Pillow Elementary School in Austin | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	2/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) data from Texas Education Agency.
Student Growth	3/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Percentage of students meeting growth target data from Texas Education Agency.

Posted: November 6, 2025

I honestly expected so much better from this school. They dont even have crossing guards every day only on certain days which makes it unsafe for our kids to walk to and from school. It feels like the staff doesnt truly care about the childrens education or well-being. As a parent, Ive had to constantly stay on them just to make sure my child is getting the attention and support he deserves.

Communication is absolutely terrible. Ive waited days just to get a simple call back, and right now Im still waiting to hear from the front office about whether my son left any of his personal items behind. Its like no one really knows whats going on or wants to take responsibility.

Whats even more upsetting is that it truly feels like if youre not of Hispanic background, your child wont get the same level of attention or care. Thats heartbreaking and unfair. Every child should be treated equally and made to feel seen, valued, and supported not ignored unless a parent constantly speaks up.

Im extremely disappointed and wouldnt recommend this school to any parent who wants consistent communication, fairness, and a safe, caring environment for their child.

Posted: November 6, 2025

Posted: April 30, 2025

Weve had an outstanding experience at Dorinda Pillow Elementary. When we were looking for a school, we prioritized diversity, a small and welcoming community, experienced staff, and a strong dual language Spanish program. After touring a few campuses and speaking with Ms. Perez, we knew Pillow was the right fit.

Our daughter started kindergarten speaking only English. Her early MAP scores (taken in Spanish) were low in the red zone but she made remarkable progress. By mid-year she was in the green, and by the end of the year she was solidly in the blue, exceeding expectations. Now in first grade, shes almost fluent even sleep-talking in Spanish! Her MAP scores remain high, and shes participating in the AISD GT program. Most importantly, shes thriving socially with a strong group of friends across grades.

Pillow has been a place where our child is not just educated, but truly known and supported. The teachers and staff are warm, dedicated, and have created a nurturing environment. We've found a genuine, engaged community that feels like an extension of our family.

Were aware of the recent TEA rating drop tied to the 20222023 STAAR test scores. While some may be concerned, our family places little weight on STAAR scores. They dont reflect the richness of the curriculum or the real growth happening every day at Pillow, especially in a dual language setting.

The only reason our younger child isnt enrolled yet is that Pillow currently only offers half-day Pre-K otherwise, both of our kids would be there.

In short, Pillow Elementary has far exceeded our expectations. Our daughter is happy, confident, academically strong, and bilingual everything we hoped for. We wholeheartedly recommend this school to other families seeking a nurturing, inclusive, and academically enriching environment.

Posted: April 30, 2025

Posted: April 25, 2025

I am the parent of a 2nd grader and we've had an exceptional school year. He has made so much progress this year with the help of his teacher, counselor and principal support. Instead of punishing his unique characteristics, they have found ways to provide a supportive learning environment that plays to his strengths. I would recommend Pillow ES to any parent considering or preparing for enrollment.

Posted: April 25, 2025

Pillow Elementary has been a great place for our kids. The staff have been very understanding and kind, and the community here is excellent. They regularly have events and the kids love it. It's a very kind a supportive environment, and my son is learning so much. Very thankful we landed here!

Posted: April 25, 2025

Posted: April 1, 2025

I'd like to support the positive reviews that were left recently regarding Pillow and remind people reading these reviews, that people who might have an issue with this school tend to use their anonymity to vent if they had an incident with the school. Don't let a person's negativity keep you from learning about this adorable school. So then...let me tell you what I know and why you should come to Pillow and see things for yourself. It's a vintage school...quaint and charming...built to a scale to educate young children...and nestled in a lovely, safe neighborhood with wonderful community members, a community and student garden, dogs being walked all around the neighborhood and students staying after school to play on the playgrounds. The teachers and The Principal are hard, hard, hard working folks and they are super committed to their students. We have so many different languages spoken here...a testament to the school's diversity, cultural acceptance and inclusivity. In a time where the world is polarized and often times unkind, Pillow is a place where children feel nurtured, seen and supported. While some of the information on the Great Schools website is incorrect and outdated regarding Pillow, people should know that we support children of all abilities through our amazing SPED programs, Communities in Schools, Musical Performances, Multicultural Events, Book Fairs twice a year, Academy 4 for Leadership opportunities for our 4th Graders, Camp Champions for our 5th Graders (and a beautiful Graduation for the 5th graders too) not to mention a Thanksgiving Lunch where hundreds and hundreds of people come and celebrate the season. Do yourself a favor...stop by, take a tour and get to know the school with the cutest name ever...Pillow Elementary School!

