2026-2027
High School Profile CEEB Code: 440354
Ted Graf, Head of School headofschool@headwaters.org Stephanie Roach, Middle & High School Director s.roach@headwaters.org
TEPSAC Code: 227-133-001
Lisa Dubuque Wood, Director of College Counseling l.dubuque@headwaters.org
801 Rio Grande
Robin Scott, Registrar registrar@headwaters.org
Austin, TX 78701 Phone: 512-480-8142 Fax: 512-480-0278
Jen Masterson, IBDP Coordinator j.masterson@headwaters.org Rosa Chapa, Senior Director of Enrollment Management r.chapa@headwaters.org
Founded in 2001, Headwaters School is an independent school in Austin, Texas serving students from early childhood through grade 12. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, and dually accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (since 2020) and the Texas Association of Accredited Private Schools (since 2007). At Headwaters High School, students learn to know themselves deeply and grow their personal agency and voice to have a positive impact on the world.
Our Purpose
We cultivate identity formation, foster empathy, and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world.
Our Promise
We guide our students to live authentically, think expansively, and create bravely.
headwaters.org
Our Pact
We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be:
Peacemakers. As we learn to resolve conflicts, we demonstrate compassion, grace, skill, and courage. We take responsibility for our actions. Advocates. We strive to understand and value diverse perspectives, cultures,
and faiths. We recognize our agency and act with integrity in pursuit of a more just and equitable society.
Creators. Curiosity, wonder, and the creative process are essential to a fulfilling life. We discover ourselves and our voices by taking intellectual and artistic risks.
Thinkers. As self-directed learners, we approach education with intention. We use observation, research, and reason to explore problems that matter to us, our community, and the world.
Montessori Foundation, International Baccalaureate® Continuum At Headwaters School, students progress through an intentional academic journey rooted in Montessori principles and strengthened by the International Baccalaureate® (IB). Beginning in grade 6, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) builds on this foundation through inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, real-world connections, and the development of critical thinking, research, communication, and self-management skills. This progression prepares students for the academically challenging IB Diploma Programme (DP) in grades 11 and 12 and for success at university and beyond. Headwaters does not set GPA minimums or require prior honors courses for participation in the Diploma Programme. Students may pursue the full IB Diploma or participate as individual course candidates.
Partnering with Pamoja
High School Course Offerings
Our students are passionate learners who often seek opportunities to deepen their academic interests beyond our on-campus curriculum. To support this drive, we partner with Pamoja to offer a select group of IB courses not currently in our catalog—ensuring students remain on track within the International Baccalaureate Programme while pursuing subjects of personal interest.
English
Social Studies
Natural Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Mathematics
Academic Electives
Through this strategic partnership, Headwaters students may access: • IB French and Spanish ab initio • IB Business Management HL/SL • IB Philosophy SL • IB Digital Society HL/SL • IB Economics HL/SL • IB Psychology HL/SL
Headwaters by the Numbers
• World Geography & Economics • US History & Government • IB History SL/HL
• English 9 • English 10 • IB Language & Literature SL/HL
• Film • Jazz Band • Photography & Imagemaking • Studio Art • IB Visual Arts: Studio SL/HL • IB Visual Arts: Photography SL/HL • IB Film SL/HL
• Biology • Chemistry • IB Computer Science SL/HL • IB Design Technology SL* • IB Environmental Systems & Societies SL* • IB Physics SL/HL
• Geometry • Algebra II • Pre-Calculus • Introductory Statistics • IB Math Applications SL • IB Mathematics Analysis HL
• Global Peace & Conflict Studies • Engineer Your World (in partnership with UT Austin) • Music • SmartLab • Social Justice • Yearbook • Wellness & Life Skills
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO GUIDE RATIO
13:1 Our small class sizes foster meaningful relationships, personalized support, and deeper engagement in every subject. HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE
25+
Hours per year for 9th and 10th Grade
25+
CAS Hours per year for 11th and 12th Grade
NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS
20
Student-Led Clubs
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
5
Sports Offered per Year
FACULTY AND STAFF
44 Faculty and Staff Members 16 Average years of faculty and staff experience 70 Percentage of high school faculty with advanced degrees
13
TUITION ASSISTANCE 13% of our high school student body receives tuition assistance
World Languages
• Spanish III, IV, V • IB Spanish SL/HL • Mandarin I & II • IB Mandarin ab initio SL
Headwaters Core
• College Planning • IB Theory of Knowledge • IB CAS: Creativity, Activity, Service All IB courses are 2 years unless denoted by an asterisk.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PLAN Headwaters High School students are expected to maintain seven courses each semester, earning seven credits each year. A student may be able to graduate with 26 credits; however, 28 credits represent the most rigorous curriculum. To achieve an IB Diploma, the following is required over junior and senior years: • Complete three IB courses designated as “higher level” (HL) • Complete three IB courses designated as “standard level” (SL) Headwaters requires that students take three HL courses in 11th grade to provide them with exposure to the curriculum before deciding whether to add a fourth HL course in their senior year. This guideline ensures that students comprehend the workload expected of them and can opt for a course that aligns best with their schedule and aspirations while keeping their balanced well-being in mind. Enrolling in four HL courses signifies the most challenging academic schedule permitted for Headwaters students.
