Location: Southwest Austin
10802 Kit Carson Dr.
Austin, TX 78737
Students served: ages 18 months–6 years
Current enrollment: Holistic Development Program (ages 18 months–4 years), max class size 16, currently 2 full time spots available; Forest Program (ages 3–6 years), max class size 10, no spots currently available
Model/philosophy: Both programs are play-based, nature-inspired, and child-led. It’s a space for kids to be kids, explore, get messy, and have fun! The majority of the day is spent outside, weather permitting. And with low ratios and a smaller environment, the teachers are able to create loving relationships with each child and their family.
Special features: Located on a 30-acre farm with goats and chickens, full time and year round, play-based, nature-inspired, child-led, low teacher to child ratios and small class sizes, healthy gluten-free snacks, weekly yoga class, weekly music class, family socials every other month
Schedule: 7am–6pm Monday–Friday, year round. Closed 1 week for spring break, 1 week for summer break, and 2 weeks for winter break
Tuition: $1,400 per month for full time; part-time options available; paid easily online
Contact: Melissa Peck, Owner and Director | 512-300-0987 | info@mamamellichildcare.com
Each listing in this alphabetical directory gives you a snapshot of a small, independent, alternative school in the Austin area.
This frequently updated list spans several pages, with navigation buttons at the bottom. Clicking on the name of a school will take you to its own website. 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.
