Parkside Community School

Our daughter is three and a half, and she just finished her first year of preschool (Primary) at Parkside. We couldn't be more pleased to have her attending this special school. From top to bottom, it's an excellent program with marvelous staff and leadership, and a wonderful community. Some of the things we love most about Parkside: is its uniquely and authentically Montessori, which was important to us when we were looking at schools. The teachers (called guides) are loving, creative, and thorough in their teaching methods. We were blown away when barely a month in, our daughter came home singing about all the continents of the world! The 12-acre campus is beautiful and well maintained. The kids get lots of outdoor time and often take hikes together as a class. They learn to value and sing about nature, including our new favorite song, "Chlorophyll" written by the founders. Music is a big part of Parkside life, and at least 1-to 2 events a week are organized around it (parents are invited to participate as well). We've enjoyed all the opportunities for families to get involved at Parkside and we've made some great friends already. Even though the craziness of the pandemic, Parkside staff led the way with through health protocols and regular communication with Austin Public Health to keep the kids safe and allow the school to continue. In short, we've found Parkside to be an amazing, friendly, beautiful place that is nurturing our daughter to her full potential. We highly recommend it!

Parkside Community Montessori School is truly a gem. What I love most about Parkside is the wonderful, caring, nurturing and supportive teachers. They are impeccably trained in the Montessori method of early education. Through their execution of the child-led approach, they have fostered independence, creativity, confidence and most importantly a true love of learning in my children. I firmly believe they have established building blocks that will lead my children through their next level of education and through life.

Yes I would agree. This school is wonderful! Our son has attended for three years and we have seen him really get fired up about learning and having responsiblies. They also make curiosity, Playing and connecting with his classmates an important part.

Parkside Community School is just that: a community. A nurturing community of learning, creativity, and respect, and it has been our family's privilege to be a part of it for eleven years. We visited several other Montessori schools before choosing Parkside and found that it offered methodology and structure perfectly balanced with variety and freedom. It is neither "militant" Montessori, nor abject chaos. The children are confident, engaged, and very, very happy - almost as happy as the incredibly loving guides and staff. Joe and Claire Bruno have done an amazing job of cultivating an environment where the whole family is included in the learning process, and the lessons are just as applicable outside the gates as they are inside. And even with relocating to our new campus three years ago, the "magic" came with them and was blended into 12 magical acres full of outdoor adventure, creativity, and peace. We have had one or both of our children in each of the programs over the years, and we have never ceased to be amazed at the opportunities and challenges they have been given and, without frustration, mastered and overcome. They are growing into caring, intelligent, and responsible people, and we know that Parkside has played a huge role in that. Our final Gates of Life ceremony was bittersweet, but we have continued to be a part of this community and know we will be forever.