Austin Peace Academy

"I have been at this school for 11 years now and I can honestly say with no regrets that I would never have switched schools even if I had the chance when starting high school. The administration is constantly working to revise the curriculum and teaching methods and make them better every year. The teachers are very helpful and always take out time to answer questions and explain subjects. It has a really great Islamic curriculum as well, one that makes sure that your foundation is solid for when you start to approach your upper teenage years. As a kid at APA, I can say that it has a very welcoming atmosphere and since it isn't a large school, it's an amazing experience to be able to bond with so many young, muslim kids who you can relate to and share your experiences with. It is a very tight knit family and I am lucky to have been able to grow up with these people as they have made me much of the person I am today. I would highly recommend the school as a different, unique, and quality experience."

"Here at Austin Peace Academy (APA) students are taught how to excel academically, and how to speak and debate with confidence whilst still upholding their morals and ideals. For a growing private school, APA offers an array of courses including APs, Honors, sports, computer science, art, speech and debate, and many more that students can take, which may not all be offered at other small private schools. Furthermore, because APA classes typically do not exceed 30 students, it made it possible for teachers to really understand their students and increased one-on-one learning opportunities. Small classes also allow students to build tight relationships with their peers and create an environment where nobody feels left out. Overall, as a student who has attended APA for elementary, middle, and high school, I can confidently say that APA is a great school to help your child grow and prosper academically, morally, and Islamically."

"As a senior who has been attending APA since kindergarten, I can definitely say that this is an ideal school for your kids. Over the years, I have watched this school grow and found it so interesting to see so many people from a variety of backgrounds bond together so well; it’s like a family. This school is a very safe environment, with no/minimal violence and bullying. For a small school, the given classes are pretty decent and the curriculum isn’t too difficult as long as you put in the effort. All of the teachers are really nice and easy to talk to; you can go to them for anything. They genuinely care about each student and give them the attention they need in order to succeed. I highly recommend sending your child to this school."

"I've been with APA for almost 9 years now. The faculty and staff make it their priority to ensure that every student succeeds and graduates with good Islamic understanding as well as great academic preparation. With this level of commitment, the school is no longer a school, it becomes a second home."

"As parents of 3 students at Austin Peace Academy, we have about ten years of experience with this institute, during 5 of those years I was a faculty member in the upper school. We have seen the school progress from what I would call a fairly typical Islamic School to probably one of the leading Islamic schools in the country. In order to help people who may be considering this school, I am going to try to make this review somewhat detailed around the 3 key expectations that I have as a parent assuming that others probably share similar concerns. 1. Islamic Studies and Arabic instruction are ahead of the game. In addition to learning the basics of the religion such as the pillars, practices and aqeedah, students also learn tafseer of whatever they are memorizing from the Quran, they also study hadeeth and seerah and they engage in class discussions and projects that ensure students understand how this knowledge bears relevance to their lives. My kids (ages 13, 12 and 9 respectively) love and respect their Islamic studies teachers who are grounded in knowledge but are also approachable to young people. APA is one of only 4 schools in the U.S. that is piloting the renowned Bayyinah Insitute's Arabic program. This Arabic curriculum is a breakthrough in teaching Arabic in such a way that simultaneously unlocks an understanding of the Quran and makes the language usable to students. For parents who are interested in a Hifz program, APA offers a track that allows students to stay on track with their grade school learning, enjoy interactions with friends and do Hifz all at the same time. 2. APA offers opportunities for students to discover and develop their individual strengths. Firstly, the small class sizes (usually between 14-26) means there is a close, family atmosphere in which everyone really cares about everyone else - I really believe this gives a sense of emotional security to students which fosters their ability to excel. The lower and middle school participate in a private school competition annually (similar to UIL) and for the last 3 years they have ranked 1st in district competitions against other private schools. APA students (including my daughters)have also placed in the state competition. The High school last year won 1st place at the MIST national competition. High school students also benefit from a nationally acclaimed debate coach (who is also the Academic Director), in the many debates they participate in it is not unusual for the APA team to place among the top teams in UIL competitions. The school has a history of great performance in the Austin Regional Science Fair. Internally the school has an active Junior council and Senior Council as well as a registered National Honor Society. Recently students were on both local and national television sharing their outlook on the climate of Islamophobia. The school really allows students to discover their strengths and become self confident young adults. 3. APA also provides academic empowerment to its students. As a former staff member, I was really grateful for how much the school invested in professional development for its faculty members. While teachers are accountable to the Academic Director (ensuring quality instruction of knowledge standards), they are given sufficient freedom in curriculum and lesson design as to allow for creative (therefore fun) lessons that are student centered. There is a very positive relationship amongst the faculty in which ideas and better practices are shared to the benefit of all. The school invests in classroom resources and technology and AP courses are offered to 11th and 12th graders allowing them to earn credit at university. AP scores are consistently way above national averages. The APA graduates that I have kept in touch with feel well prepared for the studies at their higher education institutes (including UT Austin). Obviously we have to make sacrifices in certain lifestyle choices when sending our three children to APA, but at the end of the day we feel that it is a sound investment."