Odyssey School

We are very disappointed in Odyssey School. Although our daughter is a high achiever academically, she suffers from anxiety and our local public school was not working out for her. She needed a less noisy and more controlled environment to succeed. Odyssey did provide this and she was doing quite well. However she only made it 38 days before being kicked out for walking off campus to cope with the stress she felt after an unpleasant interaction with a fellow student. We had told the school that walking alone was one of her coping mechanisms. Their attempt to restrain her only made things worse and there was a bad scene. Perhaps we did not do enough to make sure our daughter had workable options available to her. However we feel the school/principle could have handled things better and worked with us more. We now are on our own to find alternate arrangements.

A few things about Odyssey School in Austin TX. Before attending Odyssey my son suffered from a lack of confidence in himself, but more importantly in the institutions (public school’s) he was attending. He just wanted not to be seen and left-alone. He is currently a second year student and best known for being a spirited supporter of his school. In under a year he managed find himself and reclaim his self-esteem. The atmosphere supports intimate class sizes and one-on-one mentorship. These conditions coupled with faculty that are enthusiastic about their positions, have helped to renew my sons fanaticism for learning and growing-up in public. Odyssey is a firm supporter of its community and has an excellent Service Learning Program. The students are taught to go out to make a difference, by giving back to those that would accept a helping hand. My son is proud of who he is today and I feel we owe that to the wonderful faculty at Odyssey.

Our son has attended the Odyssey school for 6 years. The staff has bent over backwards to find ways to accommodate his challenges. He feels capable and confident and sees himself as a successful student. We feel so fortunate to have a school of this caliber in the Austin area. The facilities may not be state of the art, but the teaching that takes place within those walls is stellar. Odyssey's commitment to serving in the community on a monthly basis has fostered a heart for others in my son. Because of his experiences in the Service Learning Program he has a desire to make positive contributions to his world and give back to his community. That lesson alone is priceless in my book.

Odyssey School is a much needed alternative in the Austin area for students who have struggled in the traditional school environment and their parents who are frustrated with getting the understanding and response that they need to help their child feel comfortable and be successful at school.

At my first meeting with Odyssey, I immediately felt understood as opposed to the usual uphill battle of trying desperately to explain (and even understand mysefl) what makes my unique child tick and stuggling to design my own accomodations to help her be successful in school.

The difference in my daughter from last year in traditional school--where she refused to go to school for weeks on end and had many sleepless night full of anxiety--to this year at Odyssey school is beyond remarkable. She is so happy, is cheerful to go to school, and when I pick her up she always has a big smile on her face. She talks about how school is so much fun and that the teachers teach her in a way she can understand. She also says they don't move on until she understands and as a result she never feels like she is left behind. She is celebrated for her unique strengths and accepted for her weaknesses.