Posted: April 1, 2025

Posted: March 27, 2025

From a parental perspective I have nothing, but good things to say about Pillow Elementary. They have such a great team/staff that words, will not do them justice. Shout out to the incredible principal Ms. De La Torre, for always going above and beyond for the students! My oldest child attended this school, and she loved it. My youngest daughter also started attending Pillow, and she mentions all the great things that she is doing. As parents we want what is best for our children. My wife and I are very happy with the decision of sending our children to this incredible school. I recommend this school to anyone who wants their children to get an amazing education. They work hard to ensure the safety of our children as well. I feel confident that when I am at work my child is safe. The Pillow staff is amazing, and do everything in their power to help our kids. Pillow prepares the kids for life in, and out of school. They teach integrity, discipline, trust, respect, and so much more. Pillow is the place for your children.

Posted: March 27, 2025

Pillow is a wonderful school and community! Teachers care deeply for their students and go above and beyond to have positive relationships with them and their families. The current school principal has a great vision for Pillow and has been working hard with staff and teachers to ensure that students are growing and achieving academically. The school has a positive culture and climate where every student is welcomed and families are encouraged to be part of their child's education. I can honestly say that I love working at Pillow and coming to work every day to see my colleagues and students!

Posted: March 27, 2025

Posted: February 23, 2025

More teachers are quitting for the next school year, 2025-2026. Some quit this mid-year. Why? Administration is extremely negative towards the staff especially the assistant principal. The test scores will be even lower than before because the principal ran the best teachers away which leaves students to bare the consequences of failure. There isn't a PTA because parents do not feel welcomed and encouraged to help school. Most of the wonderful events that were celebrated have disappeared. Volunteers have stopped coming to help too. The principal wants to erase the history of Pillow but look at the results. Your better off going to a charter school. If AISD gives Pruitt a principal position, say a prayer for that staff.

Posted: February 23, 2025

Posted: July 1, 2024

RUN!!! This is the worst experience and the worst school my child has ever attended. Ran so poorly, teachers quitting, wild kids running the classrooms and teachers doing nothing. No learning was done. My child was pulled and this school was nothing but trauma for her.

Posted: July 1, 2024

Posted: May 26, 2024

This year was a record-breaking year for teachers quitting, retiring, and transferring from Pillow. The principal has created a hostile work environment for teachers again. As a result, four teachers quit mid-year. Students were left with substitutes for half of the year or teachers had to double-up on classes. Over 26 people left at the end of the year. So, if you're thinking about enrolling at Pillow, you may want to consider that your child may or may not have a teacher.

Posted: May 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2023

The current STAAR rating for this school is an ""F." I was a teacher at this school for many years. I've had a lot of support from principals that were professional and had great leadership qualities. For there to be an improvement in the rating, there must be a change in the current principal at Pillow. The principal talks and treats teachers with disrespect. Teachers did not feel valued and were retaliated against. So for two years in a row there has been a HUGE turnover in the staff. This principal lacks the knowledge and leadership of how to run a school. Parents, teachers, and members of the community have voiced concerns with supervisors but she continues run the school into the ground. It is a shame to see how the school has changed for the worst.

Posted: April 25, 2023

I am a current teacher at Pillow with many years of teaching experience. I can honestly say that of all the schools where I have taught, Pillow is right there at the top. It's like a little undiscovered gem...don't let test scores fool you, there is diversity, equity and inclusion with a new sense of community engagement and action. We have a strong admin team (the current information on this site is incorrect). The front office staff is lovely and helpful. While COVID was a set back to all of us, Pillow is forging ahead with innovative teaching and accountability for everyone who is part of our school family. The campus is huge...one of our playgrounds is actually managed and maintained by Austin Parks and according to Reddit, we have one of the best places to bring your dog (after school hours of course) to play. It's in such a sweet neighborhood...quiet and somewhat off the beaten path.
So, come see us...you will leave with a smile on your face!

Posted: August 14, 2017

I agree with a previous review about one office staff member specifically. Not only did she treat me with disrespect, she acted as if I didn't exist and had no rights, and my child (who was standing by me) noticed it. I brought it to the attention of the principal and he was very defensive. School personnel, no matter who they are, should not be rude to parents. Parents (and every person in the community) pay their salaries. You should treat parents as your boss. I don't mean to say that school employees deserve to be mistreated by parents - absolutely not. However, some of the staff and professionals at this school should look more objectively at each parent and not group everyone together as trouble-makers, etc. One front office employee has always been very friendly to me which is very nice considering the attitude of the other woman. Additionally, I have seen a teacher at this school man-handle a student and it was very disturbing to see. At one conference with a teacher who taught my child only one subject, it was like pulling teeth to get any information about how my child was doing. You could tell the teacher was thinking about every word he/she said before saying it instead of having a normal conversation. This teacher appeared to be afraid to say anything. It was the strangest parent-teacher conference I have ever attended.

