Girls' School of Austin

My daughters will be entering third and fifth grades this year (2010). Both of them have been at the school since kindergarten. In this time, the school has really grown and improved. The teachers have been uniformly outstanding. I oculd not be more pleased with the quality. The small classes (limited to 16 girls) are to everyone's advantage, and I can't say enough for the all-girls environment. There is much more cooperation than competitiveness, and the girls are encouraged to be supportive to students of all grades. Because the campus is small, all of the staff know all of the girls. The girls engage in "specials" which include PE, art, music (strings or piano), Spanish, and drama two or three times a week, which is a much richer cirruculum than is offered by AISD.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers are the best teachers that I have ever seen! They are wonderful and very hard working. The best I have seen so far.
--Submitted by a parent

Single sex education is beneficial for both girls and boys. My daughter loves her school, her teachers, and her friends. She is not afraid to try new things or speak in public. She has no preconceived ideas of her academic abilities and takes on academic challenges with an openness to learn. I credit the GSA teachers for this and the all-girls environment. She comes home talking about what she did in science not about the latest fashions or gadgets. Very refreshing. It's been a wonderful experience in every way.
--Submitted by a parent

Love it so far. Much more academically challenging than the 'recognized' AISD school she was attending. At least 2 wonderful 'specials' a day like art, music, Spanish, drama, emotional intelligence (!) etc., but they pack a full day's worth of academics into the remainder of the day. The only downside is that the grounds are a bit small; would be nice to have a bigger playground or a cafeteria. Best of all: No TAKS test, which means creative teaching!! The families are much less snobby than what we saw in Eanes.
--Submitted by a parent

The Girls School of Austin is the most unique and diverse school I've ever been involved with. Girls are taught to see each other as peers and friends rather than adversaries. They are also pushed to explore their minds in the realms of art and music as much as science and math.
--Submitted by a parent

We were disappointed in GSA, especially in the area of academics. They really don't seem to have an aligned curriculum and they focus a lot on 'fuzzy' ways of teaching, ignoring some of the basic fundamentals. As with many private schools, they do not require the teachers to have a degree in education; they may have a degree in another subject. While this can be a plus in many cases--the teacher is actually a math or science expert--we encountered difficulty with this situation in the lower school. Lastly, we expected a more feminist attitude from a girls' school, being more accepting, even welcoming of all types of girls. We did not find that there. On the plus side, you won't find a better art program, and the kids really do love the music and being in a small school.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree with the disappointed parents. Our daughter was there for one year, and that was enough to convince us that we shouldn't be paying private school tuition for a public school education (in some ways it didn't even reach that standard).
--Submitted by a parent

I give this school an excellent rating. Not because it has all the glitz and glam that well established, academically strong schools have, but because of its eagerness to achieve those characteristics. The headmistress has a solid vision of what the school should become and is intent on seeing it through. Improvements are always in the works. Bottom line- it takes money to do these things which GSA makes a constant effort to attain through donations and grants. The headmistress works closely with the board, the teachers, the students, and the parents. In just the past four months GSA has added several new after school activities and has just added an Ethics course for the 7th grade in the spring. Plans are always in the works and implemented as soon as possible. I could not ask for a better school for my 5th grader, academically or socially.
--Submitted by a parent

It s easy to confuse the wonderful school you think you ve found with the one that is actually there. Most of the other parents who have posted here probably have very young children, or were escaping from another environment. Accordingly, they have little perspective on what goes into a good school. We found this school lacks excellent teachers in many grade levels and enrichment areas but especially at the middle school level. We were hopeful about the new leadership change, but our dealings with administration were tinged with hostility and arrogance. It was a great place to leave behind. Choose carefully. Having good feelings about a school is great, but it won t sustain your daughter when you find she is not prepared for the rigors of high school (as is the case with our daughter).
--Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. My daughter could not wait for summer to be over so she could get back in the classroom. The school brings out the voices and talents of every individual and it is a joy to watch. The girls have an appreciation for learning and take personal responsibility to achieve.
--Submitted by a parent