Austin Private Schools: Secular Based

Austin hosts a wealth of academically rigorous private schools, both day schools and boarding schools. Selecting one can depend on a family’s proximity to the school, religious affiliation, and academic philosophy. Below are just a few of the highly regarded private schools in Austin: 

Austin International School 

Austin International School, located not far from Lake Travis and Milwood neighborhoods, is recognized for its strong and broad-based academic curriculum, its progressive math program and its high-quality, international education. Students are not only immersed in French, English and Spanish, they are also educated in all subject areas using these languages. Austin International School provides an international education based on solid academic foundations, lifelong social skills and a positive forward-thinking outlook, allowing students to thrive in the world of today and tomorrow. The curriculum, delivered in three languages and built on a French curriculum framework, develops students’ critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. This will prepare them for academic success in French, American, and international institutions. Students are prepared to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the French International Baccalaureate diplomas. The school’s goal is to cultivate independent thinking, build confidence, and broaden its students’ perspective to lay the foundation for success in a global community. 

Austin Waldorf School 

Austin Waldorf School, not far from the Circle C neighborhood, serves over 380 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade and is a full accredited member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS). Waldorf Education was founded in 1919 by the Austrian philosopher, scientist, and artist Rudolf Steiner and has grown into an educational movement with over 900 independent schools. Fundamental to Waldorf Education is the recognition that each human being is a unique individual who passes through distinct life stages and that it is the responsibility of education to address the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of each developmental stage. The school’s guiding values are a life-long love of learning, creative thinking and self-confidence, a sympathetic interest in the world and the lives of others, and an abiding sense of moral purpose. By creating a school environment that balances academic, artistic, and practical disciplines, as well as providing daily opportunities for both group and individual learning, Austin Waldorf School cultivates the faculties that allow its students to develop these qualities. 

The Griffin School 

The Griffin School, located in Hyde Park, operates on the principle that a classic liberal arts education provides an important foundation that allows students to be informed, thoughtful and active members of their communities. The academic program is interactive and rigorous, designed to engage students in building skills and expanding their knowledge and ideas. Griffin School graduates are prepared for success in collegiate academics and for an active and reflective life that is full of new learning opportunities. The teachers seek to engage students in active learning through reflection and self-discovery, direct instruction and guided practice, creative expression and performance. The Griffin School is fully accredited by the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools under the auspices of the Texas Education Agency. School accreditation assures that its curriculum, staffing, instructional program, and school resources meet or exceed high standards of excellence and integrity as assessed by a state-wide board of experienced educators and school administrators. 

The Khabele School

The Khabele School is an independent, coeducational day school serving ages 18 months through 12th grade. The campus for older children is located in the heart of Downtown Austin. The Khabele School provides exceptional academics and a well-rounded educational experience, including the study of the arts, music, foreign language, and physical education. The school has a foundation significantly influenced by Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy of education, dedicated to a climate that honors the learning styles, temperaments, and multiple intelligences of all children. Incorporated into its philosophy is a commitment to the further development of Peace Education. The school works to create a community supportive of the family that models health, mutual respect, creativity, cooperation, and diversity: a multi-dimensional approach toward the science of peace.

Also, see Austin Christian-based private schools.

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