​
​

A letter from Barbara Garza, founder, CEO, Executive Head of School
August 5, 2026
​
Greetings Prospective AESA Families and Friends,
​
Welcome to AESA Prep Academy, a pre K-12 school where academic excellence, individual opportunity, and a healthy, balanced lifestyle come together to create a truly unique educational experience!!! A lot of schools will say this but we have the credentials to back it up!!! Read on:)))
​
AESA Prep Academy and the AESA International School System have earned an extraordinary Cognia Index of Education Quality score of 393 out of 400, placing AESA among the highest-rated school systems in the world!!! You can also see our score on the Cognia website. This near-perfect score distinguishes AESA as a Cognia School of Distinction and reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, powerful learning, exceptional leadership, and a thriving student-centered culture. Cognia evaluates more than 40,000 public and private schools across over 100 countries, and while the global average IEQ score ranges from approximately 278 to 283, AESA’s remarkable score of 393 places our entire school system within the highest echelon of schools worldwide!!!
​
Check out on our website where our students have been accepted to colleges and universities. Also take the time to look at our Institutes and Career Pathways. We are not your ordinary school by any means:)))
​
A couple of months ago, we were featured at Times Square!!! You never realize what a big deal in is to your school’s community, until it happens:))) This was possible due to the entire AESA Community:)))
​

Athletics have been a main stay at AESA, since day one… AESA stands for Academic Excellence for Entrepreneurs, Scholars, Athletes, and Artists. I created this school to provide an elite education that is flexible, innovative, and small enough to recognize the individual needs, talents, and goals of every student…meeting students across the board where they are at. Our athletes initially were very high level equestrian Hunter Jumpers, tennis, golf, with some one offs like rodeo. We have progressed into team sports and please take the time to read this aspect of the website as well.
​
At AESA, you are never just a number!!! Every student is known, valued, supported, and encouraged by the teachers and adults throughout our campus. With an average student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 7:1, our highly experienced faculty members are able to truly understand each student’s strengths, challenges, interests, and goals.
​
Our students receive world-class academics based on national standards, the SAT, and the ACT. Our flexible master schedule supports students pursuing advanced academics, athletics, fine arts, travel, and other extracurricular passions. Qualified juniors and seniors are also encouraged to take dual-credit courses through UT and UC Berkeley, allowing them to experience authentic college-level academics while earning both high school and university credit. We have a large number of Presidential Scholarships, and students accepted into high level honors programs like UC Berkeley's Honors Computer Science programs, to smaller schools like Trinity University, We have a large number of National Merit Scholars, National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition as well. Our smaller classes, Student Success Center, and our Student Support Program allow much of our students’ work to be completed during the school day. This reduces the traditional homework burden and allows students to enjoy adequate sleep, family dinners, friendships, athletics, fine arts, travel, and other meaningful life experiences. At AESA, students do not have to choose between academic excellence and a balanced life. We believe they deserve both!!!
​
Our innovative AESA Institutes connect academic learning with real-world experience in areas such as entrepreneurship, computer science, technology, business, culinary arts, medicine, and veterinary careers. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, internships, guest speakers, collaborative learning, and our AESA TALKS series, students are encouraged to explore their interests, discover their strengths, and begin preparing for their future careers.
​
AESA attracts high-achieving scholars, athletes, artists, performers, entrepreneurs, and students who simply thrive in a smaller and more personalized school environment. Our flexible educational model allows families to step outside of the traditional path and create a school experience that better supports the academic, personal, and extracurricular needs of their children and families.
​
At AESA, family travel is not frowned upon. AESA embraces the fact that travel is also one of the best ways to learn, therefore we are able to meet the needs of the entire family for those who do like to travel. Here at AESA, we are a team!!! We lift one another up whenever and wherever it is needed. Respect for different cultures, viewpoints, experiences, and opinions is fundamental to positive communication among our students, families, faculty, and staff. Together, we will continue AESA’s legacy as one of the most innovative and cutting-edge private college preparatory schools in the nation!!!
​
AESA also makes a long-term commitment to our graduates. Families may request financial assistance for qualifying academic, athletic, or fine arts endeavors for up to six years following graduation. Our students remain part of the AESA family long after they leave our campus.
​
As a former Dean of Students at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, a former public-school teacher and administrator, and the founder of AESA Prep Academy, I have witnessed firsthand how education is changing and how greatly it needs to change. AESA was ahead of its time when it was founded, and our students continue to prove that this revolutionary educational model works!!!
​
We want our students to become tomorrows leaders, confidently pursue their passions, reach their highest levels of learning, and develop the skills needed to accomplish their life goals. We are honored that you have chosen to be part of our educational adventure, and we invite you to become part of the AESA team!!!
​
My door is always open, and I am truly honored to serve as your Founder, CEO, and Executive Head of School.
​
Go AESA Aussies!!!
​
Cheers,
​
Barbara
