CareCompass
Riverbend Preschool
At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About Riverbend Preschool
Riverbend Christian School in Austin
Founded in 1985, Riverbend Christian School serves children ages 4 months through 5 years in West Austin. The program emphasizes a 'Work is Play' philosophy, utilizing The Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears to foster cognitive and social development. Set on a nature-integrated campus with three distinct playgrounds, the facility includes dedicated centers for art, construction, and science, providing a balanced environment for active exploration and structured learning. Director Alicia Donoghue, with the school since its early years, leads a long-tenured staff dedicated to supporting families. Beyond core preschool hours, the school offers enrichment in music, Spanish, and library skills, alongside weekly Chapel sessions. Parent communication is streamlined through the Brightwheel app, facilitating daily updates and photos. The community-oriented atmosphere is bolstered by active parent involvement and specialized classes like Kinder Bridge for transitional ages.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
We've been a part of the RBCS family for three years now, with both kids attending. We can't speak more highly of the staff and teachers who all clearly have a passion for teaching kids (and running after toddlers all day is certainly not for the faint of heart)! Alicia, the director, and Keri, assistant director, clearly have the children and their development and safety as a priority. It's easy to see how much they genuinely care for the kids. Alicia has been at the school forever and has worked in every role, so she knows the school inside and out, is a champion for the teachers and is incredibly well-organized. We've compared notes with other parents and looked at other schools, but we always come back to RBCS, even with a longer commute for us. Also, on an administrative level, Alicia makes every mundane task of filling out paperwork and paying tuition incredibly easy. As moms, we need to do everything on our phone with screaming kids in the background and she makes it easy with everything on simple electronic forms. We also love the regular updates from teachers, photos of our kids and easy messaging system. It gives me great assurance to get notified when we have a potty accident or tears on the playground, to know our kids are always in great hands. I practically have to drag them to the car each day because they simply love Riverbend!
Our family has been with Riverbend Preschool for almost five years now, and it's been nothing short of amazing. My girls are giddy to go there every morning, and I know that's indicative of the wonderful teachers and staff they have working there.
We have had an absolutely wonderful experience with Riverbend Preschool. My oldest attended for multiple years and my youngest is currently on his second year. We've found all of the teachers and staff to be kind and caring, focussing on what's in the best interest of each child. Our family would absolutely recommend the preschool program at Riverbend to others looking for a great start to their child's educational journey.
My youngest son attended RBCS for 4 years and we loved the experience. His teachers were kind, patient and compassionate and we appreciated the community focus and family values of the school.
Riverbend has been a true blessing to us. The staff genuinely cares for all of the children and my 4 year old is loving it. I only have wonderful things to say about our awesome experience here! Every staff member, teacher, etc. is kind, thoughtful, and friendly. As a retired teacher, I must say I love seeing the way they orchestrate lessons with play and a hands on approach. And extra kudos to Ms. Misti!
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
No safety concerns or high-risk violations were found in recent news or official state records. Riverbend Christian School has been licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission since 1987 (Operation #222798) and maintains a record of five inspections with zero self-reported incidents or corrective actions listed in available compliance histories. Charity Navigator assigned the school a 2-star rating (69%) for accountability and finance, noting a lack of publicly available conflict of interest and whistleblower policies.
Parent Reputation
The school maintains a generally positive reputation, with internal documents citing 'word-of-mouth' as its most successful marketing tool. Parents have specifically noted improved communication through the school's use of the Brightwheel management app. While parent-facing reviews on major platforms are limited, the school's long-term presence in the Austin community since 1985 contributes to its established reputation.
Staff Insights
Employee reviews are mixed, with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars based on 6 reviews on Indeed. Positive reviews highlight a supportive environment and benefits like tuition discounts, while a more recent 2025 review cited high turnover and a stressful work environment created by management. A recent 2026 job posting indicates the school is actively recruiting a Director of Safety and Security to oversee its facilities and protective programs.
Quick Information
Varies by age and schedule
