Your Child Starts Where They Are. They Move Up When They’re Ready.
Some programs advance children on a fixed schedule. At Tom’s swim school in Austin, they advance when they can. Your child starts in the level that matches where they are today and moves up when the skills are genuinely there — not when a session ends. Every class builds on real ability, not a calendar.
Group classes meet once per week at $36 per class, billed monthly under continuous enrollment. Maximum four students per instructor. All classes in our 91–92°F indoor pool. Book at austinswim.com →
Program at a Glance
| Ages | 5 – 12 years |
| Format | Group class · child swims independently |
| Levels | Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced |
| Class size | Maximum 4 students per instructor |
| Schedule | Once per week · Weekdays M–Th or weekends |
| Price | $36 per class · billed monthly · continuous enrollment |
| Pool | 91–92°F heated indoor pool · 10 yards · year-round |
| Progression | Performance-based — children advance when skills are demonstrated, not on a fixed schedule |
| Placement | Assessment available for $42.50 (half-price private lesson) if you are unsure of level |
Enroll any time. No semester start required.
Book online, use the iClassPro app, or call us to find the right level for your child.
Book Now at austinswim.com →Which Level Is Right for Your Child?
Never had lessons, or not quite comfortable yet.
Beginner is the right starting point for any child who is not yet comfortable in the water or has not had formal swimming instruction. No prior experience required — just a child age 5 or older who is ready to try.
Swims with face in the water but side breathing isn’t there yet.
Intermediate is for children who can swim with their face in the water. Classes focus on side breathing technique and backstroke. The bridge between basic swimming and real stroke proficiency.
Solid freestyle and backstroke. Ready for the full stroke toolkit.
Advanced requires demonstrated freestyle with side breathing and backstroke for at least 25 meters. Classes introduce breaststroke, butterfly, and shallow-angle dives. The highest level in our children’s program.
Three Levels, Each With Clear Entry and Exit Criteria.
Build comfort. Then build skills.
Introduces water comfort, submersion, basic floating, and elementary movement. Goal: comfort putting their face in the water, floating, and swimming short distances independently.
Unlock real freestyle. Add backstroke.
Develops side breathing technique for freestyle and introduces backstroke. Goal: freestyle with side breathing and backstroke for 25 meters.
The full four strokes. Plus dives.
Introduces breaststroke, butterfly, and shallow-angle dives. Goal: exposure to all four competitive strokes, shallow-angle dives, and stronger water confidence.
Every child progresses differently. Most spend several months in each level, while some advance faster and others take more time. Our team will let you know when your child is approaching readiness to move up.
What Your Child Actually Does in Class
Children swim independently in group classes from age 5 onward — parents watch from the viewing area rather than getting in the pool. A typical 30-minute class includes a warm-up, focused skill work at the wall and in open water, and a short practice swim to finish. Classes use a tools-based curriculum that isolates specific movements and builds genuine independent skill — not instructor-dependent performance.
Progress looks different for every child. Our team will let you know how your child is doing, what they are working toward, and when they are approaching readiness to advance. Advancement is based on demonstrated ability, not time in class.
Practicing at home helps. Even bathtub exercises that reinforce the movements from class accelerate progress. When your child has pool access outside of lessons, 10–15 minutes of unassisted practice — without floaties — builds the independence that lessons work toward.
Why Parents Keep Coming Back
Small classes. More attention. A true 4:1 cap.
Every group class is capped at four students per instructor. That is not a target average — it is the maximum. Your child is not lost in a class of eight. The ratio is enforced because it is the ratio that produces real progress.
Warm enough to focus. Cool enough to work hard.
Our heated indoor pool stays at 91–92°F year-round. Austin summers are hot but Austin winters are not, and most outdoor pools close or go cold. Your child’s lessons continue on the same schedule year-round.
They move up when they are ready. Not when the semester ends.
Children advance when they demonstrate the skills, not when the semester ends. That means children who are ready move up quickly. Children who need more time get it without being pushed into a level they are not ready for.
A consistent swim team that gets to know your child.
Our instructors are trained, background-checked, and experienced working with children at every level. They bring genuine care for every swimmer’s progress and work at each child’s pace rather than pushing ahead before the skills are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the level descriptions above. If you are unsure, a placement assessment is available for $42.50 — a private lesson where an instructor evaluates your child and recommends the right class. Book at austinswim.com →
It depends on the child. Progress is skill-based, not time-based. Our team will let you know how your child is progressing and when they look ready to move up. We celebrate progress at every step, not just when a child moves up.
Parents watch from the viewing area. Children ages 5 and older swim independently. We have seating for parents and a space for siblings with books and quiet toys.
A swimsuit, goggles, and a towel. No fins, floaties, or swim aids — we provide any tools needed during class. Children should arrive in their swimsuit if possible to make the most of class time.
Yes. As long as additional spots are available, you can enroll in multiple days per week. Contact us to check availability for your child’s level.
Advanced is the highest group class level. After completing it, many children move on to private lessons for stroke refinement, join a swim team, pursue lifeguarding, or simply carry their water confidence into open water, snorkeling, or eventually scuba diving. The skills built here last a lifetime.
Private and semi-private lessons are available for children who want more individual instruction or who are working through a specific challenge. Private lessons →
Ready to start? Enroll any time.
Book online at austinswim.com, use the iClassPro app, or call (512) 451-3425. Serving Austin families since 1982 at 5909 Burnet Rd, Central Austin. Continuous enrollment — no fixed session start dates.
Book Now → Call (512) 451-3425 →