Valor South Austin has an enrollment of 1,364 students this school year and received 1,966 new applications for its 2025-26 open-enrollment lottery, which was conducted on January 28, 2025. The tuition-free classical school in southwest Austin opened in 2018 with 460 students, a number that quickly climbed to over 800 with a waitlist of 1,100 and caused the K-12 school to outgrow its leased facility at 220 Foremost Drive. Valor South Austin Headmaster Michael Cowan said, "Our permanent home has been a long-awaited gift. We look forward to putting down roots and building on traditions started years ago in our temporary location."
The new campus, which has capacity for over 1,500 students, has sixty-two classrooms, including seminar rooms, science labs, dedicated art and music rooms, and general classrooms. Special features of the education building include a black box theater and a library. The campus also has a spacious courtyard, outdoor patios, and a secure playground. For the school's competitive athletic programs, there is a dual-use football and soccer field, cross-country trails, a weight room and two gymnasiums with a performance stage, locker rooms, showers, and fitness areas. Modern security features have been implemented throughout the campus. American Constructors' Project Director Grant Hutton, said "It was an honor to partner with Valor Education on another successful project. We're proud to have played a part in creating a space where the Valor community can thrive."
Since charter schools do not receive local tax revenue, Valor South Austin receives approximately 20% less public funding than neighboring Independent School Districts with an even greater funding disparity for facilities and cost of debt. Valor Education borrowed the $48 million required to acquire the land and build the new campus by issuing bonds. The school is also in the midst of a $3 million capital campaign. This building would not have been possible without the support of generous donors and dedicated families. David Williams, founder and president of Valor Education said, "South Austin is where Valor began. We are so grateful for the parents, students, and teachers who have made Valor what it is today as we strive to make our distinctive, tuition-free classical education available to as many students as possible."
ABOUT VALOR EDUCATION
Valor Education exists to educate the whole person in authentic communities for a full human life and is committed to providing high-quality tuition-free classical education to all students, regardless of background or ability. Through its K-12 tuition-free classical charter schools and the Valor Institute, it builds communities dedicated to wisdom, virtue, and friendship. At the core of its vision is the motto for its schools, Sapientia per Admirationem, Latin for "Wisdom through Wonder." Valor serves over 4,000 students at its five charter schools throughout the Austin and San Antonio metro areas and has a waitlist of 5,000 children. Learn more at valoreducation.org.
SOURCE Valor Education
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