Austin Discovery School

My daughter is a kindergartner at ADS, and it’s been awesome so far. She’s made friends and loves all her classes, especially science and eco-​awareness. The school focuses on individualized, child-​centered learning. They also have clubs after school which make it easy for me to let her do some fun stuff without driving all over town. She loves the gardening (maybe she’ll even eat the vegetables someday) and the music classes. As an educator, I’m especially impressed by how adaptive ADS is and how willing they are to try new educational techniques and adjust when necessary. They are child-​driven, not ideology driven. My daughter is getting an amazing liberal arts education, while still being allowed to be a curious, crazy, creative kid.

Well, the bad news is that this school caters to children, mostly boys, who have behavioral problems. My daughter attended for years before I understood the weight of this. Although the staff members can be invested, it doesn’t override the chaotic and dirty conditions of the facility. Lots of days where there are substitute teachers in place of regular staff. Lots of interruption to daily learning, because there are kids here who can’t follow basic procedures of a classroom environment. Every year my daughter was a student here, teachers would leave at the end of the year (as would students).It wasn’t until my child transferred into a healthier school environment that I appreciated how unusual this was. Every year the administration was in a state of transition and upheaval. If you want a quality education for your child, you should look elsewhere. Good intentions are not enough.

Wow cannot believe this school has such low ratings it has been absolutely wonderful for our family. Maybe because I am not part of PTA I don’t know all the «dirt» everyone is talking about. however I do know one thing my son is happy! Hasn’t been happy with school in a few years (he went to public school after being in a charter due to it being the only viable option and he learned to HATE school really fast in those few years.) Since being at ADS he has found the love of learning. He struggled greatly in traditional school because he has dyslexia, and a few other learning disabilities. He really seems to grasp the concepts they teach, as it is delivered in a different way. He seems more motivated, and excited to do tasks he previously would dread. The student services staff are great, they really work with you. They are knowledgeable, and actually have the best interest of my child in mind. (As my experience with public school previously was not so good, they fought you every step of the way.) Any issues I had I simply wrote an email to the teacher. I would set up a meeting or get a direct response. They were on top of my issues, and handled them exactly as expected. He was being made fun of when he first started (by one kid) and it was nipped in the butt, and has not been a problem since I brought it to their attention.
They are however a charter school with different values, and expectations. I see people complaining about the food policy. They make you very aware this is a priority for the school, and there are many who send their kids to this school for that exact reason (and probably many other reasons as well.) I also found it not that difficult to adhere to the food policy as I feed my child organic food and whole wheat anyways. I have also sent my child with items not really in accordance with the policy, he was not withheld his food at all. He was allowed to eat it. In public school lunch time was miserable. They ate a bunch of processed food, and could not talk… that’s right could not talk. Here lunch time and recess time are what they are meant to be. A time to relax and just be kids. My son loves the playground, it is older, but he has a lot of fun. Also a big grassy space to run nearby (his other school had very little open area and they could not run on the playground?!?) Also my kid loves the hikes… hot or cold he is ready, and very disappointed when they are cancelled due to weather. The school is very forthcoming with both the food policy and that they take hikes weekly. Not sure why you would put your kid in this school, then complain about these aspects. My son loved all the specials as well eco-​science, library, PE, art, and music. Which he loves them all (and in his public school hated everything except the library because the teachers were mean… sad when you can’t even enjoy specials because of mean teachers.)
Anyone with kids in public school knows the homework is horrible. Have to say they send fun and engaging homework home, when they do. My son actually doesn’t mind, and that says a lot for a kid with disabilities. While being fun he is also grasping the concepts, and «gets it» like he hadn’t previously in his public school. I can only base my review off of our previous experience with a public school, and my child’s personal experience at the school. I have to say it is great. I will say I am very involved in my child’s life I am not so much involved in the school life aspect (PTA etc.) maybe that is why I don’t see the problem. However like I said in the end it is not my personal thoughts on every change that really matters, however it is my son’s happiness and education. He is doing great with both at this school.

