Academy of Thought and Industry at Austin, Austin | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I love this school. I was a steadfast believer in public schools, until my daughter reached middle school. She spiraled through her 3 years at middle school, not being heard or listened to (except by a few) and was pushed aside for numerous reasons. By the time she got to 8th grade, I had watched my daughter go from a bright student who loved school and learnign to a student who thought she lacked all intellectual capabilities and hated going to school. I was at my wits end. I had started looking for charter schools and private schools who embraced a growth mindset and were not pushy in their academics. She needed someone to work with her and respect her boundaries. It took quite sometime to find a place that met those requirements – and most who did only wanted perfect students who had no issues, which did not fit our family (we are quite the anxious bunch). Until one day, I found ATI and we have never looked back. The guides are some of the most compassionate educators I have ever met. We were lucky enough to tour the school with Micheal Strong, and I was in love not only with the school, but with him the moment he told me he felt artists were important pieces of society and he wanted to teach artists how to make money. BOOM! He had me – all I had ever heard as an aspiring artist was to find a fall back career. The guides have helped my daughter to believe in herself and her capabilities again. She has rediscovered her intellectual spark and her creative passions. Rather than being left in the dark as parent, we keep in close contact with her guides and her coach. I feel more supported as a parent than I have ever felt through out my daughter’s career as a student. I know I can only being a guiding light in my daughter’s life, and it is comforting to find a school that is willing to help shed some extra light for our entire family.

I had the extra benefit to sit in a few classes and help out when they needed it, and I was amazed with the students. They had more accountability and responsibility than most of my co-workers. They are respectful, kind, helpful, and very funny! It is a small community with the largest heart I have ever seen from a school. I can’t recommend them enough to everyone. It is an amazing environment that makes me wish I could be in high school again (and I hated high school!)

Public school is not for everyone. I have 2 sons – one of which excels in a traditional school environment, and the other who was stifled and frustrated by it. I am so grateful for ATI Austin and what the school has done, even within a short time, for my son’s love of learning and outlook on school and education. I never thought I would hear him say that he loves school, but whenever anyone asks him about it, that is exactly what he says.

ATI treats the students like people – the teachers and staff are true leaders as opposed to authoritarians. They engender community, mutual respect, and they celebrate the uniqueness of all of the students. The students are given room to grow and excel on their terms, explore their own interests, and are exposed to a variety of interesting subjects. The word “bored” has not crossed my son’s lips since he started at ATI.

The curriculum is not easy, but it is taught in such a way that even someone like my son, who used to loathe school, is incredibly engaged. He is more responsible for his work and our fights about homework are over.

I know in my core that his attendance at ATI has put him on a completely different (and much better) trajectory for the rest of his life, and for that, I am eternally grateful.