Headwaters Culture Our community culture is rooted in connection—within ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us. The Forward: An annual retreat to the Texas Hill Country where middle and high school students and staff connect across grades through play, conversation, and shared experiences, many led and planned by students. We consider it to be an important part of the Headwaters curriculum. Pitso: Pitso is a Sesotho word (a dialect from Southern Africa) meaning “meeting of the people.” Pitsos are assemblies held weekly and run by students. Advisory: Each student in our middle and high school is a member of an advisory group with 12-16 other students, led by a faculty member. Much more than a homeroom, Advisory creates a small-scale support structure for academic and personal success. Student-Led Conferences: Students reflect on their academic and social progress in collaboration with their advisor and parents. Centering and Mindfullness: Classes at Headwaters School begin with centering, an intentional practice that allows students to pause, build self-awareness, and prepare for learning. Centering can take different forms depending on the class, including a few minutes of intentional silence. Classes close with time to debrief and reflect on the learning and experience.
Beyond the Classroom Outdoor Leadership: This program builds leadership, environmental awareness, and technical skills through backcountry expeditions and training modeled on NOLS. Students also earn Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, preparing them to lead safely in the outdoors. Service Learning: Students are required to complete 25 service hours each year. Our commitment to giving back is evident in our diverse range of service projects. From raising funds for sewing machines for Syrian refugees to organizing blood drives, students are actively involved in making a positive impact on their community and beyond. Athletics: Students can participate in an after-school sports program. Teams compete in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League. We offer cross country, flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Students earn a P.E. credit by participating in athletics or independently tracking 65 hours over a two-year period in 9th and 10th grades. Senior Colloquium: A capstone of the Headwaters High School experience, Senior Colloquium showcases students' Extended Essay research—an essential component of the IB Diploma Programme. This annual event celebrates the depth, originality, and scholarly growth of our seniors as they present their work to peers, faculty, and the wider community. International Trips: Rooted in our IB values of global-mindedness and intercultural understanding, our international trips help students expand their worldviews. Through travel to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Croatia, Italy, and Taiwan, students build empathy, independence, and real-world perspective—deepening their academic work and personal growth beyond the classroom. Project Week: Each spring, students step away from their regular class schedule for a week of self-directed, project-based learning. They pursue a question, challenge, or idea of their choice, with past projects ranging from creating a micronation to measuring trees across Austin. The week culminates with students presenting their work and discoveries to the Headwaters community.
Why “Guides” At Headwaters School, we call our educators Guides, a term rooted in our Montessori foundation and the practice of “following the child.” From our earliest classrooms through high school, we believe students are active participants in their education. Guides bring expertise, structure, resources, and encouragement while observing each student’s interests, strengths, and needs. In high school, this relationship supports increasing independence and agency, helping students navigate challenges, deepen their thinking, and pursue their curiosity, voice, and purpose.
City As Classroom Located in the heart of downtown Austin, our River Campus connects students in grades 6–12 with the civic, cultural, and natural life of the city. Just steps from the State Capitol, The University of Texas, libraries, museums, and parks, our students use the city itself as an extension of the classroom. Through our City as Classroom approach, students gain real-world experience by navigating public transportation, collaborating with local organizations, and engaging in authentic learning beyond campus and even state of Texas. C-Days, Project Week, and international travel offer space to explore passions, build independence, and deepen connections between academic work and the world around them.
