Rawson Saunders School

I feel obligated to write a review on this school mainly because I want to express that it’s not the end of the world if your child does not get accepted here as I once thought, We looked into this school 5 years ago when we were moving to the Austin area. Immediately upon meeting with the admissions rep. I felt like something was off as she told us that she too had a dyslexic son and couldn’t afford a place like this when he was young like we could. Hmm okay. Turns out, this woman who seemed to be jealous of us made the ultimate decision as to if our child made the cut. My son really liked the school and asked when he could start. I heard nothing back from the school so I called them after a few days and was told my son basically was «Too Dyslexic» with too many issues to be accepted there. Wait. Isn’t this a school for Dyslexia??? I was recommend to take my son to a school for kids with learning disabilities and emotional problems. Since my son does not have emotional problems he did not fit in on the tour of the school. Eventually we found AESA Prep. Academy. The student teacher ratio is very low and the added plus is that my son is in college prep classes with very talented teachers. These instructors will take extra time during and after class to make sure my son fully understands the material and he is flourishing. I just couldn’t be happier! Thank you so much Ralston Saunders for not believing in my amazing and talented kid because it led me to find a school that did!!!

Rawson Saunders saved my child’s life. He was struggling in 3^rd grade at an AISD school in a 504 program. He was tested by this school in 1^st grade and was found to be dyslexic. The 504 program simply did not provide the level of support he needed. On top of that, the reading ‘specialist’ he was pulled out of class to go to berated him and generally intimidated the children. One would expect that person to be the most patient and understanding and sensitive to dyslexic kids, but not so in this case.
I had been driving since September for him to be tested for special ed in reading. It took almost 6 months to get that to happen. 6 critical months that my child simply could not afford.
My son has proudly declared that he learned to tell time at RS in one week. 3 years in public school could not get him there. He has regained his self confidence and sense of self– that is what is most important to me as his parent. This is what will prove paramount in the years to come.
I am thoroughly impressed with Rawson Saunders. The staff is positive, hard working and committed to their mission of providing a high quality education tailored to each dyslexic child’s needs.
Thank you to the driven Austin parents whose own dyslexic children were foundering in the public school system 14 years ago. You created a legacy for so many more of us to gratefully follow in your footsteps. My child has his love of learning back. He knows he is intelligent and isn’t being compared daily to children who simply don’t learn the same way he does. Life is good.

I can’t imagine ever going to another school. The unbelievable curriculum, small classroom size, multisensory approach, and highly qualified staff make Rawson Saunders School an amazing place to be. Children who were once closed off to learning, end the year soaring with Pride. They learn what their strengths are and have many opportunities to use them. The learning environment is to help children be successful. Rawson Saunders is an accredited school. There are 170 parents that would agree with my review. If you want to know about RSS, you should make your own judgement. It never hurts to experience this amazing place for yourself. The fact that they are able to start a high school says a lot about the growth and the people who love this school. Every student is seen as Extraordinary!

My son Dan entered Rawson Saunders with anger and resentment at the experience he had in public school as a dyslexic, outside-​the-​lines kind of learner. He left RS to re-​enter public schools an accomplished reader and he remains a high-​level reader as an adult. He is one who picks up a book by choice, and he has finished dense volumes I wouldn’t dare begin.
I’ve observed Rawson-​Saunders through the years as it has added to its curricula, broadened its outlook and become the premier school for dyslexic children in Central Texas, if not the state. In addition to the marvelous Academic Language Therapists employed by the school, Rawson-​Saunders has created a rigorous academic environment enhanced by arts, music, theatre and sports and has attracted and retained a dedicated, talented, and compassionate staff.
Beware of negative review from folks whose children never attended this school. Through the years Rawson Saunders has more than met the expectations of parents and students who found it to be the ideal place for the child who learns differently.

Maybe the school has changed but it was an amazing, life changing experience for my daughter when she attended. She had daily one to one reading and writing instruction along with all her other classes. The «core» teachers also knew how to teach kids that were struggling. She learned to be organized and most importantly, learned how to advocate for herself!

Many years ago I withdrew my son from 2^nd grade public school and enrolled him in Rawson Saunders. His diagnosis included dyslexia (trending characteristics), dysgraphia and ADHD (inattentive). He was struggling in the public school system and they were not meeting his needs as stated in his ARD. On paper, the public school stated that they would be able to teach to his individual needs and in reality, that was far from the teachers capability –too many students and not properly trained in intervention and understanding of the challenges he faced. I feared for the start of 3^rd grade and the ridiculous focus on TAKS (now STAAR) testing. My son did a two day visit at RS, we met with the admissions director, reviewed testing… and he was accepted. His inattentive ADHD was well accommodated for with a variety of creative and appropriate interventions. He is/​was never a behavior issue. They taught him cursive at an early age for his dysgraphia and started keyboarding. His daily ALT for dyslexia was exactly what he needed (and hence the cost of the school is understood). I am thankful beyond belief for all that they provided my son. He was a second grader hating school, struggling in his subjects and losing self confidence by the second. This school provided him the support that he so desperately needed and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart every day that we were fortunate enough to be able to financially meet these needs. I so wish that this type of programming were available to all families whose children are not finding support and success in the public school system. I hope this review is helpful for people considering this school for their child.

