UPA is Moving to a New Campus
Learn what this means for your family.
Unparalleled Preparatory Academy
Same UPA. New Address.
Beginning Fall 2026, UPA is moving to a new home. Here's everything you need to know, straight from our Founder.
Austin, TX 78753
Hear It From Her Directly
A Message From Our Founder
A Letter to UPA Families
Dear UPA Families,
Over the years, UPA has grown in ways we are deeply proud of and we didn't imagine. More families have joined our community, our programs have expanded, and our need for space has grown with them.
After careful planning, I am writing to share that beginning Fall 2026, UPA will move to a new home at 8416 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78753.
This is an important step for our school, and I wanted you to hear the news directly from me.
As part of our planning, we considered another location. During that process, parents raised concerns about safety. We listened, took those concerns seriously, and decided not to move forward with that site. Our responsibility was not to find a new building; it was to find the right home for UPA.
We are making this move because our current building can no longer fully support the needs of our students, teachers, and programs. The new location will give us enhanced safety and security, expanded space, more opportunities for students, and minimal impact on your commute. Most importantly, it will give us more room to serve our children well.
I know a move raises real questions. You may be thinking about your commute, transportation, arrival and dismissal, or how this change will affect your family's daily routine. Those concerns matter and we are committed to addressing them clearly and openly.
I also want to be clear about what is not changing. The teachers your children know and trust are staying. The culture that made you choose UPA is staying. Our standards, our values, and the community we have built together are staying. The heart of UPA is not changing; just our address.
You can find more information about the move, timeline, and family logistics on this page. We will also host a town hall soon, where you can hear directly from us and ask your questions. We'll share the date as soon as it's set.
As the Founder and Superintendent of UPA, I have always believed that growth should never come at the expense of who we are or how we care for our families. Listening to our community is part of that responsibility. Changing direction when needed is part of it too.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for helping us build a stronger UPA. I look forward to welcoming you to our new space.
With gratitude,
Shonqualla West-County
Founder & Superintendent, UPA
The Short Version
Why We're Moving
We've Grown
More families have joined our community and our programs have expanded right along with them. Our building didn't grow with us.
Enhanced Safety & Security
The new site was evaluated with student and staff safety as a non-negotiable requirement.
More Room to Grow
Expanded space means more classrooms, more programs, and more opportunities for every student.
Your Commute, Considered
We evaluated this move with your daily routine in mind, aiming for minimal impact on your commute.
Transparency Matters
How We Chose This Site
We listened, and we changed course.
As part of our planning, we considered another location. During that process, parents raised concerns about safety. We listened, took those concerns seriously, and decided not to move forward with that site.
Our responsibility was not to find a new building. It was to find the right home for UPA.
Shonqualla West-County, Founder & Superintendent
What Doesn't Change
Same Heart, New Address
Staying the Same
- The teachers your children know and trust
- The culture that made you choose UPA
- Our standards and values
- The community we've built together
What's Changing
- Our address. That's it.
Getting There
The New Campus
8416 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78753. About five minutes from the site we'd originally planned, on IH-35 for easier access.
Full details on safety features, classrooms, accessibility, parking, and drop-off/pick-up are in the FAQ below.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Hard Questions
No, and we want to be direct about that. This move is happening because we've outgrown our current space, not because we're struggling. Enrollment has grown, our programs have grown, and our building didn't grow with them. Investing in a new facility is exactly what a healthy, thriving school does next.
We didn't want to hand you a rumor. We wanted to hand you a plan. The new site became available recently. Once we confirmed the details and understood what it means for your family day to day, we came straight to you. Facts first, then the conversation. That's the order you deserve.
Talk to us before you decide anything. Every family's situation looks different. We're ready to work through transportation, scheduling, and whatever else is in the way, together. No family should feel like they have to leave UPA without having that conversation with us first.
It's both. Here, those aren't in conflict. A stronger school is a better school for the students inside it. Every decision in this move was tested against one question. Does this make daily life better for our students? If the answer was no, it didn't make the cut.
Logistics & Daily Life
8416 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78753. It's about five minutes from the site we'd originally planned. We know commute is one of the first things on your mind. That's why we're publishing route and transportation details alongside this announcement. Being on IH-35 works in our favor. It's easier to reach, it sits in a safer area, and it connects better to the communities we serve.
Yes. Existing bus routes and transportation plans are staying in place with little to no disruption. If your family is facing a specific transportation hardship, email UPAmove@upaschools.org directly. We're planning this with families, not just for them.
The new site is designed for describe the traffic flow: entry point, queue line, drop-off zone. Before the first day at the new campus, we'll walk every family through the exact plan, including a trial run. Nobody will be guessing on day one.
Yes. The new facility has number of parking spaces, including specifics on staff, visitor, and event parking.
Safety & the Building
Safety wasn't a nice-to-have in this decision. It was non-negotiable. The new facility meets or exceeds every current safety standard, including secure gated entry, visitor management system, fire suppression, emergency protocols. Confirm specifics.
Better. Additional classrooms and flexible learning spaces let us expand career immersion experiences, student organizations, extracurriculars, leadership programming, and collaborative learning. describe classroom size, natural light, technology, and layout
Yes. The building is fully ADA-compliant, including elevators, ramps, accessible restrooms, sensory spaces. In a few respects, it's actually an upgrade from where we are now.
Students, Teachers & Programs
Yes. Our faculty and staff are making the move with us. Keeping the people your child trusts every day in front of the classroom is one of our top priorities in this whole transition.
Every service and accommodation continues without interruption. The new facility actually gives us dedicated, expanded spaces to deliver that support. That means more room to do right by every student who needs it.
They're continuing, and several are getting dedicated space for the first time. The new site includes gym, fields, arts spaces. Confirm specifics.
Cost & Timeline
We're planning the move for July 2026, timed to confirm: avoid or minimize disruption to the start of the school year, and how. A detailed timeline will be published and kept current as we go.
We've built buffers into the schedule for exactly this reason. If the timeline shifts, you'll hear it from us first, along with a clear interim plan. We won't let you find out bad news anywhere but from us.
Still have questions?
We'd rather talk it through than have you wonder. Reach out any time. We're here for exactly this.
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