A new private school tucked behind a Central Texas wedding venue is betting that less classroom time makes for better-educated kids. Trellis Academy, a non-denominational Christian school serving grades pre-K through 4th, opened in Bee Cave in August and runs its core academic day from just 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The school occupies three small schoolhouses at the back of Star Hill Ranch, a historic Central Texas town recreation and wedding venue at 15000 Hamilton Pool Road, according to Trellis Academy. As reported by Community Impact, the school began serving its first cohort of students in Bee Cave this fall, focusing on small class sizes and small group learning.
An Engineer's Approach to the School Day
Head of School Courtney Murdoch, who has a background in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University and has lived in the Austin area for 13 years, told the outlet that children have too many activities, too much testing, and too much sitting still and waiting in line, and said she wanted school to be more efficient.
Murdoch said she wants students to have more time for child-led critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity, according to the same report. The school's website notes that excessive sitting and line-waiting were key reasons for creating the model in the first place.
Trellis Academy currently maintains an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and plans to add grades each year, with Murdoch envisioning the school eventually serving students through sixth grade. Beyond the abbreviated core day, the school offers afternoon enrichment courses — including Spanish, art, hands-on science through a program called WonderLab, and Bible stories — that are open to both enrolled students and non-enrolled local homeschool families, per Community Impact.
State Voucher Dollars Fuel the Model
Trellis Academy is an approved vendor under the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, meaning participating families can seek state reimbursement for eligible educational and enrichment expenses, the outlet notes.
Trellis Academy's arrival adds another schooling option west of Austin. The school's presence lands inside a corridor where public and private education planning are occurring.
A Historic Setting With Deep Roots
The schoolhouses Trellis now occupies sit within a property that includes relocated historic buildings, according to the outlet.
Star Hill Ranch sits along the Hamilton Pool Road corridor in Bee Cave, according to the same publication.
Public Schools Adjust Nearby
Just down the same road, public district Lake Travis ISD owns land designated for a future elementary school, known as Elementary School #8, designed to serve up to 850 students — though construction has been delayed while officials monitor shifting area enrollment trends, according to Lake Travis Independent School District. In January 2026, the district approved a selective interdistrict transfer policy across seven campuses, including Bee Cave Middle School, citing school choice options and shifting enrollment patterns as central factors, with availability strictly limited based on campus capacity, Community Impact reported.
