Who We Are

In 2007, founder Erin Defossé was a 30-something aerospace engineer, tech executive, entrepreneur, and ultimate risk-taker who dreamt of a school for his children that was different from any other in Austin. 

In just two years, he developed the concept for Magellan - based partially on his experience at The American Foundation School in Mexico City - conducted market research, bootstrapped funding from friends and family, secured a location, hired a highly experienced Head of School, and began facilitating the day-to-day logistics of establishing a new school. Phew!

Magellan's doors opened in 2009 and we've never looked back, quickly scaling from 47 students to nearly 600 across two campuses. Today, Magellan is on its way to becoming the only school in Texas, and 1 of 4 in the country, that is secular, independent, and offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum - we are currently in the authorization process to offer the Diploma Program (DP) - in a Spanish immersion setting.

Even all these years later, Magellan is still a start-up at heart. We continue to take risks - like raising funds for, purchasing, renovating, and moving into a new Forever Home campus in under a year, plus expanding to add a High School just one year later. Are we gluttons for punishment? Maybe. But we also have big dreams and aren't afraid to fail. And more often than not, we succeed. We are explorers, innovators, curious, globally minded - and we will always shoot for the stars. Join us for the journey of a lifetime!