The best way to begin is by experiencing Headwaters in action. We encourage families to attend an Open House or schedule a campus visit to see our Montessori and International Baccalaureate classrooms firsthand.

During your visit, you’ll learn more about our approach to developing Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers – students who are curious, independent, and engaged in meaningful work. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about program, learner readiness, and how we partner with families to support each child’s growth.

Our admissions team is here to guide you through each step and help determine whether Headwaters is the right spot for your child and your family.

We invite you to sign up for a campus tour, where you will have an opportunity to step into some of our classrooms.

Yes, we do offer financial aid. 

Learn More About How to Apply

Rather than a linear waiting list, we hold an applicant pool for each program/grade that allows us to create balanced classes when space is available. Areas we consider include age, learning style, and temperament. 

Learn More About Applying to Headwaters

No. Headwaters School is not accepting state voucher funds, also known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), for the 2026–2027 school year.

After months of research, community input, and discussion, the Headwaters Board of Trustees determined that the current legislation does not provide sufficient clarity to ensure the school’s educational autonomy, nor does it guarantee long-term, equitable access to funding for our families.

We remain committed to accessibility through our internal financial aid program and will continue to monitor how TEFA impacts private and independent schools across Texas.

Learn More in our Board’s Full Update

We believe that beginnings matter — especially for young children. That’s why we use a thoughtful Phase-In process designed to create a calm, secure transition into the classroom community.

Phase-In is a gradual start to the school year in which children begin with short visits and slowly build toward a full-day schedule. This gentle approach allows children to get to know their guides, classmates, and classroom environment in small, supportive steps. Parents are part of the process at the beginning, helping children feel safe and confident as they build independence.

Our goal is simple: fewer tears, less anxiety, and a strong foundation of trust. By honoring each child’s emotional journey, we create the conditions for confidence, resilience, and joyful learning from day one.

Phase-In schedules vary by program level (Young Children’s Community and Primary), and families receive detailed information prior to the start of school. 

No, all of our Montessori programs are five days per week. It is an important component of the Montessori philosophy that children experience the consistency of returning to the same environment day after day.

Yes, each summer we work with guides and local vendors to create a schedule of semester-long after-school enrichment activities. These include a mix of old favorites and new offerings. 

Learn more here

Children’s clothing should be comfortable, allowing complete freedom of movement, as well as washable and suitable for daily indoor and outdoor activities. Because children spend time outdoors almost every day, parents should consider weather conditions when planning daily dress. Children are encouraged to wear shoes that are practical and comfortable. For safety purposes, flip flops are not allowed.

We don't have a dress code for this age group, but we believe that as long as items are not distracting to the child wearing it, it should be fine.

We are also using the outdoors more often and when the weather changes, we will send out reminders about layers in cold weather, too. Labeling personal items is by far one of the most important things so that when layers come off, they make it home later.

YCC
Families will park in the circle drive on Manchaca for drop-off and pick-up.

• Early arrival: starts at 7:30 a.m.
• Drop-off: 8:15-8:40 a.m.
• Full-day pick-up: 2:45 p.m.
• After-care: 5:45 p.m.

Primary
Families use the circle drive on Berkeley Ave. for drop-off and pick-up with support from Susie and staff. We use the circle drive with guides and admin helping students out of vehicles at arrival and dismissal time. Families will also be given a paper placard with their child’s name for their car window to make the process easier.

• Early arrival: starts at 7:30 a.m.
• Drop-off: 8:15-8:40 a.m.
• Full-day pick-up: 2:45 p.m.
• After-care: 5:45 p.m.

Yes, we do have an early arrival program that begins at 7:30 a.m. as well as an extended day program until 5:45 p.m. These programs are available to families for an additional fee.

Yes, there is a Montessori-trained teacher in every classroom.

In the Young Children’s Community program, toilet-learning is a part of the curriculum, and children are expected to be working towards being self-sufficient in the bathroom. In the Primary program, children should generally be self-sufficient before starting school. We are happy to talk about this further if your child is still in the learning process.

Our Early Childhood program is located on our Springs Campus in South Austin at 6305 Menchaca Road, Austin, TX 78745.

This campus is located just south of Stassney Road and is a combination of three buildings and lots of playground space to run around.

Learn More About Our Campuses

Each classroom has its own courtyard for outdoor play. Primary students also enjoy their Primary playground where students get to play together. We also have our Peace Garden and Movement Yard for additional activities. We are also fortunate to have many beautiful trees shading our spaces.

We use the circle drive with guides and admin helping students out of vehicles at arrival and dismissal time. Families will also be given a paper placard with their child’s name for their car window to make the process easier.

Early Arrival starts at 7:30 a.m., and Extended Care ends at 5:45 p.m. There are fees associated with these two programs.

Our arrival and departure times for the 2025-2026 school year are:

• Guides take attendance in the Nest at the start of class each morning.
• Students who arrive after class start time should be walked into the front office and signed in by their parent or guardian. A tardy slip will be given to your child to hand to their guides.
• For families with Elementary siblings, please drop off at the youngest student’s arrival time.

Our goal is to support students in moving, learning, and playing confidently and safely throughout the day. And be sure to label everything!

Children’s clothing should be comfortable, allow for free movement, and be appropriate for both indoor and outdoor activities. Because students spend time outside nearly every day, please dress your child in weather-appropriate layers that provide protection from the elements and the outdoor environment.

• Shirts are long enough to cover the midsection (no visible belly buttons).
• Shorts and skirts are long enough to provide full coverage when sitting, bending, or playing.
• Shoes are practical and comfortable—no flip-flops, no crocs as they pose safety concerns.

