Finding the Right School for Your Family: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve been following the local news, you know that the Austin Independent School District (AISD) is facing some tough choices. Recently, the district released a controversial draft proposal that includes possible school closures, boundary changes, and updates to student transfer policies.
While this plan is not yet finalized, these conversations have understandably stirred up strong emotions across Austin. When change affects your children, your neighborhood, and your sense of community, it’s personal. Schools are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, shaping daily routines, friendships, and the character of the places we call home.
At Live512, we see how deeply these decisions ripple through families and communities. While we’re not experts in AISD policy, we are deeply rooted in Austin and regularly help families navigate the big-picture questions — where to live, how to plan for the future, and how to feel confident about what’s next.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Natalie Ashcroft, a trusted Austin education consultant and resource for our clients (and our own families, too). Natalie helps parents find schools — public, private, or charter — that fit their children’s unique needs and their family’s values. This post by Natalie offers a compassionate, practical approach to what can often feel like an overwhelming decision.
If these AISD changes have you thinking about your next move to a new school, a new neighborhood, or both - we’re here to help you explore your options with clarity and care. Reach out anytime to hello@Live512.com
NATALIE ASHCROFT,
Austin Education Consultant
For personalized guidance, please reach out to Natalie directly at natalieashcroft.com or hi@natalieashcroft.com
As an education consultant, I partner with families to help them identify and apply to Austin schools that are best aligned to their values. Choosing a school is one of the most consequential decisions families make, shaping not only your child’s education but also their sense of belonging and confidence.
While the school research, application, and selection process can often feel stressful and daunting, following a clear process can reduce family stress and help your family make a school decision with confidence. Whether you’re exploring public, charter, or private options, here’s how to approach your school search with purpose and clarity.
1. Identify Your Family’s Priorities
Before looking at schools, start with you. What outcomes are most important to your family?
Consider:
A feeling of belonging and emotional safety
Academic challenge and curriculum individualization
Extracurriculars that fit your child’s passions
Exposure to cultural and socioeconomic diversity
Relationships with your neighbors
It can also help to reflect on your own school experiences. What do you hope your child’s education will mirror, and what would you like to be different?
Once you’ve clarified your priorities, think about how you’ll measure them. For example, if you value “strong relationships with teachers,” you might ask: What’s the average student-to-teacher ratio? or How long do teachers tend to stay at the school?
2. Narrow the Field
Armed with your priorities, you can begin to narrow your options using practical factors:
Commute and schedule: How far are you willing to drive each day?
Community and consistency: Do you prefer a neighborhood school? Do you want your school to feed into a particular high school? Do you want a private school that offers all grades K-12?
Cost: What tuition or fees fit your family’s budget?
School size: Does your child thrive in small, intimate environments or larger communities?
Diversity and values: Does the school’s culture reflect your family’s values?
Academic approach: Traditional? Project-based? Classical? Tech-forward?
If you’re in the Austin area, for example, you’ll find a rich mix of schools across categories, from traditional institutions like Trinity and St. Andrew’s, to progressive and non-religious options like Headwaters, Long-View, and Alpha. Austin ISD offers several specialty programs including dual language, and local charter schools bring even more program diversity into the school mix. I recommend that all families pursuing application-based programs (both public and private) cultivate multiple options.
3. “Interview” Your Schools
Once you’ve narrowed the list, it’s time to get firsthand insight.
Visit during school hours. The best way to understand a school’s atmosphere is to see it in action: watch students interact, observe classrooms, and take note of how adults engage with kids. Visits aren’t just for private school: most public schools offer families visit opportunities so they can see the school in action.
Ask thoughtful questions. Use your priorities as a guide. For example, if you care about outdoor time, ask how often children go outside and what that time looks like.
Talk to current families. A short conversation with a parent whose child attends the school can offer invaluable perspective. These conversations tend to be much richer and more informative than online reviews.
Check a public’s school’s geographic boundaries. Austin ISD just announced substantial changes to the boundaries for almost every school in the district. For any public schools of interest, be sure to check the updated boundaries if you are considering a move.
Schools expect you to ask questions. Being curious signals that you’re an engaged parent seeking the right fit, not just the most convenient one.
4. Pursue Your Top Picks
If you’re primarily interested in public schools and have narrowed the list to the schools that best fit your values, talk to your REALTOR about pursuing properties in the catchment zones of your top-priority schools.
If you’re applying to private, public magnet or charter programs, remember that timing matters. Many private school application rounds, Austin ISD’s magnet applications and several charter lotteries close in February.
If you’ve decided to pursue private school options, approach the school application and selection process with intention.
Be early and visible. Attend tours and events. Schools notice families who show genuine interest.
Be honest. Describe your child as they truly are. Schools want to support them authentically, and it’s better to know beforehand if the school is not willing or able to support your student’s particular needs.
Be prepared. Private school applications often require teacher recommendations, report cards, and standardized test results. Start gathering these materials early to reduce last-minute stress.
Be realistic. No school checks every box. Go in knowing what you’ll need to supplement, whether that’s extra tutoring, more outdoor time, or community activities outside school.
Final Thoughts
The school search process can feel daunting, but it’s also an opportunity: a chance to clarify your family’s values, involve your child in meaningful decisions, and discover the environments where they’ll thrive.
A “perfect” school doesn’t exist, but a good-fit school does. The key is to look for a place where your child feels known, challenged, and excited to learn, and where your family feels confident in the community you’re joining, particularly if you’re moving neighborhoods for the school.
If you’d like personalized guidance, I offer one-on-one consultations for families navigating the Austin school landscape. You can reach me at natalieashcroft.com or hi@natalieashcroft.com.