Growing Headwaters Through Student Leadership Community Leaders Students collaborate with our administration in the development of the school and its culture. Admissions Council The Admissions Council supports our admissions team by welcoming prospective students to campus and helping guide the shadow day experience. Members of the council serve as hosts for the day, and the prospective student attends all of their ambassador's classes to get a full day in the life experience. Merit Council Students support the community through peer mediation and honor other community members who embody the PACT. National Honor Society Students with a 3.5 GPA or higher take on service projects that connect our school to the wider Austin community and beyond, including planning our campus-wide Day of Service. Multicultiral Union Led by students, this group is dedicated to amplifying the voices of students of color, partnering with the administration on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) practices, and raising awareness of race and culture issues on campus. Student-Led Clubs Our high school students are encouraged to initiate and participate in student-led clubs, including Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Peer Assistance Leadership and Service (PALS), Yearbook Club, Gender/Sexuality Alliance, Merit Council, Chess Club, Car Club, and Student Advocacy Group.
Your Journey, Your Map: Life Beyond Headwaters Graduates from the Classes of 2022 through 2026 have matriculated to the following colleges and universities.
American University
Goucher College
Syracuse University
University of Toronto - Canada
Austin Community College
Hult International Business School
Texas A&M University
University of Vermont
Bennington College
Indiana University Bloomington
• Engineering Honors
Bryn Mawr College
Lawrence University
Texas State University
University of Washington at Seattle
Carleton College
Lewis & Clark College
Trinity University
University of Waterloo - Canada
Carnegie Mellon University
Loyola Marymount University
Tufts University
Vassar College
Champlain College
Macalester College
University College Dublin
Vilnius University - Lithuania
Chapman University
New York University
University of Arkansas
Washington University in St. Louis
Colgate University
Northeastern University
University of California at Irvine
Wesleyan University
College for International Studies - Spain
Oregon State University
University of California at Santa Barbara
Whitman College
Colorado College
Pace University
University of California at Santa Diego
Woodbury University
Colorado School of Mines
Prescott College
University of Colorado at Boulder
Colorado State University
Rice University
University of Delaware
Columbia College Chicago
Rochester Institute of Technology
University of Denver
Connecticut College
Savannah College of Art & Design
University of Oregon
DePaul University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
University of Texas at Austin
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Smith College
Emory University
Southwestern University
George Washington University
Springfield College
Gonzaga University
St. Edward’s University
By the Numbers: Headwaters Alumni CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2026
19/20 Students Applied $4.7M Scholarship offers and acceptances 62 Unique Colleges and Universities 20 States and the United Kingdom Academic Programs within the 96 Distinct following categories: • • • • •
Engineering, Aviation, & Mathematics Business, Finance, & Economics Arts, Film, & Media Humanities & Social Sciences Undeclared & Exploratory
• Plan II Honors • Liberal Arts Honors • Polymathic Scholars
University of Victoria - Canada
Discover the next chapter for Headwaters alumni—scan the QR code at the bottom of this page to explore the map of all historical acceptances and matriculations.
College Planning At Headwaters School, we believe every student’s path is unique and worth celebrating. Our college counseling program is rooted in that belief, offering individualized guidance that honors each student’s academic, personal, and post-graduation goals. Whether a student is heading to a four-year university, community college, taking a gap year, or starting their career, we support them and their families in navigating the process with clarity and care. Through one-on-one and small group meetings, family engagement, college representative visits, and values-driven conversations, we help students explore their next steps through the lens of academic and social fit, as well as practical factors like cost, location, and opportunity. College planning is more than a checklist, it’s a journey of self-discovery. Headwaters students are intellectually curious, creatively driven, and socially aware. They bring a wide range of academic strengths and personal passions to the college search, often looking for schools that match their interdisciplinary interests and values. From engineering and business to film, philosophy, political science, art & design, our graduates pursue paths that blend purpose with possibility.
SAT & ACT SUMMARY RESULTS 2021-2025 We include all scores from in our summary, including international students as well as students with learning differences.
Exam
Headwaters
Texas
Nation
SAT Composite ACT Composite
1148-1410 23-32
828-1116
862-1196 15-23
Not Available
Your Story Starts Here From first steps to final decisions—discover how Headwaters prepares students for what’s next. Scan here or visit headwaters.org/collegeplanning