Magellan International School

Terrible school. Total scam. They just want your money. Stay away!

We have loved MIS. It’s a small community of caring people. Originally, we can for the Spanish, but have also loved the International Baccalaureate Program.

Please do your due diligence before putting your child in this school. They do not live up to the hype, nor hold their word on what they offer. They are extremely unorganized and do not know how to handle children that are hyperactive. This was the absolute worst decision I could have made for my son's education. After leaving Magellan at 1st grade, he started 2nd grade at an amazing public school with multiple resources.....that Magellan did not offer. He was way behind on reading only to discover he is mildly dyslexic, which of course Magellan was clueless. They only care about your money here and will not refund it if they are unable to accommodate for your child. They will instead insist on having your child get a psychological evaluation and not attend school for 3 weeks. This is not be ideal for working parents. Not to mention it being detrimental to a child to be pulled out of school for nearly a month in 1st grade. I will say that there are a few good things about this school; 1. The organic and healthy lunch service 2. The wonderful parents and their children. My son made many wonderful friends and the parents were very pleasant and involved. The only reason for so many good reviews here are because they constantly ask for the parents to write reviews for them. If you are putting your child in this school for the Spanish, save your money and put them in classes at Live the Language or Olas. There are plenty of options for much more established caring private schools in the area.

This is an update of an earlier review. My twins are currently in 4th grade at Magellan. It is our 4th year at Magellan, and our experience has been fantastic. The first thing that attracted us was the fact that it is Spanish immersion, since I am Mexican (they also do Mandarin starting in 3rd grade, which is the cherry on top), but what made us commit to it was the excellent academics, in particular the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Program (PYP), as well as the passion and experience of everyone from the founder and director down. As a mathematician, married to a scientist, I can say that they use the best way of teaching numeracy (Singapore math). My kids' math and language skills have developed at an astonishing rate. They are learning science, history, art, music and developing strong interpersonal skills, and a sense of responsibility and independence. The community is very involved, and the families are invariably warm, friendly, supportive, diverse and very "Austin". Teachers come from Australia, Mexico, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Spain, and the US (I may be missing some countries!). The families there are even more diverse. Just in my kids' classroom they have Russia, Poland, India, Ecuador, England, Mexico, Norway and Canada represented. The school is also truly committed to economic diversity as well. Highly recommended! Magellan now also has a middle school, which follows the IB Middle Years Program. I have gotten to know the teachers, in particular the math and science teachers through volunteering, and they are outstanding and highly experienced and dedicated. I can't wait to see how my children continue to grow and thrive as they move through that program. I would like to point out, on a final note, that the low-rating reviews are highly suspect. They are vague and do not address specifics in any way or form. But you probably already figured this out if you are reading these reviews. :-)

I'm constantly impressed by Magellan, and I'm so thankful I discovered the school. When researching for a school that was right for my daughter, I was specifically searching for one with differentiated learning, and Magellan's approach has been great for my daughter. She enjoys and is challenged by her school work, and never complains of boredom. The Spanish immersion program offered by Magellan has been incredible to witness. My 7 year old daughter comes from an English speaking home, and after three years at Magellan, she can now read, write and comprehend Spanish at a first grade level. The IB component has been the cherry on top. My shy little girl frequently gives presentations to her entire class. Magellan is helping her gain confidence. I highly recommend Magellan International School and plan to enroll my son in their preschool.

We are now in our 5th year at Magellan and the experience has been incredible. World-class faculty and a curriculum that is designed to teach our kids how to think - not memorize. Public speaking, Spanish, Mandarin, Singapore math, design thinking, writing fundamentals - these kids are already preparing for the next wave of innovation.

My daughter started at Magellan in 1st grade. We were all a bit nervous about the switch from public to private, whether she would pick up the Spanish quickly enough to match her peers; but the transition was smooth and the teachers were so welcoming and loving! She's currently a 4th grader and we are so pleased with our experience. We made the switch primarily so her love of learning would be prioritized but in close seconds were the Spanish immersion, IB curriculum, and inquiry based education. We haven't been let down. She is thriving under the care of teachers that are invested in her success as not only a learner but as a global citizen. The school encourages kids to be risk takers, open-minded, principled, caring, reflective, thinkers, and good communicators on a daily basis. I can't ask for much more. Highly recommend Magellan.

Our son is in kindergarten, and in his second year at Magellan. Of course we love the Spanish Immersion but our love for Magellan goes far beyond the language acquisition. He is surrounded by fabulous teachers and administrators supporting and fostering his desire to learn, his innate curiosity, and his emotional development. The IB program is teaching him how to be a global student and he is receiving the best education imaginable.