




All Austin Cooperative Nursery School
At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About All Austin Cooperative Nursery School
All Austin Cooperative Nursery School
Founded in 1953, All Austin Cooperative Nursery School is a non-profit, parent-run program that emphasizes a deep respect for child development. Operating as a true cooperative, the school requires active family participation, from classroom assistance to administrative support jobs. This model creates a unique, tight-knit community where parents and teachers journey together to support the physical and social growth of children in a secular, welcoming environment. The school’s pedagogy is heavily influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach, featuring a dedicated atelier for material exploration and creative expression. The campus is designed for active exploration, prioritizing outdoor play in its natural laboratory regardless of the weather. Children engage in unstructured discovery with water, sand, and mud, fostering curiosity and problem-solving.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
Sweetest and most amazing school and staff. My 2 yr old loved his teacher. He came home singing songs he learned from her. He especially loved the outdoor area with the water table and sand box.
The Co-op is such a magical place, we feel so grateful to have been able to send our kids here. The child-led, play-based, outdoor-heavy, respectful philosophy is everything we could have hoped for, and creates such a sweet and caring community. The teachers are incredibly patient, kind, thoughtful, understanding and knowledgeable about child development. Families take turns helping out in the classroom but, truly, I felt I was getting all the benefit out of it, being able to witness how teachers empower kids to resolve conflicts, put their feelings into words and learn how to be part of a cooperative community. Our time at the Co-op was truly a gift and I highly recommend it to families with littles.
We feel so lucky and grateful to have landed a spot at AACNS for our daughter. Her first year in the 2's class was magical, and then the pandemic hit--but the school kept the community together and did everything possible to ensure the safety of the students and staff. It's such a caring, creative place with teachers who understand child development in a way that has taught me a lot! I would recommend AACNS to anyone looking for a play-based experience that emphasizes outdoor exploration, sensory and creative discovery, and a tight-knit community of parents and alums.
We recently joined the co-op and our kids have loved it here. The teachers and director are so committed to providing a nurturing learning environment focused on outdoor play.
I was so excited to find this pre-school for my children eight years ago. My third child is there now, and I am continually amazed by the dedication of the staff, the professionalism of the director, and the support of the other parents. The teachers really focus on their students and where they are, and they continually provide a rich variety of materials and activities. The classes are half-day and follow the AISD schedule. The two year olds go for two days a week, the three year olds for three days, and the four and five year olds go for five days a week. Parent participation is required and valued. Each parent is asked to help in the classroom approximately once a month as well as take on a support job. There is a range of jobs to choose from, and they really try to help you find a job that fits your family. This might seem daunting to some folks, another thing to add to their busy plates, but in fact participating and cooperating in this way helps you really understand your child, the children your child is playing with, and you gain so much from the expertise of the staff. I couldn't be happier with "The Co-op" and I strongly urge you to check them out.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
No major safety concerns, legal issues, or news-reported incidents were found. Texas Health and Human Services licensing records show the school had two deficiencies cited in April 2024 (one Medium-High and one Medium risk level), though subsequent monitoring in the same month noted no further deficiencies during follow-up.
Parent Reputation
The school has a highly positive reputation among parents, who describe it on Reddit and Winnie as 'absolutely fantastic' and a 'wonderful community.' Reviewers frequently praise the play-based, child-led exploration philosophy and note that it is one of the more affordable preschool options in central Austin.
