Location: South Austin
Students served: Ages 2–4, Licensed Home Preschool
Current enrollment: 8 (normally has 10 students, which is max enrollment; the State allows 12, but Pint-Size Playhouse chooses to stay below minimum standards and only enroll 10 students)
Model/philosophy: Pint-Size Playhouse has brought together some of the best and most powerful parts of many different philosophies and approaches to early childhood education. It is a play-based learning and relationship-building preschool program with just a touch of traditional academics sprinkled in throughout the day. “A Playful Learning Community!”
Special features: This little preschool program has a remarkable school community built on strong connections between teachers, parents, and students. It focuses on play-based learning, outdoor nature play, and art, including enrichment classes: music with Mr. Sean monthly and art with Ms. Sarah Moon twice per month.
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm; open year-round, with a 2-week summer break, and closely follows AISD student calendar for holidays and closures
Tuition: $1,250 per month full-time (see schedule above); registration deposit $250; annual supply fee $300 (due every April)
Contact: Nicole Perez | 512-584-9641 | nicole@pint-sizeplayhouse.com
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.
