Best Place to Be Yourself in School

The Griffin School

The moment you enter the one corridor that makes up Austin's Griffin School, you sense something different. OK, "different" is obvious: Hair colors abound; the fashion sense would fit any Bowie, Sonic Youth, OutKast, or Yeah Yeah Yeah's video and music that you probably won't hear on your local commercial radio station blares as the between-class bell. But the Griffin School's uniqueness is about so much more than all that. The modest little school that sits atop the hill of the Sri Atmananda complex is a student-led community. Outside, students have constructed a garden; pink picnic tables dot the sloping lawn and add to the laid-back atmosphere. Inside, walls are covered with the students' own art, creating an environment conducive to expanding horizons. Students here take responsibility for the character of their culture, an inclusive community for anyone of any background. There is no dress code (though students are encouraged to use good taste) and communication is key. To illustrate the school's unique flavor, Griffin students participate in reoccurring dress-up days like Pirate Day and Glam or Goth Day so everyone can have fun and express themselves in the safe, nurturing environment and try to outdo their own everyday wear.

Griffin School
5001 Evans, 512/454-5797
www.griffinschool.org