Buda and Kyle
Hays CISD covers both cities and had the fourth-most funded students of any district in the five counties. Santa Cruz Catholic School and Ladybird Montessori in Buda are in the finder.
San Marcos
San Marcos Baptist Academy, Hill Country Christian School of San Marcos, Wonderland School and Advent Ridge Academy are TEFA schools. San Marcos CISD families held 165 funded accounts.
Dripping Springs and Wimberley
Acton Academy Dripping Springs, Appamada School and Waypoint Academy serve the US 290 side. St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Wimberley is in the finder, and Dripping Springs ISD families held 139 accounts.
Bastrop County
Good Shepherd Lutheran School and Calvary Episcopal in Bastrop are TEFA schools, and Bastrop ISD families held 188 funded accounts. Smaller church academies in Smithville, Paige and Rosanky appear only in the federal survey.
Lockhart and Caldwell County
Clear Leadership Academy in Lockhart is in the finder, and Lockhart ISD families held 82 accounts. Child care scholarships for Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell families run through Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area.
Schools in Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties (28)
| School | Type | Community | Grades | TEFA | Students* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advent Ridge Academy 1523 Old Ranch Rd 12, San Marcos 78666 | Independent & Secular Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-10 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Clear Leadership Academy 313 W San Antonio St, Lockhart 78644 | Independent & Secular Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Godfrey Learning Academy 20075 San Marcos Hwy, San Marcos 78666 | Independent & Secular Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Hill Country Christian School of San Marcos 1401 Davis Ln, San Marcos 78666 | Christian Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | 211 |
| Ladybird Montessori School 2050 Cole Springs Rd, Buda 78610 | Independent & Secular Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-9 | ✓ TEFA | 73 |
| Lockhart Montessori School 610 Westwood Rd, Lockhart 78644 | Independent & Secular Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-3 | Not listed | 25 |
| San Marcos Baptist Academy 2801 Ranch Rd 12, San Marcos 78666 | Christian Schools Baptist | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | 318 |
| Santa Cruz Catholic School 1100 Main St, Buda 78610 | Catholic Schools | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-8 | ✓ TEFA | 203 |
| Seventh Adventist Jr Academy 1523 Old Ranch Rd 12, San Marcos 78666 | Christian Schools Seventh-day Adventist | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-10 | Not listed | 47 |
| Southwest Texas High School 2800 Hwy Airport Blvd, San Marcos 78666 | Independent & Secular Schools Islamic | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | 8-12 | Not listed | 101 |
| The Gospel Lighthouse Christian Academy 1502 Sunrise Ter, Lockhart 78644 | Christian Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | 12 | Not listed | 6 |
| Wonderland School 302 Country Estates Dr, San Marcos 78666 | Christian Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart | PK-5 | ✓ TEFA | 44 |
| Acton Academy Dripping Springs 1000 Hays Country Acres Rd, Dripping Springs 78620 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| AESA Prep Academy 13730 W Hwy 290, Austin 78737 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | K-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| AESA Prep International 14101 Canonade Dr, Austin 78737 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | 6-12 | ✓ TEFA | 150 |
| Appamada School 26450 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs 78620 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | K-12 | ✓ TEFA | 71 |
| Austin Waldorf School 8700 S View Rd, Austin 78737 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | 331 |
| New Leaf Academy 9604 Ranch To Market Rd, Austin 78737 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | K-12 | ✓ TEFA | 5 |
| School on the Rise 11797 Rim Rock Trl, Austin 78737 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | 1-3 | Not listed | 10 |
| St. Stephen's Episcopal School Wimberley 6000 FM 3237, Wimberley 78676 | Christian Schools Episcopal | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | PK-8 | ✓ TEFA | 119 |
| Waypoint Academy 24905 Ranch Rd 12, Dripping Springs 78620 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Wimberley Montessori 45 la Buena Vista Dr., Wimberley 78676 | Independent & Secular Schools | Dripping Springs, Driftwood & Wimberley | PK-6 | Not listed | 35 |
| Calvary Episcopal Bastrop PO Box 626, Bastrop 78602 | Christian Schools Episcopal | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | PK-8 | ✓ TEFA | 108 |
| FBC Sonshine Academy 301 Hudgins St., Smithville 78957 | Christian Schools Baptist | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | PK-3 | Not listed | 21 |
| Good Shepherd Lutheran School 202 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop 78602 | Christian Schools Lutheran (ELCA) | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | 62 |
| Nova Academy Bastrop 303 Martin Luther King Junior Dr, Bastrop 78602 | Independent & Secular Schools | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Rosanky Christian Academy 2160 FM 535, Rosanky 78953 | Christian Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | K-12 | Not listed | 57 |
| TNT Academy 3775 Hwy 290 E, Paige 78659 | Christian Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville & Paige | PK-11 | Not listed | 58 |
* K-12 enrollment reported to the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24 or 2021-22). "Not listed" means the school wasn't in the state TEFA finder when we checked on October 12, 2026.
Next step
Start the short funding check. An advisor will walk you through each source you qualify for and the deadlines that matter for your child.