Posted: April 29, 2017

Awesome Teachers and Awesome School !

Thanks You Very Much !

Posted: March 24, 2017

Principle and AP are great! The teachers seem to respond well to them.

Posted: March 24, 2017

They all seem to really care and willing to put in the work for the kids.

Posted: March 24, 2017

I have only had experience with one teacher, and they are all different, but we have a lot of homework in Kinder and it is not differentiated for my kid's level and areas they need to work on.

Posted: March 24, 2017

There is still some opportunities for improvement, but the principle is amazing and a great start. The community is a great support and well utilized at this school. The teachers seem dedicated- a lot of career-long teachers here. I am excited to see what this school can become.

Posted: March 28, 2016

My son has attended Pillow for almost 2 years now and I have only had one good experience with the staff. The staff is seriously lacking in basic social and people skills. I rarely see anyone smiling or being socially interactive. Especially the office staff. They couldnt care less about addressing any issues or questions. I have been yelled at on more than 5 occasions by random staff members in the morning while trying to get my son where he needs to be. This year alone, my son has had 3 teachers and I only recieved notice each time a day or two prior. Yet they saw absolutely no problem with this and didn't understand why I was concerned. My son has had issues with bullying, yet when addressed, they blamed him for not letting them know or for making things up. When I asked my son why he wasn't telling the teacher of this, he replied "because she doesn't like tattle tales". Every morning is a struggle trying to get him to school because he's that unhappy here. When your 7 year old crys and beggs you to please take him to a new school, it really makes you question and wonder what is really happening behing those doors. Race is also certainly an issue here. If you are not Hispanic, you absolutely do not get decent treatment. My son has been harrassed many times because he's white and they actually got mad at me for defending equality. Every race is equal. No exceptions. After reading all the reviews on here, I'm actually really surprised at the positive feedback these people have given. The end of this school year will be our last here and I am so ready for it to be over. His new school has a 10/10 rating. My advice to any parents out there, do your research and really think about your choice of school. The ratings are there for a reason. I didn't listen and I regret it. Don't make the same mistake.

Posted: March 28, 2016

Posted: February 22, 2016

I am a big fan of Pillow Elementary, a school I visit regularly in my role as professional storyteller. I was thrilled recently to provide three large assemblies, funded by their active PTA, in honor of I Love Reading Day -- a well-organized event, from the excellent sound system to the efficient filing in/out of the children.

Over the years, I've seen the student body gradually diversify which for my mind brings a rich culture to the school, and makes my task more rewarding, sharing tales to connect the children with each other, and with the world they live in. Last week, those students were extraordinarily well behaved and attentive, happily soaking up the stories. Frankly, I believe this says as much about the faculty as it does about the children: teachers who love the school and have been there for years, and motivated new teachers, all of them dedicated to educating the whole child. The literary specialist says they work hard to balance rigorous classroom instruction with fun ways to learn and grow, but top of the list is always an emphasis on reading. That's why I was there.

As it happens, I pass Pillow daily on my morning walk, and it pleases me that the school and its grounds always look nurtured. Even with construction (they recently began much-needed, long-overdue renovations, including an up-dated library) the whole area is still pristine and well maintained. I'm proud to call Pillow my local elementary!

Posted: October 26, 2015

Not a good school!!!! My daughter was behind after attending here and her teacher was horrible for communication.

Posted: October 26, 2015

My daughter was so behind when we went to new school...but got good grades while at pillow. Her teacher made no effort to help her in areas she struggled in.

Posted: July 28, 2015

My son attended Kindergarten and first grade at Pillow. His first grade teacher Ms Sarah White is an exceptional teacher, she helped my son in every way to improve and utilize his capabilities and created new opportunities for him. Really grateful to her and the whole school family - will miss you all.

Posted: March 28, 2015

Pillow Elementary is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood school. There are over 35 home languages spoken. Students at Pillow feel safe and happy and are supported by their teachers who provide equitable learning experiences giving each child the tools they need to be successful. There is parent involvement with the PTA hosting several Spirit Nights a year to raise money for the school. In addition, the school opens its doors four times a year with a night dedicated to celebrating the each of the 4 content areas. My favorite is their Literacy Night where children come in and have fun with literacy, guided by their teachers, and leave with a free book! Lastly, Students in 1st-5th grade are exposed to foreign languages once a week (Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Latin). This really is a wonderful school and one of Austin's best kept secrets.

