The Children's Center of Austin

I have two kids who go to the CCOA. We moved them here from primrose because their ratios are lower. We are so happy here, the curiculum keeps the kids busy all day and they love going to school. They have learned so much since being enrolled there, I am constantly amazed.

Posted 11/18/09

I have two children at the CCOA right now and we love it. The curiculum keeps them entertained all day and the teachers and staff are wonderful. My kids love to go to school! I have been so impressed with how much they have learned so far and how much more socialized they are. We wouldn't send them anywhere besides here.

Posted 11/16/09

I have triplets that have been at the CCOA for two years. We started them there as 18 month olds part time so that they would be more socialized. The curiculum at the CCOA is awesome I am so impressed with how much they have learned. I feel like the CCOA is really preparing them for real school more importantly kindergarten. They have such a good time everyday and for the price its well worth it. We wouldn't put them anywhere else

Posted 11/04/09

I have one child who is 3 1/2 now and she has been at the CCOA since she was an infant. We have had an outstanding experience there. The teachers are absolutely wonderful and the management is great too. Everyone there is like family now. We just found out that we are expecting another child and without any question we will send him/her there. It's the best daycare in Austin!

Posted 11/04/09

My twins are in kindergarten now but they graduated from the CCOA last year. Our kindegarten teacher has been so impressed by how ready for kindergarten they are. They are extremely advanced compared to other kids in the class. We had the best experience at the CCOA and would recommend the school to anyone!

Posted 10/27/09

My kids moved to the Jester location from Steiner. We loved both daycares, we just moved because we moved homes. We absolutely love it! Our kids are so happy and safe. They have learned so much, its incredible! I wouldn't send them anywhere else

Posted 10/26/09

My kids have been at the CCOA since they were infants and we have had an outstading experience there. One of the infant teachers Ms. Wanda has been there for 10 years! There is little teacher turnover the curiculum keeps the kids happy all day, the meals are healthy, its educational and the kids love it!

Posted 10/20/09

My kids have been at the CCOA in steiner for two years now and they love it. We have had a great experience so far, the mangament has changed and the new director Carrie is outstanding, she's really changed the whole school.

Posted 10/18/09

My kids have been at the CCOA since they were 16 months old and I wouldn't send them any where else. The staff and management has been so consistant since they have been there and we haven't had any problems with the teachers. They serve healthy meals and an oustanding curiculum that focuses on the kids being outside the class room and in other rooms like computers, spanish, music, art, swimming, library, gym and playground. We have had an outstanding experience here.

Posted 10/16/09

My two children attend the Jester location and we all love it. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this school. It's fantastic.

Posted 10/15/09

We have been at the CCOA for four years and are so happy. Ms. Wanda in the infant cetner is great and one of the directors Mrs. Julie is outstanding. They have a great facility, educational program, and outstanding staff and teachers! Our kids absolutely love it!

Posted 10/11/09

My kids go to the CCOA and we couldn't be happier, they love their teachers especially Ms. Wanda and love to go to school everyday! Ms. Wanda has been at the CCOA since they opened so I don't know what people mean by saying that there is alot of turnover because there obviously isnt! We love the CCOA and wouldn't send our kids elsewhere

Posted 09/27/09

My three kids all go to the CCOA. They all have so much fun everyday and I feel very safe leaving them in the CCOA's care. Their teachers are like family now and the management is outstanding. We love it there!

Posted 09/21/09

I switched my daughters over from primrose to the CCOA after two months of being at primrose. The CCOA was originally too expensive for me but when it came down to it I would rather spend a little extra money to get them in the best place in town. I am so impressed by my experience and my girls' experience at the CCOA. They have learned so much from being there and love to go to school so much. They get to visit a computer lab, art room, spanish class, dance, gym, library and playground during the day. They also take a nap and get fed healthy snacks and lunch! Ms. Wanda had both of my girls as babies and she has been at the school since they opened so I dont know what people are talking about when they say that there is alot of teacher turnover. I wouldn't send my kids anywhere else!

Pros: curicullum, extra activits, facility, teacher stability

Posted 09/16/09

Our child love the Steiner Ranch facility. We feel so safe leaving in the hands of the teachers here, they are alot like family now. This summer our son has been in Swimming and Spanish lessons which are great. In spanish he learned a lot just in two months, swimming as well, my son love's Mr. Fernando an Mr Shean.
Ms. Carrie and Ms. Laura are very nice and professional people.
Their program is very educational, their separate classrooms, gym, pool, shady, playfround, extracurricular activities and nutrition meal. I wouldn't send my kids any where else.

Pros: Professional staff and installations

Cons: none

Posted 09/16/09

My four kids have been at the CCOA for three years. There is no place I would rather put them. They are kept so happy all day long and they love to go to school. They do so many activities throughout the day and have learned soo much since we enrolled them. We are so happy with our experience so far.