I am surprised by the other reviews because in my experience this school is excellent on all fronts. If your child has dyslexia, this is the place to be. The only downside to the school is the cost, but it’s a bargain for what you get.
When I was considering the school I looked at the two negative reviews here and was turned off. Please do not be influenced by those reviews– talk to parents whose kids are at the school and actually have your kid visit because it is really an amazing place. It is a wonderful haven for those of us with smart but dyslexic kids who have not had a good time of it in the public schools.

Actually, many RS students are excellent readers. The curriculum is very individualized, catering to the needs of each student. The math program, Singapore math, is one of the most respected math programs in the world, and the science teachers are experts in their field. I am very familiar with this school, it’s vision, and the dedication of the faculty and administration. The administration makes decisions based on what is best for the students, regardless of what will make the school more money. I can say with confidence that every staff member works tirelessly to ensure that students reach their full potential. Not only that, but they truly believe that the potential of students with dyslexia, often not recognized in other school settings, is very high. So the school provides them with a rigorous, challenging curriculum that DOES follow and even exceeds state standards. Rawson Saunders’ academic program is held accountable by accrediting agencies, one of which recently awarded them with the highest possible rating. Highly trained teachers and Certified Academic Langugage Therapists (ALTs) meet kids where they are and are not limited by state regulations or bureaucracy. The school implements researched based methods in a caring, stimulating environment, and RS even runs an institute that trains many Central Texas teachers in best practices for teaching students with language-​based learning disabilities. Austin is lucky to have such an amazing school available to bright students with dyslexia.

We have sent our kids to Soaring Eagles Summer Camp in past years and are currently considering full-​time enrollment for our bright 2^nd grade boy who struggles to read and as he ages will likely have major spelling and writing problems like his brother. First, R/S’s program is geared towards helping children with dyslexia (trouble with words) so if you are looking for standardized testing and a «regular» curriculum, your child should just attend your local public school. Secondly, the admissions officer made it clear to us that our son’s testing info and 2 day visit would precede our «acceptance» to the school. They explained that there is a profile, typically poor reading/​spelling/​writing skills and above average intelligence, that fits the school’s programs but they do have children with other problems like discalcula (trouble with math). Finally, in past years we did find one adminstrator to be somewhat rude and intolerant (she said that my older son was probably not welcome back for camp on account of his interaction with a single counselor) but we were relieved to learn that she is no longer with R/​S. The current staff we interacted with: executive director, admissions officer, art and shop teacher, and chef were about as cheerful and committed as any faculty or administrators I have ever seen. Austin is fortunate to have this school for the kids that need the special education our public schools are not able to provide. Remember too that in Texas, dyslexia is not a disability that necessarily qualifies your child for special education so educating your dyslexic kid or closing their gap is a really uphill battle for parents. Instead of wondering if my public school’s reading specialist has any idea how to help a child with dyslexia, I am going to place this all in R/​S expert hands if we figure out to swing the tuition, half of which is for daily CALT tutoring that we would need in any case.

Obviously the last reviewers haven’t had students at the school for any period of time. The teachers are very good at communicating and the CALT that work with the children everyday are very compassionate and some of the best at their jobs. Children are not accepted with other issues except ADHD. Wonderful school and has made a big difference with our child over the last few years. You are lucky if you get the chance to have your child attend because of the small class size and popularity of the school.

We were concerned about a possible disgraphia problem with one of our children. After acceptance into Rawson Saunders, we canceled of our other reading program then were asked to go for a visit to the school. The visit took place during lunch transition which was very chaotic (especially for 6 year olds) and spent 5 minutes with the teacher then the rest of the time touring in the chaos of kids transitioning to/​from classes with the assistant director. We were called two days later to inform us that they felt that the kids were too high activity for the school and that they felt that they couldn’t be properly redirected (these are children who have been tested and determined not to be any higher level activity than any normal young 6 year old). The kids are high activity but no more so than their peers at their school and have not had problems in normal school with such behavior. Such a snap judgement from the school is highly irresponsible, passing judgement without enough time or energy. It was particularly frustrating given that they had accepted them into the school (upon which we had canceled the other reading program and paid the penalty for that). Very, very disappointed. An attitude of «we only want to teach those that we think are easy to teach».

This school may be appropriate if your child really can not read at all. But be aware that they do NOT adhere to academic standards (TEKS) nor is there any accountability. Unlike special education or 504 in the public schools, you have no safeguards, no recourse, no voice. They can and do make major educational decisions without consulting parents or even informing them. They do not take kindly to any questions about these decisions. Your only recourse is to withdraw and that will cost you a full year’s tuition ($ 20K) so think it through very carefully.