Venture Prep School in Dripping Springs, Texas
I loved getting to tour this new school in Dripping Springs and interview the founder, Loren Sack! Although Dripping Springs ISD is a magnet for people looking to move to the area, some families are opting for a smaller, more personalized approach to their child’s school and so many unique opportunities are becoming available in the area. Check out Venture Prep and their story below!
Hey Loren! Tell us about yourself…
Growing up in the unique setting of a working produce and equestrian ranch, nestled in a valley amid the rolling foothills of California, in the heart of Silicon Valley as it emerged as the epicenter of technology, offered me a distinctly different perspective on life. Immersed in nature, surrounded by horses, cattle, chickens, and fields of the freshest fruits and vegetables, I experienced a striking contrast with the orderly, competitive tech world rising around this natural haven. Life moved both slowly and, at times, at what seemed like the speed of light.
As the eldest of four, I naturally embodied and was nurtured in leadership. My first year of education was in a public school in the ’80s where I was one of over 35 students in a single class, which was part of an even larger grade. By year’s end, I still couldn’t read. My parents wisely requested that I repeat the grade, but the system, constrained by funding, refused and insisted on pushing me forward, unprepared for the next level. This made no sense to my parents, as my educational advocates, they pulled me out and sacrificed financially to send me, and my three siblings, to a local private school. That school, abutting our ranch, became a beloved place in my heart for all I learned there. We’d traverse dirt roads and pastures, climbing out of the valley up a small hill to get to and from school when we had missed a ride with Mom or stayed for after-school activities.
Unbeknownst to me, this experience would chart my course in education. I met my husband in 2006; he was a pitcher in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants. We married in 2007 and started our family in 2008. Raising five children in Silicon Valley, we struggled to navigate the local educational landscape. My own experience, coupled with my husband’s—he attended overcrowded public schools in Anaheim, where desks and books were scarce—convinced us that public schools weren’t an option for our family.
We tried a private Catholic preschool but found they weren’t practicing what they preached. Next, we enrolled in a highly academic school with a strong foundational program, we liked it but later realized that it pushed students two levels beyond their developmental stage, causing stress and leaving kids sobbing in the car after pickup, exhausted from trying to stay still and focused all day. We then tried another private school, only to discover it prioritized social agendas over foundational education. By then, with five kids under seven, we decided we could do better ourselves. In 2017, we left the system to homeschool, joining a local Classical Christian group, Classical Conversations.
Homeschooling was neither natural nor easy for our family. Through many ups and downs, I grew and matured as an adult and mother, dedicating myself to self-education, understanding child development, and, most importantly, cultivating patience with children. Our kids thrived in outdoor nature programs, traveled to immerse themselves in the cultures we studied, and grew into confident, well-spoken, secure individuals. It was beautiful to witness. Inspired by the leadership in our Classical Conversations community, our eldest son, and I chose to be baptized into the Christian faith, surrounded by our homeschool community.
What brought you to Dripping Springs?
Living in the Bay Area with five children as actively homeschooling Christians, we didn’t fit the mold or culture there. I felt called to move our family to a slower-paced place reminiscent of my ranch days. After a search for a place with rolling hills dotted with oak trees, we found and fell in love with the Texas Hill Country. Dripping Springs checked all the boxes; it was a no-brainer.
What is your favorite thing about living here?
We love the space, the autonomy, and the welcoming community that surrounds us.
What is your family involved in?
Locally, our children have played soccer, baseball, softball, and flag football with DSYSA. Our eldest rows crew for ARC; our second has played football for Pop Warner, St. Gabriel’s 8th-grade homeschool team, and was on a 6-man team this past year at a local charter high school; our third takes tennis at DS Racquet Club; our fourth rides at Lonestar Riding Club; and our youngest golfs with Dad at Driftwood Golf Course.
We attend Real Life Church in Driftwood. Our eldest son volunteers there, and participates in their youth group, along with our middle two children. We partnered with Church of the Springs this year and launched Venture Preparatory. We have plans for sports and extracurricular programs in the near future. Sports and extracurriculars are a main focus of ours and we will grow the offerings over the next decade.
As a family, we love to travel, spend time together experiencing life and volunteering. We have hosted orphaned children from Ukraine since 2016, welcoming eight kids through various programs over the years. It’s been a wonderful experience, though the program has been halted due to the war. We’re hopeful it will resume once the region stabilizes.
Tell us about Venture Prep :
Venture Prep was founded to serve our local community, offering more than just the basics in a way that excites and engages the students. We’re a small, non-profit, non-denominational Classical Christian school with big plans. Currently serving 3rd- 10th grades, we focus on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, public speaking, communication, debate, and civics.
Our approach values meeting each child where they are—without judgment or assumptions—we will partner with parents and walk alongside the family encouraging each student. We foster confidence through a growth mindset, positive thinking, and goal-setting, all rooted in biblical principles.
What type of students is your school perfect for?
Not being particularly fond of labels, and having had children of my own diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, we designed this program to serve students, barring significant learning challenges—who don’t fit the pace of public or private schools. If a child needs more time, no problem; if they want to surge ahead, no problem. We’re small and intentional, partnering with parents to create each child’s academic path.
What is the culture of the school and the values most important to you?
Our culture is joyful and encouraging. Our motto is “Seek Joy and Venture On!” Every student has a place to grow thoughtfully into who they are.
What is the big vision for your school?
We aim to reach a maximum capacity in our current space, with goals of opening more locations K-12 with several campuses of up to 200 local students per campus. Our program will expand to five days a week next year. The fifth day will be an enrichment day filled with elective offerings. We’ll introduce university-model options for homeschool and hybrid families, and eventually online offerings for students competing in sports or other activities.
We prioritize family flexibility, empowering parents to decide what’s best for their unique needs in partnership with us.
Long-term, we’d like to collaborate with more churches to expand educational space options, providing more opportunities for small school startups, and building sports facilities (tracks, football fields, basketball gyms etc) and other extracurricular spaces (science labs, art rooms, theaters). Our goal is a community of small schools with shared facilities, forming an inner-city scholastic league and community.
How can we learn more?
Visit www.ventureprepatx.com.
Set up a shadow day for your student(s).
To get involved as a teacher, donor, or parent, call or text 512-537-1003
——
If you are thinking about moving to the Dripping Springs or the Texas Hill Country area and want to connect about this amazing lifestyle and the schools available here then give me a call! 512-569-8480