Posted 09/14/09

My daughter Caroline has been at the CCOA for two and a half years. She transitioned from being at home with me to being at the school very easily thanks to the great staff at the CCOA. They treat her like she was their own daughter. She is so so happy there and loves going to school. We have no complaints about the school. It's an awesome place.

Posted 09/13/09

My daughter has been at the CCOA for two months now and we have no complaints. She has been so happy and I feel very comfortable leaving her there. She in in the infant center and we absolutely love her teacher Ms. Wanda who has been with the daycare since they opened! We have found so much stability with the CCOA for her and we think the program is very educational. My husband and I were amazed at how much she is learning. We love the school so much

Posted 09/10/09

My kids go to the Jester location of the CCOA and they love it there. We have had such a great experience with the teachers and staff, it's been amazing.
The infant center is very nice and the teachers are great. They have two playgrounds for kids under 2 (indoor and outdoor) and they even takes walks during the day.
My older child goes to the art room, computer lab, library, spanish class, music class, gym, playground time and even extra curriculurs such as sportball and karate.
My family has had such a pleasent experience at the CCOA that I wouldn't recommend any other place in Austin. We love it there.

Posted 08/31/09

My child has been at the CCOA for a year now and we absolutely love it there. It was recommended to me by some friends and because this was our first child we were very skeptical about what a good childcare needed, and we were very surprised at what we found, they do such a great job there and the environment was so clean and safe. It's absolutely amazing!

Posted 08/30/09

My kids have been at the CCOA for two years, my oldest just graduated from the four year old room and my younger child is in the infant center. We have had nothing but wonderful experiences with the teachers, staff and management. My older son has sever allergies to a long list of food and the CCOA was more than helpful at lunch/snack time. He started kinder last week and his transition was great thanks to the preparation at the CCOA. My younger child is very happy at the CCOA and she is kept very busy throughout the day, including walks in a large buggy with her classmates, and an indoor and outdoor play area. The school is great and we love it so much there.

Posted 08/23/09

My son is an infant at the CCOA, we love it there. The facility is very nice and state of the art. The teachers are also friendly, caring and professional. The directors are also very attentive and if you have a problem, they adress it almost immediately. My son is very happy there.

Posted 08/12/09

Our twins just graduated from the CCOA this past year and they are starting kindergarten this week. We are so sad to leave the CCOA. Our kids had been there since they were 14 months old and we never came across a under-qualified or bad teacher..they were all great. As the kids got older we were so impressed with the independence skills they learned, while they also learned to cooperate with other kids. I am definently a health fanatic, and I was impressed by their meals and snacks. I was also impressed at my kids' spanish, math, science, english, and even history skills they learned. We were very impressed.

Pros: great childcare

Cons: none

Posted 08/10/09

I had my two older children at the CCOA and now they are in middle school, but my husband and I also have a one year old that is currently attending. Transitioning into kindergarten was a breeze for my older kids, thanks to the pre-school program at the CCOA, even our kindergarten teacher was impressed and said she would recommend the pre-school program. I strongly disagree with Valenni, because after almost 7 years, I still see some of the same teachers that my older kids had, including Ms. Wanda in the infant center who our whole family adores. I also disagree with her point on unhealthy meals, because you can preview the menu online and it clearly shows how healthy it is AND the menu is changed every three weeks for diversity! The new management is wonderful and we love Julie, the regional director who is so nice and attentive. We love the school!

Pros: facility, management, teachers, curriculum, safety,

Cons: none

Posted 08/09/09

I disagree with the review written by Valenni on July 20th.

As a valued employee and one of the teachers mentioned in the review, I have to comment that whoever this person is really needs to take a look again. Since our management has changed our school has taken a turn for the better. We provide an excellent program for the children that attend our facility. We follow a curriculum grid that helps to teach children basic math and science skills, writing and literacy, as well as social skills that they need in the future. Our menu has also changed recently and we do now offer more healthy snacks and lunch items.

I am not picking sides just because I work here but because I have toured other childcare facilities in the greater Austin area and they do not in any way offer the children that go there the curriculum and activities that our school does.

I would never take my teaching skills to the Children's Courtyard or any other school but the one I work for because I know that here my work is appreciated and that the children in my class always get more than what they have asked for.

Pros: Wonderul Curriculum

Cons: None

Posted 08/06/09

Our three children love the Steiner Ranch facility. We have an infant, we feel so safe leaving her in the hands of the teachers here, they are alot like family now. Pickup time is so hard because the kids dont want to leave. This summer our older two have been in swim lessons which are great. We thought about moving our four year old to primrose for the good education but when we looked into it and talked to some elementary schools, we decided to leave him at the CCOA. Their program is very educational, they just do it in a more fun way. I wouldn't send my kids any where else.

