Location: South Austin
(Slaughter Lane between Menchaca and South 1st)
Students served: Ages 6–11
Current enrollment: Rolling admissions; 15 students max
Model/philosophy: Villagers Microschool offers a secular, family-supportive environment where elementary-age kids will build a solid academic foundation (including literacy, handwriting, math, and public speaking) along with life skills like meal planning, time management, financial planning, etiquette, property stewardship, entrepreneurial skills, environmental conservation, and social/emotional literacy.
Special features: Hosted in a large, homey location conducive to learning about how to fix things around the house and upkeep the yard; students help prepare daily meals and snacks, included in the tuition; 3- or 5-day schedule options available (or 2-day options for homeschool families who strongly align); regular one-on-one mentoring; parent coworking space onsite; nonviolence and moderation focus; combination of structured and unstructured learning; community and parent-supportive events
Schedule: 9am–3pm; Monday through Friday or Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.; school year runs from late August to late May
Tuition: 5-day option $12,000 per year; 3-day option $8,500 per year; discounts available for siblings and/or lump sum payments; see website for details
Contact: Meredith Orf, Founder | meredith@villagersmicroschool.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.
To narrow the list by category, select one of the following tags:
Waterloo School→
/Location: South Congress / Central Austin
1511 S. Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
Students served: Grades 9–12
Current enrollment: 55
Model/philosophy: Waterloo is a Christian, project-based, design high school that educates the whole person—head, heart, and hand. Waterloo’s expert faculty, unique schedule, and real-world projects give students the opportunity to engage in robust learning, curiosity, and application to answer real questions.
Special features: Waterloo is located in the heart of South Congress, with frequent access to Austin’s downtown library and universities. Design thinking and project-based learning are a part of every course development. Students showcase this process every fall and spring term. Highlights include a two-week immersive elective, x-term; athletics, student internships, junior project, student leadership, UT dual-credit courses, and student retreats and events. Accepts TEFA funds.
Schedule: 9am–3pm Monday–Friday; follows AISD calendar
Tuition: 2026–2027 tuition $20,750
Contact: Christina Swan, Admissions Director and Co-founder | 512-758-4445 | admissions@waterlooaustin.org
Whole Life Learning Center→
/Location: South Austin
Preschool & Elementary Campus
10801 Old San Antonio Road
Austin, TX 78748
Middle School Campus
10817 Old San Antonio Road
Austin, TX 78748
Students served: Ages 3–14 (PreK–8th grade)
Current enrollment: 95 (five mixed-age classes of 16–22 learners)
Model/philosophy: A holistic approach to education that synthesizes insights from Waldorf, Montessori, and democratic education; offering an integrated, multicultural curriculum with arts and academics, child-centered and project-based learning, mixed age groups, and small Mentor/Learner ratios. WLLC's mission is to inspire lifelong learners, creative change-makers, and conscientious leaders for a more equitable, just, and sustainable world.
Special features: The Whole Life Learning Center provides loving mentorship and an environment that enriches the imagination with creative play; nourishes the soul through song, stories, and art; inspires the mind through fun challenges and multi-sensory learning materials; and feeds the heart through connection with each other and nature. Youth work with Mentors to develop holistic learning plans, honoring each learner’s intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual development; groups work together to choose enrichment classes, plan projects, and organize special events. Located in South Austin on 3 acres between 2 campuses, with ample outdoor learning and playing spaces, permaculture gardens, a food forest, pond, and chickens.
Schedule: Drop-off between 8:30am and 9am, Monday–Friday; staggered pick-up between 3pm and 4pm daily depending on your child's class, and aftercare available until 5:30pm. WLLC generally follows the AISD calendar. Please refer to the school calendar for details.
Tuition: $14,500 per year for all enrolled students. Additionally, families are required to pay a nonrefundable $500 registration fee and $500 supply fee upon enrollment/re-enrollment. The enrollment fee payment is due once annually, per family (not per child).
Contact: 512-676-5898 ext. 0 | info@wholelifelearningcenter.com | wholelifelearningcenter.com
Wild Life Forest Preschool→
/Location: Bastrop, TX (25 minutes east of Austin)
137 Woodview Ln
Bastrop, TX 78602
Students served: Ages 3–5
Current enrollment: 24 students each day, with 3 instructors
Model/philosophy: Modeled after forest preschools in Europe and around the world, Wild Life Forest Preschool at Earth Native is play-based, child-led, and earth-conscious. Children learn as the mammals do, by following their satisfaction through play, by challenging their bodies, and by experiencing the patterns of their environment, both natural and social, in a forest they themselves care for. Children will build the foundations of writing, science, math, art, and physical development—even confidence and happiness—by exploring the forest with their friends. And of course, Wild Life Forest Preschool will make certain your child’s first adventures are considerate, careful, and safe.
Special features: Located on 80+ beautiful acres of land, covered in native hardwood trees with abundant wildlife, incredible native plant diversity, and a spring-fed year-round creek. Small, intimate class size with a maximum of 24 students per day with 3 instructors. Curriculum is inspiration based and will include the establishment of deep connections to nature; animal tracks, bird language; empathy and understanding of local wildlife; plant identification, including edible, medicinal, and useful local plants; campfires; adventures; and fun!
Schedule: Hours are 9am–2pm. Program options include Tuesday/Thursday program, Wednesday/Friday program, and every-other-Monday program. School calendar runs September–May.
Tuition: Monthly payments of $121 (EOM program) or $445 (T/Th or W/F program). Full tuition rates range from $888 to $3,915.
Contact: Dave Scott | 512-299-8870 | info@earthnativeschool.com
WonderWell→
/Location: Southwest Austin
Students served: Ages 2 (Pre-Primary) through 6 (Kindergarten)
Current enrollment: 100
Model/philosophy: WonderWell is a premier private preschool that embraces emergent curriculum and the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education. The program endorses the belief that children learn best when their learning is personally meaningful and relevant to their own interests and lives. The school's mission is to inspire its students' innate curiosity and instill a deep love of learning. WonderWell passionately serves children ages 2 through 6 years, and includes Pre-Primary, Primary, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten Bridge, and Kindergarten.
Special features: Each day, students participate in enrichment classes across uniquely tailored spaces, such as “Maker Day” in the Atelier, “Eat the Rainbow” in Health and Fitness, and learning about distinguished authors and children's books in “The Well,” the school's beautiful library and storytelling space.
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm; closed in June and July; summer camps designed and offered by WonderWell staff
Tuition: See website for WonderWell's tuition and fee structure, payment plans: https://wonderwell.com/investment
Contact: Ashley Ivey, Founder and Director | ashley@wonderwell.com | 512-982-4310
