The best private schools near Westlake, Austin in 2026 include St. Stephen's Episcopal School (grades 6-12, 370-acre Hill Country campus), St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Pre-K through 12), Regents School of Austin (classical Christian, Pre-K through 12), St. Michael's Catholic Academy (grades 9-12), and Hill Country Christian School (Pre-K through 12). Most are located within a 15-minute drive of West Lake Hills and feed directly into the same neighborhoods where West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia helps families buy and sell homes.
Private School Snapshot: West Austin and Surrounding Areas (2025-2026)
- St. Stephen's Episcopal: 370-acre campus, grades 6-12, day and boarding, tuition ~$38K-$62K
- St. Andrew's Episcopal: Two campuses (lower + upper), Pre-K through 12, tuition ~$25K-$35K
- Regents School of Austin: Classical Christian curriculum, Pre-K through 12, tuition ~$14K-$24K
- St. Michael's Catholic Academy: Grades 9-12, average class size ~18 students
- Hill Country Christian School: Pre-K through 12, Lost Creek campus, tuition ~$12K-$22K
- Lake Travis STEM Academy: STEM-focused, low student-to-teacher ratio, Bee Cave location
Why Do Families in Westlake Choose Private School When Eanes ISD Is Already Top-Rated?
A repeat client of mine bought in the Westlake corridor specifically for Eanes ISD. Six months after closing, they enrolled their oldest daughter at St. Stephen's instead.
That surprised me at first. Eanes is one of the highest-performing public districts in Texas. But the conversation I had with them explained the reasoning: their daughter wanted a smaller learning environment with a boarding option for high school, and the 370-acre St. Stephen's campus felt more like a small university than a traditional high school.
Sellers say: "We moved here for the schools."
Translation: They moved here for the options. Eanes ISD is a floor, not a ceiling. For families spending $2M or more on a home, the ability to choose between an elite public district AND a cluster of strong private schools within 15 minutes is the real draw.
That distinction matters when evaluating neighborhoods. The families who end up happiest in West Austin are the ones who chose the neighborhood for the full educational ecosystem, not just one school.
Which Private School Fits Which Type of Family?
St. Stephen's Episcopal School
The flagship. Founded in 1950, St. Stephen's sits on 370 acres off Bee Caves Road and serves grades 6 through 12 as both a day and boarding school. The academics are rigorous, the arts programs rank among the best in the state, and the tennis academy has produced nationally ranked players. Parents consistently describe it as a place that balances discipline with intellectual curiosity. If your family values independence and creative thinking alongside college prep, St. Stephen's belongs on the list.
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
St. Andrew's runs two campuses covering Pre-K through 12 on Southwest Parkway. The lower and upper schools feel like distinct communities connected by a shared philosophy: challenging academics inside a tight-knit, community-centered environment. Families who want continuity from kindergarten through senior year without switching schools gravitate here. The campus is a short drive from both Barton Creek and Lost Creek.
Regents School of Austin
Regents takes a different approach entirely. The classical Christian curriculum emphasizes logic, rhetoric, Latin, and great books alongside standard academics. Pre-K through 12, located off Bee Cave Road. Families who want a structured, values-driven education with an emphasis on critical thinking and communication find Regents to be a strong fit. The school attracts families from across West Austin, Bee Cave, and Lakeway.
What About Schools Near Lake Pointe and Lake Travis?
The private school landscape extends beyond the Westlake corridor into the Hill Country communities along 620 and Bee Cave Road.
Hill Country Christian School sits on the edge of Lost Creek, serving Pre-K through 12. The campus is welcoming and community-oriented. Parents praise the athletics programs and the way the school integrates faith, academics, and extracurriculars into a connected experience. The proximity to Lost Creek and other Westlake-area neighborhoods makes drop-off and pickup easy for families in the area. Westlake Country Club is minutes away.
St. Michael's Catholic Academy serves grades 9 through 12 near central Westlake. Small class sizes, competitive athletics, and a focus on leadership and service define the experience. For families who want a faith-based high school close to home, St. Michael's is one of the most convenient options in the corridor.