Pros: great curriculum, very education, great staff, great facilit

Cons: none

Posted 07/29/09

Our children love going to school in the mornings. They enjoy learning in this enviroment and love all the extra classes that CCOA has to offer. (dance, swim, sportball, piano). The staff treats my family great and I will recommend them to anyone. There was some turn over concerns about 18 months ago, but now things are better than ever! I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Pros: Great curriculum and extra curricular activities

Cons: none

Posted 07/28/09

I do not recommend sending your child to The Children's Center of Austin. My kid was only a part of the program Jan to Mach. In that time, management changed three times, and her classroom teacher changed countless times. Promises were made that were never fulfilled. Their healthy food is horrible and unhealthy.
There is no curriculum,
The management is horrible. Leigh Ann was so wornderful but she left. This daycare used to be one of the best but now is on track to get one of the worst in Austin.
they have qualified people like: Ms. Joy, Ms. Bobby, Ms. Lana, Mr. Fernando, very talented people, just the management needs to be trained so they can use all the
technology they invested in installations,
going to Children's courtyard instead

Pros: Instalations

Cons: Administration

Posted 07/19/09

I had the pleasure of recently receiving a tour from Carrie Guarascio, the director of The Children's Center Austin. It was such a great experience.She was very welcoming and not once during the tour did we feel rushed. For first time parents that means alot! She allowed us time to view the school, speak with teachers and was genuine when responding to questions. Both my husband and I were so amazed at the facility and all the extra's that they had to offer. The teachers we spoke with were very knowlegeable and the children seemed to be very engaged in the activity that was going on at the time.
It was refreshing to deal with such friendly individuals.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Cleanliness, Activity Rooms

Posted 04/19/09

The infant center is clean and the staff are attentive. My children are "happy" when I drop them off. Wanda, the supervisor, spends time to get to know all the kids in the center. The kids are usually happy and I know they get lots of cuddles and fun activities. I wouldn't take my kids anywhere else.

Posted 02/26/09

Both of our kids (4 and almost 2) have been at CCOA (Steiner) since August/08 and are doing great. The teachers are attentive and loving and Carrie, the Director is fantastic. Highly recommended!

Pros: Great teachers, directors, facilities, extra-curricular activities

Cons: none

Posted 02/02/09

I have had a WONDERFUL experience at the Children's Center of Austin at Steiner Ranch. After reading many of the positive and negative reviews on this great campus, I had to clear the air. I have been with CCOA since they opened. If I wasnt happy with the childcare/staff/managment, I would not continue going there. I dont even live in Steiner Ranch but, I drive out just to take my daughter there. If you actually get to know the teachers and talk to them during pick-up/drop-off, you would find that they are very devoted to the children in their class. The kids are not seen as just students but, as their own. Obviously, if you would like your child to be in a TOTALLY structured, militant school, send them to a monetsorri. Problem solved. But, if you want your child to feel loved and like they can be close with their teachers and director. Send them to CCOA at Steiner.

Pros: Dedicated and loving staff. Excellent ratios!!

Cons: none

Posted 11/25/08

My children are now at Steiner Ranch Elementary but, I had my son and daughter at the Children's Center of Austin in Steiner and my kids loved it!!! They remember their teachers and all the love and affection they got when they were enrolled there for about a year and a half. My kids enjoyed the fun curriculum and all the cool field trips they had planned for them on-site and off campus. The facility is gorgeous and the small ratios stood out compared to the other daycares around. Texas state ratios for 3-4 year olds is 17:1 but, CCOA's target ratio is 8:1, 16:2.

Pros: Nice facitlity, computer lab, art room, spanish room, pool

Cons: my kids miss their teachers :(

Posted 11/25/08

Choosing a daycare is one of the most important decisions of your life. You are placing the thing you hold most dearly in your heart in the hands of someone else. With that being said, why I am so grateful to the teachers and staff at the Children's Center of Austin in Steiner Ranch
Each person at the Steiner location is so vested in the children. They do not just seem like teachers they seem like family. They take special care of each child and access exactly what care they need. My daughter had some minor health problems when she started at the location when she was a year old and her teacher met and exceeded all the expectations I had of her. She is now three and still loves the school and the teachers. Each staff member she has been with she has had a wonderful experience with.
I watch how the teachers/staff interact with all the children and it warms my heart. From the teachers, to the cook, the receptionist and up to the Staff Coordinator and Director they all give over 100% care to each child. I see a smile on every face at the school and it makes me feel safe and happy my child can be there with such loving people.

Thank you for watching the most important person in my life.

Posted 10/19/08

My daughter has been at the Steiner Location since it opened and we have weathered all the changes. I am so happy that with Ms. Carrie as the Director , the school has really turned around. Each person at the Steiner location is so vested in the children. They do not seem like teachers they seem more like family. I watch how the teachers/staff interact with all the children and it truly warms my heart. They truly give 100% to each child .

Posted 10/14/08