essential elements so students question assumptions and build their own pathways to mastery. Learning moves from concrete exploration with beautiful, often Montessori-inspired materials to deep abstract understanding through its LEADs (Labs, Experiments, Activities, and Demonstrations). Mixed-age classrooms foster mentorship, empathy, and self-paced progress, while the school’s signature Young Leaders curriculum develops critical thinking, communication, creativity, integrity, and resilience. The academic year is organized into six 6-week thematic Cycles that connect concepts across the curriculum. Families choose between Full-Time and Hybrid formats to best suit their lives while remaining immersed in a supportive community focused on academic rigor, critical thinking, and personal growth.
Special features: Programs are designed to meet the diverse needs of families through flexible options—full-time enrollment (5 days a week) or a hybrid model combining 1 to 3 days on campus with guided at-home learning; a remote option is also available for families across Texas. Students thrive in a dynamic environment featuring Core Skill Blocks (small-group and self-paced work with subject-area leads), collaborative Project Blocks, the Innovation & Design Lab maker space, and specials including Art with Cordovan Art School, Theater with Inspired Minds, Music, foreign language, PE, and Outdoor Education in the garden and permaculture program. Adolescent students accelerate math through a Math Academy partnership, take on real aerospace and engineering challenges through SystemsGo, and join multi-day leadership camps with Nature’s Classroom Institute. Progress is measured holistically through project presentations, portfolios, skill demonstrations, and the school’s Milestones tracking system, with annual NWEA MAP Growth testing. For hybrid families, structured weekly learning plans, curated resources, and ongoing teacher support provide continuity while fostering independence. Beyond academics, the school focuses on community and leadership, real-world projects, and essential life skills, cultivating a close-knit, nurturing environment where families and educators partner to support every student. New families are backed by the school’s 30-Day Guarantee.
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:15am–3:15pm; 180 instructional days, mid-August through end of May
Tuition: Full-Time is $500 per week ($18,000 per year). Hybrid programs start at $139 per week ($5,000 per year for one day a week), with two-day ($9,000) and three-day ($12,000) options. A $500 non-refundable enrollment fee holds your spot and is credited toward tuition. Payment options include payment in full by Aug 1 (10% discount) or auto-draft in 10 monthly installments (Aug–May). Sibling discount is 5% off for second and additional children. Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) funds are accepted. Financial assistance is available for qualifying families after acceptance.
Contact: 512-200-3145 | admissions@austinmicroschool.org | https://www.austinmicroschool.org
Each listing in this alphabetical directory gives you a snapshot of a small, secular, independent, alternative school in the Austin area.
Hover over and click on a school’s name at the top of its listing to open the school’s website in a new tab. This frequently updated list spans several pages, with navigation buttons at the bottom. 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 an adult, 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.
