Headwaters School
Headwaters School is an independent school in Austin, Texas serving students from early childhood through grade 12. Beginning with a Montessori foundation and progressing to the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme, we design vibrant learning environments across our three campuses.
We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers. Read more on our About page.
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Academics
Our students grow from a Montessori foundation in our Early Childhood and Elementary programs into an International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme in our high school. -
Student Life
Advisories, cultural dinners, project week, musical performances, open mic poetry, Model UN, chess club, Heroes of the Past, student trips...life at Headwaters is full of unique opportunities to connect and learn! -
Athletics
All Middle & High School students have the opportunity to participate in our after-school sports program. Teams compete in a league with other schools in the Austin Private School Association and other local leagues.
List of 8 items.
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2001
YEAR WE WERE FOUNDEDOur Middle & High School program was founded in 2001, followed closely by our Early Childhood & Elementary program in 2002. -
540
Students on three campuses126 Early Childhood Students, 191 Elementary Students, 97 Middle School Students, and 126 High School Students. -
91
Full-time faculty and staff membersAcross all three of our Austin campuses. -
12.75
Average years of experience903 years of teaching experience combined! -
$25.7
Million in college scholarship offers since 2012Our College Planning program helps juniors and seniors choose the path that is right for them. -
12
Athletic Teams in four SportsOur Middle and High School athletics program includes volleyball, flag football, basketball, and soccer. -
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International StudentsFrom China, Germany, Vietnam, France, and Senegal -
$375,000
Given in Financial AidTo 59 families.
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Metta Meditation with Middle and High School Counselor Marc Lionetti
Join Marc Lionetti, Headwaters Middle and High School Counselor, as he talks about centering practices and leads a guided metta meditation at this link.Read More -
Health and Safety Update: School Closure Details
Read MoreHeadwaters School campuses will remain closed through Sunday, April 5. During this period, we will continue to follow and assess the guidance provided by the CDC and local officials.You will receive an email describing our plans for enrichment and/or distance learning by end-of-day Tuesday, March 24, and we plan to begin distance learning on Wednesday, March 25. -
Health and Safety Update: School Closure Announced
Read MoreDear Headwaters Community,Following the lead of AISD and due to two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the Austin area, all three of our campuses will be closed today, Friday, March 13, 2020.In the event that a prolonged closure is necessary following spring break, we will be back in touch about further plans. Please continue to monitor email and check our COVID-19 resources page for information.Please take care over spring break,Ted -
Health and Safety Update: COVID-19
Read MoreFor the most current information, please visit our COVID-19 page on this site. -
UPDATE: Saturday Night Film Screening Tickets for $10!
Read MoreWe have a limited number of $10 film tickets for this Saturday's film screening at Community First! Village of Hoops Africa: Ubuntu Matters. No meal is included with the $10 ticket. There are also still some film + meal tickets available for $20. See all the details at this link and purchase your tickets today! -
Guide Feature: Alexandra Gantley, February 2020
A big welcome to Alexandra Gantley, our new Learning Specialist on the Creek Campus who will work with our Elementary program.Read More -
Ted Talks: Reimagining Rigor, Part I, February 2020
When I was a sophomore in high school, my English teacher assigned us what would turn out to be the most rigorous assignment I had ever faced in school. I was to find a complete stranger, interview that person in depth, play the tape of the entire interview for my classmates, and then write a feature article on that person as if I were writing for the New York Times magazine. What made this particular assignment rigorous for me is that I had to identify and then introduce myself to a person I didn't know. I then had to research that person, so that I could ask thoughtful and insightful questions. Then I had to actually follow through on that and present it to an audience who mattered to me (my friends and classmates). My first attempt was a spectacular failure. I didn't prepare enough questions so the interview was completed in less than fifteen minutes; I became flustered during the interview and didn't ask any follow-up questions; I wasn't interested in the subject; I didn't check my tape recorder in advance, and I failed to capture anyone's voice--lots of white noise. And then my teacher expected me to present this string of failures to the class. Talk about adolescent humility.Read More -
The Current - February 2020
Read MoreCheck out the January edition of The Current, Headwaters monthly newsletter. -
Mani-Pedi Evening Next Wednesday 2/12
The Friends of the FUNd are having a get-together and you're invited! Join us at Lantana Nails and Spa for a Mani-Pedi evening (and dinner afterwards at Carve!) next Wednesday (2/12) at 5:30 p.m. Reserve your spot today for a relaxing evening by visiting this link.Read More -
Ted Talks: Moving Into Our Next Phase, January 2020
Over the past two years, Headwaters has spent a lot of time and energy reflecting on where we've been, how we've gotten to this point, and where we're headed. As a summary, we completed our required self-study for TAAPS (Texas Alliance for Accredited Private Schools) last March and earned accreditation again; we completed our first ever self-study for the International Baccalaureate and learned a lot about the evolution of our Diploma Programme; we voluntarily completed the AIM (Assessment on Inclusivity and Multiculturalism) process and generated insights and recommendations about how we can more fully live into the part of our Purpose statement that reads, "embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world." And, we recently completed our first self-study for the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). The visiting team of 16 fellow educators from across the region were here this week exploring our delightful school.Read More -
Guide Lea Comte Speak at TEDxSouthCongress This Saturday!