Yes, we do have an early arrival program that begins at 7:30 a.m. as well as an after-care program until 5:45 p.m. These programs are available to families for an additional fee. 

Learn More About Enrichment and Student Life

Yes, there is a Montessori-trained teacher in every classroom.

Located on our Creek Campus at 9607 Brodie Lane, our Elementary Montessori program serves children from kindergarten through 5th grade. This spacious 4-acre campus provides ample outdoor learning opportunities indoors and out. 

Learn More About Our Campuses

Elementary classrooms are grouped in two-year cycles - Kindergarten and First Grade, 2nd and 3rd grade (early elementary) and 4th and 5th grade (upper elementary). Each class has two guides as well as specialists who teach regular classes in music, gardening, art, health and fitness, and Spanish. We have recess on our playground every day to give the children an opportunity to interact and cultivate relationships. 

Headwaters School is an IB World School offering the Middle Years Program starting in 6th grade with our inaugural class in 26-27. We offer the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12. We are also a part of The Texas IB Schools association. These schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Headwaters School believes is important for our students. It also offers a natural progression from our Montessori-based Early Childhood and Elementary programs.

Learn More About Our Montessori-to-IB Curriculum

Our goal is to provide nutritious, convenient, and reasonably priced food options for your middle and high school students through our on-campus food truck.

In addition, once permitted by the school and parents, High School students receive off-campus privileges. Students may also bring their lunch from home, but food deliveries are not allowed at any time.

For Middle and High School students, homework takes a variety of forms, including: reading and reflecting on an article presented in a language class; responses to guided questions about the role of the U.S. government in the creation of the Panama Canal; or geometry questions that challenge students to stretch their understanding of proofs.

Regardless of format, homework shares the following traits:

• It is intended to serve a bridge from the classroom to home. Its purpose is to extend, to gauge, and to help students demonstrate their understanding of the topics with which they are presented in class.
• Assignments help guides develop a better understanding of students’ emergent knowledge and the gaps in their understanding.
• Homework, and students’ engagement with it, help guides better understand where and how to focus classroom time with the intention of making deeper connections to discipline-related concepts within the class period.

We value the process of identity formation and self-expression. We expect our students to dress in a way that reflects our reverence for the learning process and for our Purpose, Promise, and Principles. Nothing should be worn that is discriminatory or makes other community members feel unsafe. For safety reasons, shoes should be worn at all times when moving around campus. When a guide or staff member finds a student dressed inappropriately, they can choose to either talk to the student privately or send the student to the Division Director.

We also highly recommend dressing in weather-appropriate clothing.

Yes, Headwaters School is a Bring-Your-Own-Device school. Students will use a laptop computer to work on assignments and to view communications from their guides. Students are required to have a charged laptop and charger with them every day.

Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, the school day for students in grades 6–12 will shift to 9:00 a.m.–4:20 p.m., with class periods extended to 85 minutes. We will follow an A-B schedule during most weeks

Some weeks, we will have a special C-Day schedule on Wednesdays. These days are designed to be a “deep dive” in order to give students extended time for deeper instructional work, interdisciplinary learning, time for community and independent project work, enrichment opportunities, additional IB HL support, and focused skill-building. On these days, the academic program will start at 9 a.m., and students are dismissed at 3 p.m. For students who need to stay longer at school, we will offer programs including our Extended Care, Tutoring, and Athletics.

We offer robust auxiliary programs, such as athletics and after-school enrichment. River Campus students will end their school day at 4:20 p.m. (and at 3 p.m. on Deep Dive Wednesdays). After school, students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of enrichment opportunities, including extended care for families who need it. Middle school athletics will take place during the school day, typically during 4th period on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Learn More About Middle School Enrichment and Student-Life Learn More About High School Enrichment and Student-Life

Yes. On the River Campus, we offer extended care hours for middle and high school students at the start and end of the school day. Early Arrival runs from 7:45 a.m. until the start of the school day. Extended Care runs from the end of the school day until 5:45 p.m. 

Learn More About Middle School River Campus Extended Care Learn More About High School River Campus Extended Care

Located in downtown Austin at 801 Rio Grande Street, our River Campus is home to our Middle and High School programs. Each of our nine River Campus buildings are full of unique character, housing classrooms and administrative offices.

Our River Campus classes take advantage of our downtown location. We are close to UT Austin, the Austin Recreation Center, parks, museums, the Central Library, and so much more. We love to use the city as a classroom.

Learn More About Our Campuses

It is quite easy for new applicants to transfer in at the 6th and 9th grade levels since those are the beginning years of those programs. We find that new students are always welcomed with open arms and open hearts.

Approximately one-third of our 6th grade class comprises students who matriculated from our Elementary program. Approximately half of our 9th grade class includes students who matriculated from our Middle School.

Our average class size is 16 students. We have 30 to 40 students in each grade level.

All students take six classes per year: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Language, and an Arts class of their choice.

For physical education, Middle School students take a daily PE class on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and a series of wellness seminars on Wednesday. High School students are required to earn a physical activity credit each year through our school sports program, the Outdoor Leadership program, or activities in the community.

High School students also take courses in College Planning as well as various electives. Every student participates in an advisory curriculum to foster character development; earns yearly community service hours; and executes an independent project with extensive planning requirements, practical experience, and a presentation in our Project Fair.

We offer a natural progression from Montessori to IB. Our 6th graders start with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP). This program runs through the 10th grade. Then, our 11th and 12th-grade program is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

Learn More About Our Montessori-to-IB Curriculum