Considering private education? Here’s the tuition, offerings and classification of several private schools in the Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill areas.

Cedar Park Montessori

• Type: Montessori, Association Montessori International (AMI) accredited
• Grades served: toddler through grade 6
• Religious orientation: none
• Extracurricular activities: art, chess, computing, dance, multi-sports, piano, soccer, STEAM, Spanish
• Enrollment: Not disclosed
• Tuition: Available upon request
  • 400 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park

• Type: religious-based, college-preparatory, classical
• Grades served: pre-K-12
• Religious orientation: Christian
• Extracurricular activities: sports, bible club, chess club, coding, DECA, drumline, history club, pep squad, run club, robotics, student council, theater, book club, Future Health Professionals, National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Private School Interscholastic Association, soccer club, speech and debate, yearbook and more
• Enrollment: 714
• Tuition: $13,515-$21,792 per year
  • 12124 RM 620 N., Austin

• Type: charter; STEM-focused
• Grades served: pre-K-7
• Religious orientation: none
• Extracurricular activities: drones, VEX Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, arts, fitness, creative writing
• Enrollment: 649
• Tuition: free
  • 3250 Hero Way, Leander

Unofficial results show Annette Sponseller garnered 52.21% of ballots cast in the race for Leander City Council Place 4 with 3088 votes. Challenger Andy Eis received 40.44% with 2392 votes.

The details: Polls closed at 7 p.m. in the Feb. 7 special election. Leander residents cast ballots to determine the city's newest council member. The winner will hold the position for the remainder of the current term, which ends in 2027.

The position of mayor was also on the ballot. Na’Cole Thompson, the current Place 4 council member and mayor pro tem, stepped down to run for mayor.

About the candidates: Community Impact spoke to both of the candidates—Annette Sponselle and Andy Eis—ahead of early voting. Find the Q&A here.

The results: Unofficial results show Na’Cole Thompson garnered 57% of ballots cast in the race for mayor of Leander with 3372 votes. Challengers Mike Sanders received 25.88% with 1531 votes, and Kathryn Pantalion-Parker received 16.92% with 1001 votes.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

The details: Leander residents cast ballots in the Feb. 7 special election to determine who will be mayor for the rest of the current term, which expires in May 2027. The position became open after Mayor Christine DeLisle stepped down in October.

Check out some of the top trending news stories from the Austin area, Feb. 2-5.

1. Williamson County breaks ground on $132M Hero Way, RM 2243 expansion

2. Ridge Crossing retail project now under construction

3. New hotel, Big Air trampoline park to open off Hero Way

4. Georgetown Sleep Center closes permanently

5. PopStroke eyes spring opening for new Cedar Park venture

6. Major grocery chain to build convenience store in San Marcos

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, or TWPC, has approved $21.2 million to help create and improve outdoor recreational areas in over 40 communities across Texas, including the Liberty Hill City Park.

The big picture: The grants are awarded through the agency’s local park grants program. The program requires a 50% local match from participating governments and mandates that funded sites remain public parkland in perpetuity, according to a news release Jan. 30.

Once completed, the projects are expected to add or enhance amenities at approximately 50 community parks statewide. Planned improvements include nature trails, native landscaping, playgrounds, splash pads, sports fields, kayak launches, piers and other outdoor recreation features, according to the release.

The grants are designed to expand access to outdoor recreation while helping local governments develop and maintain high-quality park spaces. All funded parks must be properly maintained and remain open to the public, according to the TWPC website.

TPWC administers grants based on community size and project scope, according to the release.