Private Schools · Williamson County / North Austin Metro

Private Schools in Round Rock, TX: The Honest 2026-27 Guide

Round Rock has one established private school inside the city — and a cluster of strong options a short drive away. Here's the real map: what's actually in town, what's a 15-minute drive, what it costs, and which schools carry accreditation that transfers.

Search "private schools in Round Rock TX" and most directories hand you a padded list of ten or more — quietly stuffed with daycares, preschools, and schools that are actually in Austin or Pflugerville. The honest picture is simpler and more useful: Round Rock has one established, conventionally-accredited private school within the city limits, plus a genuinely strong set of options a short drive in either direction. This guide covers what's really here, what's a quick commute, and — because families travel for the right school — exactly how far each one is.

private schools in Round Rock TX — students walking on a Central Texas school campus in the afternoon

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New to evaluating private schools altogether? Our Private Schools in Central Texas guide covers accreditation basics, tuition norms, the public-vs-private calculus, and application timelines — read that first if you're getting oriented, then come back here for Round Rock's actual roster.

Private Schools Inside Round Rock

Two schools operate within Round Rock's city limits: one long-established Christian college-prep school, and one small learner-driven micro-school. They serve very different families.

Round Rock Christian Academy

PK4–12 Nondenominational Christian TEA-Recognized Accreditation

Round Rock's anchor private school. Founded in 1975, RRCA is a nondenominational, Christ-centered college-preparatory school serving roughly 730 students on its Westwood Drive campus — the only full PK-through-12 private school inside the city. It runs a distinguished-diploma track with AP and Austin Community College dual-credit, competes in TAPPS 3A athletics, and completed a new multipurpose facility in 2024.

Address: 800 Westwood Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681
Accreditation: ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) + Cognia — dual accreditation, both TEA/TEPSAC-recognized
Tuition (2026-27, confirmed on rrca-tx.org): PreK4 $9,500 · Elementary K–5 $11,025 · Secondary 6–12 $12,475. Application fee $125; family tuition discounts for multiple children.

ESTEAM Academy

Ages 4–18 Learner-Driven Micro-School Non-TEA Accreditation

A very different animal from RRCA, and a genuine option for the right family. ESTEAM is an Acton Academy affiliate — a small, learner-driven micro-school (about 54 students total) built on self-paced, project-based, Socratic learning with mixed-age studios and no traditional grade levels. It suits families actively seeking self-directed, entrepreneurial education rather than a conventional classroom. Flexible 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-day programs are offered.

Address: 12 Lake Drive, Unit A, Round Rock, TX 78665
Accreditation: International Association of Learner-Driven Schools (the Acton network's own body) — not a TEA/TEPSAC-recognized accreditor. See the accreditation note below.
Tuition (2025-26, confirmed on esteamacademyrr.com): $13,700 (5-day full-time) down to $8,510 (2-day part-time); $500 enrollment fee.

Catholic Schools Near Round Rock

There is no Catholic day school inside Round Rock's city limits — St. William parish, in the heart of Round Rock, runs faith formation but not a full-time school. For Catholic education, Round Rock families head about 15 minutes west to a pair of neighboring schools on Neenah Avenue that together form a continuous PK3-through-12 pathway. Holy Family (PK3–8) counts St. William among its seven founding parishes, and its graduates feed directly into St. Dominic Savio next door for high school.

Holy Family Catholic School

PK3–8 Catholic · Diocese of Austin TEA-Recognized Accreditation ~15 min West

A regional Diocese of Austin school on a 20-acre NW Austin campus, serving roughly 650 students PK3 through 8th grade. It's tied directly to Round Rock: St. William parish in Round Rock is one of Holy Family's seven founding parishes, with priority enrollment for parish families. Curriculum is standards-aligned (TEKS) with daily faith formation.

Address: 9400 Neenah Avenue, Austin, TX 78717 (about 15 minutes west of Round Rock via RM 620 / SH-45)
Accreditation: Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED) — TEA-recognized
Tuition (2026-27, confirmed on holyfamilycs.org): $9,815 first child · $8,834 each sibling. Fees: $150 application, $500 new-student, $400 annual enrollment.

