Location: Central Austin
5925 Dillard Circle, Suite B
Austin, TX 78752
Students served: Grades 3–12
Current enrollment: 53
Model/philosophy: Studio Prep is a Christian-rooted microschool for students in grades 3–12 that brings together a diverse community of students with parents who value being present in their child’s education. Its holistic, learner-centered program treats every child as one of a kind—helping each student discover their unique gifts and grow into a humble, wise person who contributes meaningfully to the world. Studio Prep offers three different program options: a One-Day Program (Monday Enrichment) for grades K–12; a Three-Day (Core) Program on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for grades 3–12; and a Four-Day Program combining the Monday Enrichment with the Core program, meeting Monday–Thursday.
Special features: As an Acton affiliate, the school incorporates Socratic discussions along with inquiry-based and project-based learning. High schoolers take part in a Leadership program that includes a 2-year Capstone project, along with internship and shadowing opportunities. Students engage in community service throughout the Austin area, and a personalized approach allows parents to customize their child's education. The school hosts regular family social events and offers parent trainings to support families. Studio Prep accepts TEFA funds and provides financial assistance.
Schedule: Daily hours are 7:45am–3:30pm. One-Day Program meets Mondays only; Three-Day Program (Core) meets Tuesday–Thursday. Four-Day Program meets Monday–Thursday; no classes on Fridays. School year runs mid-August through mid-May, with a 1-week Fall Break, a 1-week Thanksgiving Break, a 3-week Winter/Christmas Break, and a 2-week Spring break (1 week aligned with Austin ISD’s spring break); summers off.
Tuition: For current tuition rates, please visit the school website. Studio Prep accepts TEFA funds and offers flexible payment options, including payment in full (with a discount) or monthly payments in ten installments. Sibling discounts are also available.
Contact: Jess Gurke, Admissions Director | info@studioprep.org | 512-919-4177
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.
