Good decisions begin with clear answers.

We enroll children from 18 months through Pre-K, generally ages 1.5 to 5. Our mixed-age Toddler House serves 18 months to 3 years. Two mixed-age Preschool classes serve ages 3 through Pre-K.

Mockingbird is at 4422 Gillis Street in South Austin, Texas 78745. We are convenient to Garrison Park, South Manchaca, Westgate, Sunset Valley, 78704, 78745, 78748, and nearby South Austin neighborhoods.

We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The full day is included in tuition, with the same seasoned teaching team rather than a separate aftercare handoff.

Families have lots of flexibility throughout the work day for pick-up and drop-off. The only time we close pick-up or drop-off is from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and nap. Teachers can help accommodate rare, unavoidable one-off occasions.

We do not offer part-time tuition. Mockingbird is a full-time, five-day program because our intentionally small model has very limited enrollment. That said, we do accommodate families who want a part-time schedule, especially at first. Families may choose to ease a new student into attendance gradually, increasing their schedule over time while they get accustomed to school.

No. The concept of aftercare does not exist at Mockingbird. One tuition amount includes school anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The teachers you see at drop-off are part of the same teaching team you see at pick-up, so they can add real context to the updates you receive throughout the day.

Mockingbird maintains an under 1:6 schoolwide ratio ceiling, with a 1:4 target in the Toddler House. Low ratios give teachers enough time for close observation, small-group work, responsive care, and meaningful family communication.

No. Hot meals and snacks are part of the communal school experience and are included in tuition. Mockingbird does not use parent-packed lunches as the standard program.

We blend Reggio Emilia inquiry, Montessori independence, and play-based early childhood practice. Teachers observe closely, build from children’s questions, prepare purposeful environments, and protect the long stretches of play where deep learning happens.

Mockingbird is a licensed preschool and childcare provider. Families receive a full working-parent day, while the program, staffing model, environment, and teaching practice are built around intentional early education.

Mockingbird combines the closeness families value in home-based care with the professional depth of a full-service preschool. Children are deeply known in small groups, while families benefit from an expert teaching team, reliable staffing, purposeful classrooms, hot meals, supplies, and full-day support. You are not depending on a single caregiver or allowing your child to disappear into a high-volume center.

We hire experienced, degreed early-childhood educators who take this stage of development seriously. We also build our staffing and compensation model around retention, because an excellent teacher cannot create secure, lasting relationships if the people caring for children are constantly changing.

Yes. Mockingbird is a fully licensed child-care center in Austin. Our intentionally small classes operate far below the capacity permitted by the state so that licensing compliance is the floor—not the definition—of the experience we provide.

Community means that families, teachers, and school leadership share a deep respect for the importance of early childhood. From 18 months through age 5, children are forming the emotional, relational, and cognitive pathways they will carry forward. Our community works together because these years are serious, meaningful, and worthy of extraordinary care. Explore Community, Care, and Health →

Children typically move into Preschool House around age 3, but the transition is based on developmental readiness rather than age alone. Teachers consider independence, leadership experience, social readiness, and interest in deeper projects and group conversations. The gradual, celebratory process is a move into a new stage—not a promotion into a more important class. Read the Moving Over parent guide →

At Mockingbird, we wholeheartedly respect and support a parent’s right—and privilege—to guide their child’s understanding of complex or nuanced subjects at home. In our classrooms, we do not introduce or engage in discussions about politics, religion, or other potentially controversial topics. Preschool is a time for nurturing wonder, play, relationships, and foundational learning—not ideological debates. We ask parents, caregivers, and staff to honor this boundary and help us maintain a peaceful, age-appropriate environment for every child.

Yes. Mockingbird operates year-round rather than closing for an extended summer break. Families receive a published school calendar for holidays and planned closures.

Start by reviewing our approach, tuition, and full-time model. If those align with your family, request a private tour. We will talk about your child, show you the campus, and explore whether the partnership feels like the right fit.