Congratulations to our Early Childhood Dance/Movement Therapist Ms. Lea Comte (on the left of the image) for speaking at TEDx South Congress this Saturday! She will be spreading the word about the use of Dance & Movement Therapy tools for co-regulation to support early childhood mental health. Please help us congratulate Ms. Lea for this exciting accomplishment and wish her luck this weekend!Read More -
Happy New Year!
Read MoreWe wish all of our families (old and new), students, alumni, and other supporters a happy, successful, and prosperous new year. We look forward to celebrating more joyous moments with you!We are grateful for the community we create together. Thank you for being part of the Headwaters family. And on behalf of my colleagues and friends at Headwaters, we wish you and yours a warm and joyous New Year. We all look forward to seeing students back on Tuesday, January 7.- Ted Graf, Head of School -
Board Update, December 2019
During this first semester, the Board has been engaged deeply in supporting the school in its work on finances, facilities, and school identity.Read More -
Ted Talks: Looking Ahead with Mr. Rogers
One of the qualities I love about our school is that the sense of wonder and curiosity we so value in our classrooms stretches across all the different groups of the school. And one of the great joys in my role is that many of you suggest books, films, music, destinations, and podcasts. I have taken many of you up on your suggestions and the most recent one is an inspiring podcast called “Finding Fred,” suggested to me by Creek Campus Manager Jote Khalsa.Read More -
The Current- December 2019
Check out the December edition of The Current, Headwaters monthly newsletter.Read More -
2020-2021 Major Dates Announced for Headwaters School
Headwaters would like to announce the major dates for the 2020-2021 school year in the At-A-Glance Calendar at this link.Read More -
Ted Talks: The Power of Acknowledgment
The Forward, our annual hill country trip in the fall for middle and high schoolers, always concludes with an Acknowledgement Pitso on our last morning (Pitso is a Sesotho word meaning "meeting of the people."). The night before has been spent celebrating each other and student voice at the Performance Pitso and then, before returning to Austin, we acknowledge each other. It's such a simple gesture and a remarkably powerful one.Read More
1/17
Headwaters Calendar
List of 5 events.
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CANCELLED 2020VISIONS: Senior IB Exhibition Artist ReceptionIB Visual Arts Evening
VISIONS2020 Senior IB Reception has been cancelled to the public.Canopy - 916 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702Headwaters School Visual Arts - John Mulvany and Laura GordonRead More -
CANCELLED IB Film Pitso
We are looking into a different method to showcase IB work in the future. Stay tuned!River StudioRead More -
Stay and Play Tuesdays
All Springs families are invited to hang out on the playground for some community time!Springs CampusRead More -
Student Bake Sale Day
Headwaters students will collaborate to host casual bake sales on the River Campus Deck during lunch. Baked goods will be available in exchange for donations in support of various campus clubs, student projects, and other non-profits and social causes.River DeckCampus Clubs
Come Visit Us
At Headwaters, we value our unique, open-minded, and mutually respectful school culture as much as we value our engaging and challenging academics. We are looking for families who share these values and who are committed to and excited about continual growth and development.
Springs Campus
18 months to Pre-K