If you value your child's education in Austin, you may consider private schools at some point.

Particularly among parents who prioritize college admission, a few schools are consistently mentioned. Among them, the most frequently cited are St. Stephen's Episcopal School and St. Andrew's Episcopal School.

Both schools are ranked among the top private schools in Austin and are known for their consistent college admission rates to Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Northwestern, and other top universities in the U.S.

St. Stephen's Episcopal School is one of the most expensive private schools in Texas. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the tuition for day students is approximately $48,000 to $50,000 per year. When you include costs for meals, textbooks, activity fees, overseas programs, and donations, many families find that their actual education expenses exceed $50,000 annually.

Boarding school students incur even higher costs. Including tuition, room and board, and meals, it is common to expect expenses around $80,000 per year.

St. Andrew's Episcopal School also has significant tuition costs. The high school tuition is around the high $40,000 range, and additional fees for various student activities and textbooks apply. However, both schools offer financial aid programs, so families with certain income levels may have the opportunity to receive scholarships.

Many parents are surprised by the tuition costs, but the reason for choosing these schools ultimately comes down to college admission rates.

It is reported that nearly 100% of St. Stephen's graduates go on to four-year colleges. Each year, a significant number of students are admitted to top universities, including Ivy League schools, Stanford, the University of Chicago, Duke, Rice University, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt. The admission rate to the top 25 colleges (T25) is also considered the highest in the Austin area.

St. Andrew's also has a college admission rate that is nearly 100%. The relatively small student body allows for very detailed college counseling, which is seen as an advantage. They have a system where professional counselors provide individual support for SAT and ACT preparation, essay writing, college selection, and interviews.

If families prioritize satisfaction relative to tuition, St. Michael's Catholic Academy is also a popular choice.

The high school tuition at this school is around $22,000 to $25,000 per year, which is significantly less than the previous two schools.

Nevertheless, most graduates go on to four-year colleges, particularly with consistent admission rates to UT Austin and Texas A&M. While it is based on Catholic education, religion is not a requirement, and the school emphasizes both academics and character education.

Regents School of Austin is another noteworthy option. This Christian private school operates on a classical education model, with tuition around $18,000 to $20,000 per year. It is praised for having a lower financial burden while still preparing students well for college.

One question that Korean parents often have is, "How many Korean students are there?"

Austin is not a city with a large Korean community like Dallas or Houston. Therefore, it is not common to find dozens of Korean students concentrated in a specific school. However, as the number of Korean engineers and researchers working at global companies like Samsung Semiconductor, Apple, AMD, and Tesla continues to grow, the number of Korean students is gradually increasing.

It is not difficult to meet Korean students at St. Stephen's and St. Andrew's, but they still represent a small percentage of the overall student body. Many parents appreciate the international educational environment, studying alongside students from various countries.

The admission competition is also quite intense. Acceptance is not based solely on good grades; the evaluation includes school transcripts, standardized test scores, recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities. Particularly in higher grades, the competition can become fierce due to limited openings.

Ultimately, it is difficult to explain Austin's private schools simply as "expensive tuition." While families must bear education costs ranging from $20,000 to over $50,000 annually, the investment is considered worthwhile due to the college counseling system, diverse extracurricular activities, and excellent faculty provided by these schools.