Truly it saddens me to leave a 1 star update and I don’t want this review to seem like I am «hate» bashing the school. Please know that there are a few phenomenal Teachers and a few great remaining staff members still there. But do know that a lot of the better Teacher’s and Staff members have left. Three left before the start of the second semester that I am aware of.
In my opinion this school has gone as far as it possibly can. They may have added 7^th grade this year, brought in portables, have plans to add 8^th grade next year, and find a new location… but they should just stop. We joined the school in 2010 and by that time it had been around for 5 years. By the following year they changed the classroom format to what is was before we ever got there. Mixing grade levels together in the same class: K/​1, ²⁄₃ and so on. This year it completely changed again to K, ½, ¾, and grades 5 – 7 set up like a typical middle school. The Cons in my previous post have not changed.
I have to agree with the other reviews on here about how if your not apart of the main circle of families you are left out. And these families don’t struggle like the rest of us. I choose to not really care regardless where we stood as I will be vocal anytime I thought I needed to. My kids come first in all things. The children of the main family who opened this school (also on the board) get special treatment. Up until this year they were in my child’s class the last 4 years but they thought their Teacher was too mean because he didn’t stand for the bullying, clicks, or special treatment so they were moved. Huh. how odd that I have asked for my other child to be moved to another class for almost 2 years yet they don’t have the room. Do know that the class sizes are worse than a public school with a ratio of 37:2.
Please know and realize that everyone has different experiences and that these were mine: When my youngest was in 1^st grade and had only 2 weeks of school remaining I found out that her Teacher didn’t let her eat her packed lunch for an entire week because it didn’t meet the school’s strict guidelines. I was also told by another parent who had observed that teacher not allowing her have to have her required water bottle in class or on the hike. Yet that teacher is still in the employ of the school. By 2^nd grade she begged me to have her moved to another classroom because it was the 3^rd year with one of the teachers. And I was told by a substitute, a parent, and another teacher how that particular teacher had her favorites and those she didn’t like (like my daughter) she was very nasty to. They never moved her and she cried daily about the teacher and the bullying (physical & verbal) from peers. That teacher is no longer with the school. This year I was sure it would be better but no, no it hasn’t. Now in 3^rd grade her peers have stolen her money, snacks, lunch, and tease her relentlessly when she reads (she is dyslexic). Yet both of her teachers do nothing. I was told they can’t monitor the hallways and that kids are taking food as a joke. Not funny. When my now 4^th grader was in 1^st grade and shared a classroom with her sister who was in Kinder, the Music teacher at the time (no longer there) refused to let any child go to the restroom or get a drink as it took away from the music. When one of them had an accident because of it and were humiliated, I lost it and his rules changed. This year I went to pick them up for a doctor’s appt and was told I had to wait 45 mins to get them because of the hike.
Lastly, I have apologized I don’t know how many times to the two families I referred to the school last year because they enrolled their children and now their kids are behind. This school doesn’t give out report cards but you get a progress report thing and a conference twice a year. At the last conference/​progress report both families (one child in Kinder and the other in 3^rd) were told and shown good things. Yet with about oh 4 – 5 weeks left of the school year, both families were told their children needed to repeat the same grade next year. Needless to say both families withdrew their children. The parents of the Kinder child took it all the way up to board (and I sometimes wonder if that is why Luna left this year) and luckily that child is in 1^st at another school. The parents of the 3^rd grader did have their child put into 4^th grade at another school but I was recently informed that that school says that the child is at a 3^rd grade level. Each classroom at ADS from grades K-​4^th have 2 teachers in it. A teacher from each of those children’s classes are no longer here.
And that is my tale of woe. ADS was a good fir for my children ⁴⁄₅ years ago but we have out grown it and starting next week are on to better things. I will be honest, from the reviews on here and on other sites I am a bit scared to see how my children will transition into another school.

We love ADS! My son attended in a 3^rd/​4^th grade split a couple years ago. We were really bummed when we moved back to Washington, because there is nothing that compares up here! Washington really needs to get their act together regarding the Charter School thing… ehem…anyhow…
ADS is the school I wished for as a kid. It’s all about active learning and community. No sitting at your desk doing worksheets all day here. You actually DO things. And the outdoor environment is incorporated as much as it can. Self expression encouraged as well. A very diverse range of children attend ADS.
The teachers and staff are great. Parent involvement is expected and highly appreciated. You really feel like you are a part of the school experience with your child.
As the previous reviewer mentioned they are relatively new and are still growing as an organization. Working out the kinks, but you couldn’t do it with any better group of people.
Parents even drive their children upwards of 30 — 45 mins each way just so they can go to this school, that says alot! There are carpools that parents have organized to accomodate the distance and gas expense. Be sure to connect with one if you are considering the drive.
The teachers are excited about what they do and really engage the children in the process. They work from a shared teaching perspective, having two teachers in every classroom and two grades combined. The teacher to student ratio when we attended was 17:1. Really good compared to most public schools!
The dual grades and teachers was a big plus for my son. He was behind in some areas grade level wise and in others he excelled, so being able to flucuate between levels without feeling like he was ‘dumb’ helped alot! It really increased his confidence.
The school is located on a large piece of property in East Austin, off of 969, that used to be some sort of state school. ADS has acquired a few buildings and utillizes the space very well.
The property joins up with the Colorado River. When we attended, they had hikes to the river and back, allowing lots of new discoveries. The junior master gardeners program also adds to the educational opportunities here.
ADS has before & after school care available on-​site and they offer parent education classes. Field trips are really fun as well as the end of year camp-​out (which we missed, boo hoo!).
Don’t hesitate to go check out ADS and see what a wonderful place it is for yourself!

Austin Discovery School includes a gardening program and fifth graders graduate «Junior Master Gardeners» which is quite an accomplishment.
The atmosphere is nurturing and encouraging. You wouldn’t walk down the halls in ADS and see signs with things written on them like this: «Walk in a straight line,» or «Look with your eyes, not your hands.»
Maybe you’ve seen the types of signs I’m referring to in your children’s public school building. These are quite oppressive and conjure up feelings of forced conformity to me.
ADS promotes individuality as well as creativity. You’ll most likely find art and quotes of Mahatma Ghandi in the halls of ADS –signature creations of the students.
The school is growing and learning together.