For many children, conventional schools are not a good fit. These environments can be incredibly rigid, and fail to meet the needs of all students. Homeschooling as a solo, working parent has been my jam for many years. While families arrive at this decision in many ways, I did it because I was passionate about providing an environment my kids could thrive in while developing a deep love of learning for the sake of learning. If you’re considering doing the same, it could be overwhelming at first. There’s homeschool…oh and unschool…and Alt-Ed?!
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Alternatives tend to be expensive, and less accessible to families who can’t afford the high tuition rates. As a single mom who’s experienced living under the poverty line, I know all too well how difficult it is to maintain the educational lifestyle my kids thrive in while still keeping a roof over our heads. Many alternative schools have made efforts to include families who aren’t able to afford their full tuition. I’ve gathered a list of 5 alternative schools in Austin that offer scholarships and financial assistance.
The Academic Orchard LLC | 78641 is a Montessori inspired school in Leander, run by Randi Piscitello. The school is located on an orchard where students get hands-on experience with nature and plenty of outdoor play. The school opened in January of this year and has been able to secure a limited number of scholarships covering half the tuition. You can find more information on enrollment in their program here.
Austin School for the Driven | 78722 is unique in that it’s a Benefit Corporation and makerspace school serving children ages 9-17. Kids at this school learn to use every tool in the school as well as a myriad of other subjects including literature and STEAM. They created a B Corp dedicated to providing a service to the community. Anyone can buy stock in the school and the funds will go toward distributing 100% tuition to a student who wouldn’t otherwise have the financial means to attend. Tuition assistance availability depends on the shareholders invested in the company. Families who can afford it, may choose to pay extra tuition in exchange for common stock or a community member who doesn’t have a child attending, but believes in the company, and is interested in buying a controlling vote. What’s also unique about this school is its open source materials, an incredible way to share education with its community. You can learn more about Austin School for the Driven here.
At Acton Academy Bee Cave | 78738 , learners are responsible for learning. If you’re partial to the self-directed learning style, this school might be the right fit for your family. Students are able to learn at their own pace without being graded. They learn independent course skills and work on hands-on projects. Acton Academy Bee Cave is a democratic school where students make their own rules and free play is emphasized especially for younger learners. The most important thing for learners at this school is that families are aligned with their values and committed to the school’s model. If finances are the only thing holding your child back from attending, the school will work one on one to create individually based financial assistance. You can find more information about Acton Academy Bee caves here.
Wholesome Generation | 78758 was established in 2008 and is an academic focused school, putting students on track for dual enrollment so they can obtain an associates degree by the time they graduate. The school is bilingual with creative art and stem programs and is a great fit for students focused on an entrepreneur journey. The school includes food therapy, has a chef focused on healthy eating providing 3 vegan and vegetarian options, and students are involved in meal planning and preparation. Wholesome Generation also offers equine therapy and horsemanship classes. The school is dedicated to assisting families with enrollment costs and has done a lot of groundwork for this by partnering with United Way and the state’s school voucher program. They have a 4 star rating through Texas Rising Star. To learn more about Wholesome Generation, check out their website here.
Headwaters School | 78745 has 3 campuses total, offering education from pre-k through 12th grade. They focus on fostering belonging, community, and identity as well as teach conflict resolution skills. The global Montessori model is applied through 5th grade and older students are provided with the International Baccalaureate program. Students in this program develop a sense of who they are as a learner and become active participants in their own education. The school wants to be accessible to a wide range of families and strives for socio-economic diversity by providing need-based financial aid through Clarity. They also offer merit scholarships and have fundraisers via a PACT Challenge. Headwaters accepts 529 plans, payment plans, extended care hours, and transportation between campuses. You can learn more about Headwaters School here.
As Austin grows, I look forward to seeing more opportunities for families to gain access to alternatives to conventional education. If you’re interested in a comprehensive list of what the City has to offer in terms of alternative schooling, check out altedaustin.com.
