Finding the fit
22 questions to ask on an Austin private school tour
Ask for examples, dates, and prices. Learn what your child’s day would look like, who helps when something goes wrong, whether the grade has space, and what you would owe.
Reviewed 2026-09-08 · Which Private School editorial guide · How we work
Ask about a normal school day
A tour shows the school at its best. Move the conversation toward ordinary days. Describe how your child learns, then ask how those traits would fit the classroom. If an answer stays broad, ask for a recent example. You should be able to picture your child here after the excitement of the tour wears off.
- What does a normal day look like in this grade?
- How much time is teacher-led, independent, outdoors, or on a screen?
- How much homework is typical?
- How do you help a child who needs more support or challenge?
- May we see student work from this grade?
Find out who knows each student
Class size does not explain how much adult attention a child receives. Ask who teaches, who covers absences, and who contacts parents. A school may keep staff details private, but it should explain its staffing and communication model.
- How many students and adults are in a typical class?
- Who is my first contact about a concern?
- How often do families receive progress updates?
- How does the school handle teacher changes?
Confirm support before assuming it exists
Private schools differ in the learning, behavioral, language, and disability support they provide. An IEP does not mean every private school offers the same services as a public school. Ask which services are provided directly, which use an outside provider, and which cost extra. If support is central to your choice, meet the person who oversees it before paying a nonrefundable fee.
- Who provides learning support and counseling?
- Can you describe support for a similar need?
- Which services cost extra?
- How are accommodations reviewed?
- What could cause the school to decide it cannot serve a student?
Get the complete cost and refund rules
Request a written estimate for the exact grade, schedule, and year. Tuition may exclude application, enrollment, technology, meals, uniforms, care, trips, or transport. Ask when the contract becomes binding. If TEFA matters, ask for the school’s current participation, billing, and aid policy in writing.
- What is the total required cost?
- Which charges are optional or refundable?
- Does TEFA change need-based aid?
- What happens if funding is delayed or not awarded?
Leave with a specific next step
Admissions steps and openings vary by grade and year. Ask whether the grade is open, full, or building a wait pool. Request the current checklist and identify who owns the next step. Afterward, record the answers and compare the same questions across schools.
- What items and dates apply to this grade?
- When should we expect a decision?
- Can my child visit a class?
- Who answers follow-up questions?
Sources & last checked
- Texas Education Agency: private-school special education ↗ · Checked 2026-09-08
- Texas TEFA: tuition, aid, and refunds ↗ · Checked 2026-09-08