St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School

9–12 Catholic · Diocese of Austin TEA-Recognized Accreditation ~15 min West

The Diocese of Austin's college-prep high school for the northern metro, next door to Holy Family on Neenah Avenue. Opened in 2009, it serves roughly 420 students on a single college-preparatory track — every student graduates on the distinguished-diploma path — with 30-plus Pre-AP and AP courses. It's the natural high-school step for Holy Family graduates and Catholic families across Round Rock.

Address: 9300 Neenah Avenue, Austin, TX 78717 (adjacent to Holy Family; about 15 minutes west of Round Rock)
Accreditation: Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED) + Cognia — both TEA-recognized
Tuition (2026-27, confirmed on saviochs.org): $15,464 first student · $13,917 each additional student. $550 non-refundable enrollment fee.

Other Options Within a Short Drive

A Lutheran college-prep high school sits about 15 minutes southeast in Pflugerville, and two smaller, specialized schools round out the nearby options.

Concordia High School

9–12 Lutheran (LCMS) Accredited (NLSA) ~15 min Southeast

The only Lutheran high school in the greater Austin area, in Pflugerville — a genuine "families will travel" option about 15 minutes southeast of downtown Round Rock (roughly 6.8 miles via I-35 / SH-45). Founded in 2002, Concordia is a Christian college-preparatory school with AP and dual-credit offerings and an in-house college-counseling team. Notably, its tuition held flat from 2025-26 to 2026-27.

Address: 1201 S Heatherwilde Blvd, Pflugerville, TX 78660 (about 15 minutes southeast of Round Rock)
Accreditation: National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA), plus TAPPS membership. NLSA is a recognized national accreditor.
Tuition (2026-27, confirmed on chsaustin.org): $14,495 (International $19,500). Registration total $650 ($150 application + $500 enrollment).

🎓 Smaller & Specialized Options Nearby

Two more Pflugerville schools serve narrower needs. Both are small and carry non-TEA-recognized accreditation, so families for whom transferable credits matter should confirm directly:

Stonehill Christian Academy (Pflugerville) — a small Seventh-day Adventist multigrade school serving PK3–8, roughly $6,100/year for grades 1–8. Best suited to families specifically seeking Adventist education.

Great Minds Learning Community (Pflugerville) — a small, part-time (Tuesday–Thursday) private micro-school for gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners in grades 5–12: bright students with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism. A specialized option typically combined with homeschooling rather than used as a full-time placement; contact the school for current tuition.

⚠️ A Correction Worth Knowing: Public Charters That Look Private

Round Rock school roundups routinely lump these in alongside private schools — they are not. Texas charter schools are tuition-free, open-enrollment public schools, publicly funded all the same. If you want a tuition-free, non-religious alternative to a private school in Round Rock, these are the options that actually exist here:

Meridian World School (K–12) — a tuition-free public International Baccalaureate (IB) charter in Round Rock, roughly 1,700 students
IDEA Round Rock Tech (K–12) — a tuition-free public STEM-focused charter

🎓 The Accreditation Question a Directory Won't Ask: Does the Diploma Transfer?

Not every private school accreditor carries the same weight in Texas. TEPSAC — the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission — is a confederation of approved accrediting agencies whose member schools' credits are guaranteed to transfer into Texas public schools and count toward top-10% auto-admission. A school accredited by a body outside that confederation may still offer an excellent education, but its diploma and credits may not automatically transfer the same way.

Of the schools above, Round Rock Christian Academy (ACSI + Cognia), Holy Family (TCCB ED), St. Dominic Savio (TCCB ED + Cognia), and Concordia (NLSA) all carry TEA-recognized accreditation. ESTEAM Academy (IALDS), Stonehill (Seventh-day Adventist association), and Great Minds (ICARE) carry accreditation outside that framework — not disqualifying for a young student, but worth a direct question on your tour if you have a high-schooler or anticipate one.