Posted: March 28, 2015

Pillow Elementary School is an incredible school. The teachers are so caring and nurturing to each student. They always go above and beyond to make sure each student learns what they need to succeed in the next stage of their education. The teachers take a personal interest in each student to give them confidence in finding what motivates them not only in school but in life.

Posted: August 31, 2014

My son attended PK here in the year 2013-14. We found this school to be quite good, the teachers and staff are friendly and involved. The school had regular field trips which helped keep the students interested. The parents were encouraged to be highly involved. I do not know why the school fell in the ratings but our experience has been good so far.

Posted: October 8, 2013

This review is for 6 years ago (06'/07')- not sure if the same principal is there. My son loved this school. He only attended in 5th grade, but as a senior now he looks back and says 'I really liked Pillow. I learned so much there.' The principal was really the key I believe. She was terrific. She hand picked a group of teachers that truly wanted the best for the kids. They taught in a way that made the kids think, not just memorize facts. Thank you!

Posted: September 25, 2013

We love the school, my son is happy there, since PK he has great grades, we're taking an active part in his education by reinforcing what he learns at school at home, I wish more parents take the plunge an volunteer more at school , the opportunities are there.

Posted: August 4, 2013

The staff and faculty at our school goes above and beyond for it's students. We are a family here.

Posted: August 1, 2013

Pillow Elementary is a good neighborhood school. We love that parent involvement is encouraged by the staff.

Posted: May 15, 2013

It is ok but do not why it dropped from exemplary to acceptable in 1 single year.

Posted: May 15, 2013

Pillow is overcrowded and has a high percentage of low income students. Because this does not reflect the neighborhood it has taken some adjustment. The teachers range from extraordinary to tired and probably need to retire. My child's experience was very good in kindergarten with an environment that was nurturing and safe. Crowd control is a major part of the principle's challenge and, as well as, teaching children to speak English. I have not agreed with a policy that no one has playground time or be involved in activities that might disturb when the older children are taking state tests. I also wonder why the 1st and 2nd graders are in portable buildings. There are good people who care about the school but the declining scores must be addressed. The past reputation is no longer valid. Probably symptomatic of the entire district.

Posted: April 30, 2013

Things to love about Pillow: Great "family feeling" morning assembly, with "College Monday", "Fitness Thursday", and "Spirit Friday". (Parents are welcome to attend, and all students get experience public speaking over the course of the year.) Super diverse -- students whose parents come from all over the world and are very motivated to improve their children's lives. Cultural education -- There's the dual language program, and next year (2013-2014) they are starting a grant funded program with the other Anderson-highschool feeder schools to introduce each grade level to a different language. My daughter is super excited to get a chance to learn some German. Academic focus -- Every student learns and is pushed, regardless of background or level. A strong focus on academics. Fun, low key extracurriculars -- running club, math club, chess club... this year a parent did an "Korean culture" class. Spirit nights out roller skating and a school dance party. Most classes participate in Marathon Kids and Science Fair. What I don't like is how overcrowded the school is (as many classrooms in portables as inside; lunch times that start super early to get all the kids through).

Posted: May 24, 2012

My son is a PK graduate from Pillow Elementary School. He likes his teacher very much. He wanted to be 4 years old always so that he can stay back in PK class.

Posted: May 7, 2012

I attended this school from k-5 grade and I really liked it; my teachers were awesome!! And really nice, they taught me really well, and luckily I got commended on all the TAKS tests from third grade to fifth grade.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Midtown Commons at Crestview Station	Apartment Complex	Austin	TX	2.2 mi
2	Anderson Mill	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Austin	TX	7 mi
3	Mill creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Salado	TX	42.2 mi
4	Evergreen Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	46.9 mi
5	Spanish Oaks	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	47.3 mi
6	Skipcha Mountain Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	47.4 mi
7	White Rock Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	47.6 mi
8	Timber Ridge Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	47.6 mi
9	Knights Ridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	47.8 mi
10	Savannah Heights	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	48.3 mi
11	Glenwood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	48.6 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Main street	Salado	TX	41.6 mi
2	Harker Heights	Harker Heights	TX	48.5 mi
3	Elms street	Killeen	TX	49.9 mi

Pillow Elementary School

Austin, TX 78757

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Pillow Elementary School

Austin, TX 78757

School Ratings

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