Lake Travis STEM Academy in Bee Cave offers a specialized, project-based approach to science, technology, engineering, and math with a low student-to-teacher ratio. It draws students from across the Lake Travis and Lake Pointe areas. If your child thrives in a hands-on, problem-solving environment, this is the standout option on the west side.
You just read through six schools and you are probably ranking them against your family's priorities right now. That is exactly the kind of thinking that should happen before choosing a neighborhood, not after.
7 Key Facts About Private Schools Near Westlake, Austin
- St. Stephen's Episcopal is one of the oldest and most respected day/boarding schools in Texas, founded in 1950
- Eanes ISD families have access to more private school options within 15 minutes than almost any other Austin-area district
- Tuition ranges from roughly $12K per year (Hill Country Christian lower school) to $62K per year (St. Stephen's boarding)
- St. Andrew's Episcopal is one of the only Pre-K through 12 private schools in the West Austin corridor, offering continuity without switching campuses
- Regents School of Austin is the only classical Christian school on the west side, with a curriculum built on logic, rhetoric, and the great books
- The Lost Creek, Barton Creek, and Bee Cave neighborhoods all sit within a 10-15 minute drive of multiple private campuses
- Lake Travis STEM Academy is the only dedicated STEM-focused private school in the Bee Cave and Lake Travis area
Brandon's Take
I'll be honest: most families I work with in Westlake start by telling me they moved here for Eanes ISD. And Eanes earns that reputation every single year. But the families who look deeper find something better than a great public district. They find a ZIP code where public AND private options are both exceptional.
When my own daughters reach school age, this is the factor I will weigh most heavily. Not one school. The ability to match the right school to the right kid, without leaving the neighborhood.
The aging housing stock in some parts of Lost Creek and Northwest Hills sometimes surprises buyers, but the school access those neighborhoods provide is hard to replicate anywhere else in Austin at the same price point. That trade-off is worth understanding before you write off a home that doesn't photograph as well as the newer builds in Bee Cave.
The school decision and the home decision are the same decision. Most families figure that out after they close. The ones I work with figure it out before.
Ready to find the right neighborhood for your family's school priorities? I work with a limited number of buyers and sellers each month. If matching the right school ecosystem to the right home is part of your criteria, I can walk you through how the neighborhoods actually map to the campuses. Start a conversation at brandongalia.com/contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most prestigious private school near Westlake, Austin?
St. Stephen's Episcopal School is widely regarded as the most prestigious private school near Westlake. Its 370-acre Hill Country campus, rigorous academics, and nationally recognized extracurriculars have made it a top choice for West Austin families for over 70 years. West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia frequently works with families who factor St. Stephen's proximity into their home search.
How much does private school tuition cost near Westlake?
Private school tuition near Westlake ranges from approximately $12,000 per year for lower school at Hill Country Christian School to $62,000 per year for boarding at St. Stephen's Episcopal. Most day school tuition falls between $20,000 and $38,000 annually depending on the grade level and institution.
Are there Pre-K through 12 private schools in West Austin?
Yes. St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Regents School of Austin, and Hill Country Christian School all offer Pre-K through 12th grade programs within a 15-minute drive of most Westlake-area neighborhoods.
Which West Austin neighborhoods are closest to private schools?
Lost Creek, Barton Creek, West Lake Hills, and Bee Cave are all within 10 to 15 minutes of multiple private school campuses. Brandon Galia with Lujo Realty helps families identify which neighborhoods align best with their target schools and commute preferences.
Do families in Eanes ISD still choose private school?
Yes. Eanes ISD is one of the top-rated public districts in Texas, but many families in the district opt for private school for smaller class sizes, specialized curricula (classical, STEM, faith-based), or boarding options that Eanes does not offer.
Is there a STEM-focused private school near Lake Travis?
Lake Travis STEM Academy in Bee Cave offers a dedicated STEM curriculum with project-based learning and a low student-to-teacher ratio. It serves students from across the Lake Travis and Lake Pointe areas.