Matching a School to Your Family

If you're looking for...	Consider
An established PK-12 Christian college-prep school inside Round Rock	Round Rock Christian Academy
A self-directed, project-based micro-school in the city	ESTEAM Academy
A Catholic elementary/middle school with a parish community	Holy Family Catholic School (~15 min W)
A Catholic college-prep high school	St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (~15 min W)
A Lutheran college-prep high school	Concordia High School (~15 min SE)
A school for a gifted or twice-exceptional (2e) learner	Great Minds Learning Community (~Pflugerville)
A tuition-free, non-religious alternative	Meridian World School or IDEA (public charters)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many private schools are in Round Rock, TX?

Round Rock has one established, conventionally-accredited private school inside the city limits — Round Rock Christian Academy (PK4-12) — plus one small learner-driven micro-school, ESTEAM Academy. Most "10 best private schools in Round Rock" lists pad their numbers with preschools, daycares, and schools that are actually in Austin or Pflugerville. Several strong options, including Catholic and Lutheran schools, sit about 15 minutes away.

Is there a Catholic school in Round Rock?

There is no Catholic day school inside Round Rock's city limits; St. William parish in Round Rock runs faith formation but not a full-time school. Round Rock Catholic families typically drive about 15 minutes west to Holy Family Catholic School (PK3-8) and St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (9-12), two neighboring Diocese of Austin schools on Neenah Avenue that form a continuous PK-through-12 pathway. St. William is one of Holy Family's founding parishes.

How much does private school cost in Round Rock?

For 2026-27, Round Rock Christian Academy runs $9,500 to $12,475 depending on grade level. Nearby options range from about $9,815 at Holy Family Catholic School (PK3-8) to $14,495 at Concordia High School and $15,464 at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School. All figures are confirmed from each school's own website; families should verify current rates directly before enrolling.

Are there any secular (non-religious) private schools in Round Rock?

Round Rock's established private schools are faith-based. The non-religious options are ESTEAM Academy, a small learner-driven micro-school in the city, and two tuition-free public charter schools — Meridian World School (IB) and IDEA Round Rock Tech. There is no large secular independent private day school inside the city limits.

Do Round Rock private school credits transfer to public school?

It depends on the accreditor. Schools accredited by a TEPSAC-recognized agency — including Round Rock Christian Academy, Holy Family, St. Dominic Savio, and Concordia — have credits guaranteed to transfer into Texas public schools. Smaller schools such as ESTEAM, Stonehill, and Great Minds carry accreditation outside that framework, so confirm transferability directly, especially for high-school students.

Explore Round Rock Further

See the full picture of what living in Round Rock looks like — neighborhoods, market data, and community life.

Round Rock Community Guide Back to the Private Schools Guide

Texas Home Talk Editorial Team — Hyperlocal community and relocation coverage for Central Texas. This article was independently researched and verified against each school's own website; it is not sponsored by any school listed above. Sponsored placements are clearly labeled in the partner section only.

Private Schools in Round Rock, TX (2026-27)

This guide to private schools in Round Rock, TX covers every real option for the 2026-27 school year, verified from each school's own website. Round Rock has one established private school inside the city limits, Round Rock Christian Academy (PK4-12, nondenominational Christian, ACSI and Cognia accredited), plus a small learner-driven micro-school, ESTEAM Academy. For Catholic education, Round Rock families drive about 15 minutes west to Holy Family Catholic School (PK3-8) and St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (9-12), a continuous PK-through-12 pathway in the Diocese of Austin. Concordia High School, the area's only Lutheran high school, sits about 15 minutes southeast in Pflugerville. Smaller specialized options include Stonehill Christian Academy and Great Minds Learning Community for gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Tuition-free public charter alternatives include Meridian World School and IDEA Round Rock Tech.

Learn more in our Private Schools in Central Texas guide, explore the Round Rock community guide, or compare options in nearby private schools in Georgetown.