CareCompass
At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About Escuelita Del Alma
Spanish Immersion at Escuelita Del Alma
Established in 2000, Escuelita del Alma—the "Little School of the Soul"—is a cornerstone of the Austin community. Founded by Dina Flores, who brings over 40 years of educational expertise, the program focuses on natural language acquisition. Rather than formal drills, Spanish flows through daily play, art, music, and exploration. The center is known for its deep-rooted staff, with many directors and teachers serving families for over a decade. The environment is designed to nurture the whole child, balancing academic readiness with social-emotional development. Children enjoy a language-rich atmosphere and organic, locally sourced hot lunches prepared daily in the on-site kitchen. With a history of community support and a diverse student body, Escuelita fosters a sense of belonging and cultural connection that extends beyond the classroom into a vibrant family network.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
Escuelita del Alma has been a large part of our family for over 8 years. As parents, we have felt secure each day having our children at Escuelita. The entire teaching staff is warm, giving excellent care to our children. One of our daughters started at 3 months old, and I knew each day she was being cared for by the best. Both of our children easily speak conversational Spanish now with fluency, far surpassing their dual language classmates from other daycares. Escuelita provided wonderful meals every day and our carb loving kids gladly eat veggies! The environment shows how well loved the children are.
This Spanish Immersion daycare is truly a special place. The staff’s low turnover and the way so many teachers know my child by name—even those who aren’t in her class—make it stand out. They provide high-quality education and care, along with two snacks and a hot lunch each day. Most importantly, the children learn and grow so much during their time here.
Our daughter has been at Escualita coming on 5 years. We love it so much. The administration is so helpful, attentive, informative, supportive, civically minded, and most importantly loving and nurturing with the children. As our daughter moved into preK and now afterschool from kinder I have been happy with the curriculum and impressed with the strides our daughter has made in things like literacy but also her Spanish language skills. I am so grateful for the strong Spanish foundation the school has given her. Most of all I adore the community that the school fosters and feel so lucky to have found such a gem of a school for our sweet daughter to grow in! The school also goes the extra mile to organize fun gatherings, like the fall carnival and the end of the year dance performance/graduation which are among the highlights of the year.
Escuelita is certainly a special place! We've had our 3 year old there since he was 3 months old. We love it especially for committed teachers (we have had no teacher turn over in any of his classes in the 3 years we have been there) in fact his current teacher who has the most amazing classroom management with 2-3 year olds has taught there for more than 15 years. We also love that he knows Spanish fluently, a skill he will carry with him through his life. Also, we love the community of families we have met. Pretty much our entire social network is made up of some kind of Escuelita connection. Finally, the food! Our picky eater eats about 3 things at home but I feel ok about it because at least I know he's eating at school. Thank you Escuelita!
All three of our children have attended Escuelita since they were infants and we truly feel like the staff is a part of our family. Ms. Dina and her directors (Ms. Alma, Mr. Jaime, and Ms. Laura) have created a special environment where kids are loved, have fun, and learn everyday. Not to mention the Spanish immersion component that is a huge bonus. I would highly recommend this special little school to anyone.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
No serious injuries or fatalities have been recorded at the facility since reporting began in April 2020. State records indicate 21 total deficiencies over the last 60 months, including one medium-high and one medium deficiency following a report in April 2024. Most recently, a monitoring inspection on January 6, 2026, cited 6 non-compliant standards out of 652 evaluated.
Parent Reputation
The center maintains an exceptional reputation as a long-standing Austin institution, with parents frequently describing it as a nurturing community where teachers are 'like family.' Reviewers highly praise the Spanish immersion program and the quality of organic meals provided. Due to high demand, the facility typically has a lengthy waitlist often cited as being two to three years long.
Staff Insights
Employee turnover is relatively low for a large childcare center, with between 1 and 6 staff members leaving annually from 2020 to 2025 for a facility licensed for 194 children. Parents consistently highlight the commitment and warmth of the teaching staff and long-term directors. While specific employee-written reviews are limited, the community sentiment regarding staff stability is positive.
Quick Information
Varies by age and schedule
