Steps of Admissions

The first step in our Admissions process is to visit campus for one of our Prospective Parent events: 

• Grammar Campus Tour: Pre-K (4) through 4th grade
• Upper School Campus Tour: 5th – 12th grade
• Prospective Parent Meeting: required for all families planning to apply to grades Pre-K (4) through 6th grade.
• Upper School Preview Night: for families considering 7 – 12th grades

Note: As of May 7, all large group campus tours and Prospective Parent meetings have concluded for the school year. Please contact our Admissions Director if you’re interested in visiting campus in May. 

For more information about our model, click through our site for details about our classical approach, our collaborative model, and FAQs. Please prayerfully consider your family’s needs and educational goals and whether Austin Classical may help you meet those goals.

The articles below will help you as you proceed through the admissions process. To ensure a mutual understanding of the classical approach to education, both parents should read:

• What is Classical Education, by Christopher Perrin, Amazon (optional)
• Traditional vs. Progressive Education by Martin Cothran (required)
• Top 10 Reasons for Studying Latin, by Cheryl Lowe
• So Your Parents are Thinking of Sending You to a Classical Christian School, by Joshua Gibbs (required 7th and above)

Other recommended resources on classical, Christian education are listed here.

• Assessment Testing:
  • Kinder Readiness testing will occur on campus in the spring.
    
  • 1st – 12th grades: testing will take place on campus, and scheduled as applications are received.
• Shadow Student Day: students applying to Grade 5 and above are required to spend time on campus as a Shadow Student for a full day. These days will be arranged with each family individually.
• Family Interview: Once applications are submitted and testing is completed, families will be invited to schedule a 1 hour time slot with our Admissions team. See section 5 for additional details.

Complete an online application for each student applying and pay the application fee. We do accept a limited number of mid-year applications during the school year. For questions, please contact our Director of Admissions, Kim Rama.

The application includes several distinct parts, and will be active in November for the following school year.

Part 1: Student Application, completed by parents

Part 2: For incoming 1^st-12^th grade students

• Teacher Questionnaire: completed by your child’s current teacher
• School Recommendation: completed by your child’s Principal, Administrator or Guidance Counselor
• Note: an additional Teacher Recommendation from a Humanities instructor is required for applicants to 7th grade or above.

Part 3: Supplemental writing requirements for 1^st – 12^th grade students

Part 4: An on-campus student shadow day is required for all applicants for grade 5 and above.

Application Fees:

• $100 for Pre-K applicants
• $150 for K–12^th grade applicants (includes the application fee and testing fee)

A student will not be considered for admission until all parts of the application have been thoroughly completed and received.

Note: Austin Classical keeps an active applicant pool, and applicants are evaluated as space is available. If we do not have any openings in your child’s grade level but believe your student and family are a good fit for our school model, we will keep your child’s application active until the start of our next school year. During that time, we will let you know if any seats become available for your student’s grade. If a seat does not open up before August 1, your child’s application will become inactive. The application can be reactivated once the admissions season begins for the following year, usually around November. Your family would not need to go through the entire admissions process again but would need to contact the Admissions Office and submit updated school records, schedule placement testing, etc. for the new year.

All incoming K-12th grade students will need to complete testing as part of the admissions process.

• Kindergartners will take a readiness test on campus and will be scheduled once your application is received.
• Students applying for 1st – 12th grades will participate in testing on campus for math and reading.

All testing must be completed prior to the Family Interview.

Once your completed application has been reviewed and testing has been completed, you will be contacted to schedule a Family Q&A with the admissions team. This meeting is for the purpose of discussing your family’s educational goals and if our methods and philosophy will further those goals.

Admissions decisions will be communicated based on the timing of your application. Please see our detailed Steps of Admission for more information about our timelines. You will also receive an online enrollment invitation, which includes a tuition and enrollment agreement. Online enrollment must be completed, and registration & supply fee paid, within ten days after notice of acceptance. Your student’s spot will be held for ten business days. The first tuition payment is due by June 1.

The preparation process includes purchasing uniforms, purchasing books, and attending the August co-teacher training (K-12th).  Additionally, incoming co-teachers will be matched with an experienced ACS mom through our “Mustang Match” program.

Note:

• There is a one time new family fee of $500 for families enrolling in Kindergarten or above.
•  Families with incoming students in 5th grade and above are required to attend our Readiness Academy, July 23-25, 2025.
• All families are required to participate in our Co-Teacher Training during the week of August 5, 2025.
  Note: Families that only have Pre-K students are only required to attend 1-2 sessions during that week.