Gullett Elementary School

I wish I had started my daughter at Highland Park. Brentwood is a mega school with and principal that is out of touch with the school and does not engage with parents or students. There is not a strong sense of community and the administration is quite rude. Especially the front office workers, with the exception of Neff. The other two basically scowl at you.

We are super fans of Highland Park. We’ve been here since 2020 and couldn’t have landed in a better spot for our kids. The principal, Katie Peña, is one of the most impressive humans I’ve ever met, let alone a remarkable principal. It’s a fabulous public school with an incredible spirit. Teachers stay for the entirety of their careers, many of them are former HP students themselves, and that’s the sign of a warm and nurturing environment if I’ve ever seen one. I hope this school is here for many more generations of public-school Austinites to come.

Paragon Prep School is truly phenomenal, and we give it our highest recommendation. One of the first things that stood out to us when visiting schools was seeing Paragon graduates—after high school and even college—return to visit their teachers. That speaks volumes about the strong relationships and sense of community the school creates.We love Paragon’s motto, “Work Hard. Play Hard. Be Kind.” It perfectly reflects both the school culture and what education should be about. Paragon is also wonderful for busy families, offering a wide variety of before- and after-school programs, enrichment classes, sports, and summer camps.Paragon’s Valor program ensures new students feel welcomed and connected from day one. The school year even begins and ends with a pool party! There are many fun traditions and celebrations, including Elvis Day, Chinese New Year, Día de los Muertos, and a full week of roller skating. Students are placed into “colleges” and enjoy earning points through school spirit, volunteering, and community service, creating friendly competition throughout the year.Engaging field trips are an integral part of the curriculum, and the school also offers international trips for families during the summer. We accompanied the sixth graders on a trip to Colonial Virginia, and it was a truly enriching experience for both the students and our family.Our middle school son is proud to be taking all honors classes, and even with the academic rigor, he is able to play three school sports while also practicing another outside of school. With Valor and study hall, students have ample time to complete homework and stay organized.We are deeply grateful for the exceptional educators and staff who have made such a lasting difference in our son’s life. A special shoutout to Mrs. Lype, Mrs. Correro, Coach Josh, Coach Nick, Mrs. Behr, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Stubblefield, Mr. Aidan, Mr. Cory, Mr. Joey, and Mrs. Hay! Our son will undoubtedly become one of the many Paragon graduates who return to visit the teachers, staff, and administrators who helped shape his journey.

We're in our 5th year at Ace. The experience is like no other in Central Texas. Our kiddo has been supported in being the bright, sweet, insightful child they are without ever having to have had the experience of a school "failing to meet needs". While there are amazing supports for 2e learners, 1e learners, like ours really need Ace to make friends with like-minded peers. Imagine a loud, fun recess with deep conversations about any topic imaginable. Kids benefit from the SEL - they can work at their level (including RADICAL academic acceleration) while making '6/7' jokes with other kids their own age. No need to grade skip. Come for the academics, stay for the love, friendship and connections.As a parent, I don't worry. Kids get what they need because the teachers here care, are experts in teaching these kids, and WANT to be there. No need to worry about making sure kids are challenged appropriately or isolated socially. The formative yeras matter - kids need to belong in school and Ace does that. In short, if yoy want a school that meets kids where they are and let's them be kids - come check out an info session.