Murchison Middle 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.

Gullett is such a sweet school. The family involvement is great and everybody tries to take care of each other. The teachers have been great so far. Every classroom has a garden which is so fun and educational. Academics seem high, and I really like the principal, you can tell she really cares about the school absolutely the kids.

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.

I honestly expected so much better from this school. They don’t even have crossing guards every day only on certain days which makes it unsafe for our kids to walk to and from school. It feels like the staff doesn’t truly care about the children’s education or well-being. As a parent, I’ve had to constantly stay on them just to make sure my child is getting the attention and support he deserves.Communication is absolutely terrible. I’ve waited days just to get a simple call back, and right now I’m still waiting to hear from the front office about whether my son left any of his personal items behind. It’s like no one really knows what’s going on or wants to take responsibility.What’s even more upsetting is that it truly feels like if you’re not of Hispanic background, your child won’t get the same level of attention or care. That’s heartbreaking and unfair. Every child should be treated equally and made to feel seen, valued, and supported not ignored unless a parent constantly speaks up.I’m extremely disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this school to any parent who wants consistent communication, fairness, and a safe, caring environment for their child.

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.