Who We Are
At Bright Star Academy, we know you are not simply looking for a school. You are looking for a place where your child will feel safe, deeply loved, and genuinely understood during some of the most important years of their life. Our private early learning school in Cedar Park, Texas, welcomes your little one from six weeks through five years of age into warm, nurturing, fun, and supportive environment classrooms where caring educators help your child feel confident, capable, and excited to learn each day. Families often tell us they can feel the difference the moment they walk through our doors, because every interaction, every classroom, and every moment is intentionally designed to help your child feel seen, supported, and valued. As our School Leader, Kelli Claudio, shares, "Being part of early education in America means helping shape the foundation that everything else is built on, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too," and this belief guides everything we do for your family and your little one.
Parent Reviews
Reuben R.
July 22, 2025
Bright Star is a loving environment where the kids really learn. I’ve had three kids go through four different preschools and I can confidently say that Bright Star is the one that has most prepared my child for kindergarten.
Steven C.
June 20, 2025
The staff is very friendly, and our kids love this school!
Courtney K.
June 10, 2025
I love the care and attention shown to our daughter.
Nathaly C.
March 18, 2025
Excellent
Our Story
Bright Star Academy was created with a simple but deeply meaningful belief that your child deserves more than just a place to spend the day. From the very beginning, our school was designed to be warm, safe, joyful, and full of possibilities so your little one can grow academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment where they truly feel loved. Families often come to us carrying big questions in their hearts. Will my child feel safe here? Will they make friends? Will they be ready for kindergarten in a play-based program? We understand those worries because we believe these early years help shape the foundation for everything that comes next in your child's life.
That is why our approach combines purposeful play with learning experiences carefully designed around how young children learn best. Rather than separating play from academics, our teachers thoughtfully build literacy, math, science, creativity, and problem-solving skills into hands-on daily experiences that feel exciting and engaging for your little one. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, play helps children build executive functioning skills like focus, memory, self-control, and problem-solving, which are essential for long-term success both inside and outside the classroom. When families walk into our classrooms, they quickly begin to see the structure, learning, and meaningful growth happening within every activity.
What truly makes Bright Star Academy special, though, is the feeling families experience when they become part of our community. Kelli Claudio, our School Leader with 25 years of experience in early childhood education, shares, "To me, being part of early education means helping shape the foundation that everything else is built on, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too." She also describes Bright Star Academy as a place that feels like family, and that sense of connection can be felt throughout our entire school. Relationships are built through consistency, trust, and genuine care so your child knows they are safe, valued, and deeply supported each day they walk through our doors.
As part of the Endeavor Schools family, Bright Star Academy offers your family the warmth and close-knit feel of a local school while also benefiting from the strength of a nationally recognized education network committed to excellence in early childhood learning. This partnership allows us to provide ongoing educator training, research-based curriculum support, enhanced safety practices, and innovative learning opportunities that continue helping our school grow and evolve.
Our mission is to provide your child with the highest-caliber early education and care in a safe, joyful environment where they can grow into a confident, curious, and capable learner. We are guided by four core values that shape every decision we make: Respect, Ownership, Humility, and Growth. These values influence how our teachers welcome your little one each morning, how our leaders support our team, and how we build lasting trust with your family.
We want every family who walks into Bright Star Academy to feel that their child is safe, loved, and excited about what the day will bring. When your little one knows they are valued for who they are, not just what they can do, they begin to take healthy risks, form strong friendships, and build the kind of confidence that carries them far beyond their early years. Our vision is a school where joy and learning go hand in hand, and where your family always feels welcomed as part of something special.
Our research-based curriculum, with play-based learning at its core, is rooted in a student-centered approach that focuses on how your child learns, not just what they learn. Each day, your little one moves through hands-on experiences that build early literacy, math, science, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills. Lessons begin with concrete, tactile activities and gently progress toward more abstract thinking, giving your child a strong foundation for kindergarten and well beyond. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, your child is better prepared for kindergarten and develops stronger language, reading, writing, and math skills when they attend a high-quality early education program.
What Makes Our Private School Different?
Many families in Cedar Park come to us looking for more than academics. You want peace of mind, the kind that comes from knowing your child will be safe, loved, and genuinely known by the people caring for them each day. At Bright Star Academy, that feeling begins the moment you pull into our parking lot.Many families come to us after feeling uncertain about other childcare or daycare options. You are looking for a community that offers more than supervision and for a place where your child will be engaged, supported, and truly understood.
Step inside our 17,000-square-foot campus at 801 North Vista Ridge Blvd, and you will sense the difference right away. Hand-painted murals, custom-printed carpet, and bright, inviting classrooms create a space that feels magical the moment your child arrives.
Our commitment to thoughtful design extends to caring for the planet, too. The campus is built to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly, with natural light flowing through every space, touchless faucets and dispensers, eco-friendly cleaners, an organic garden, and a playground made from recycled structural plastic. Your child grows up surrounded by everyday lessons in conservation and care for the world around them.
What truly sets us apart is how we approach learning. Our play-based curriculum is intentionally structured so that it is also purposeful learning, never just free time. As Kelli explains, "Instead of separating play and academics, our teachers design environments where your child naturally builds early literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills through hands-on exploration." Throughout the day, your little one moves between our muscle room, theater room, art and science room, and splash pad, with each space designed to spark curiosity and joy.
Early Childhood Leadership & Staff
Kelli Claudio
School Leader, Bright Star Academy
With 25 years of experience in early childhood education, Kelli leads our Bright Star Academy team with warmth, vision, and a deep love for the families we serve. She believes leadership is about creating the conditions where teachers, families, and little ones can all flourish. Her favorite part of leading at Bright Star Academy is the family-like feel of our community, something every visitor notices the moment they step inside.
Achievements & Accreditations
At Bright Star Academy, your child's safety, well-being, and growth are always at the heart of everything we do. All of our teachers are CPR and First Aid certified, giving families peace of mind knowing their children are cared for by prepared, attentive professionals every single day. We are proudly recognized by Texas Rising Star and Eco-Healthy Child Care, reflecting our deep commitment to exceptional education, health-focused practices, and quality care for children and families in Cedar Park, Texas.
"Our core values of Respect, Ownership, Humility, and Growth shape everything we do at Bright Star Academy. They guide how we care for your child, how we welcome your family, and how we help your little one reach their full potential."
- Kelli Claudio, School Leader, Bright Star Academy
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal, to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.