A Moms’ Guide to Swim Lessons in Houston

Pool season is upon us! It’s that time of year when it’s just too hot to play outside unless water is involved- and I can’t tell you how valuable the peace of mind is to know my children are strong, avid swimmers. Annual swimming lessons, every summer, are part of my core summer memories from childhood. I’ve always loved the water, and I found knowing how to navigate it empowering; back then, as a child, and now as a mother to my own two little fish.

If you’re wondering whether your child could use a refresher on their swimming skills, or if swimming lessons can help your child finally ditch their Puddle Jumper this summer, start here! This guide to swim lessons in Houston includes swim schools that offer lessons of all kinds for all ages, all year round, in all areas of Houston and surrounding suburbs.

Houston Swim Club

Cypress, Friendswood, Katy, League City, Pearland, Sharpstown, Sugarland locations

At Houston Swim Club, we teach swim lessons in a safe, nurturing, and loving environment.  We are a family owned and operated swim school that has been teaching quality swim lessons to infants, children and adults for over 60 years. We teach year round from 7 locations in the Houston area in our indoor heated pools. We are passionate about our mission to reduce drowning statistics in our communities while also creating lasting relationships with our families. Creating memories for your family is our family business!  

Ask your local parent friends- Houston Swim Club is one of the gold star standards for swimming lessons in the Houston area. Personally, we loved the one-way mirrors from the observation deck at the Katy location; we can see our children swimming but they can’t see us through the mirrored glass! Genius!

Find Houston Swim Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Texas Swim Academy

Texas Swim Academy, located in Katy, is Houston’s premier Survival Swim specialist. We teach infants and children, as young as 6 months old, independent swim and float skills.

“Survival Swim is amazing to watch. Infants and young children are transformed from being totally helpless in the water into confident, capable swimmers in weeks, not years.”

Find Texas Swim Academy on Facebook, Instagram, or by phone at 832-437-6186.

Blue Legend Swim School

Emler Swim School

Houston-Meyerland, Clear Lake, Vintage Park; Spring- Klein; Katy locations

Emler Swim School is Texas-raised but is expanding nationally. They provide semester-based, year round classes beginning at 2 months old, and they offer 20 different curriculums which enables them to customize the classes to each student’s needs and skill level. Emler even offers a 100% guarantee that they can teach your child to swim.

Goldfish Swim School

West Houston, Katy, and Sugarland locations

This nationwide chain provides swimming instruction from age 4 months and up, offering year round, once weekly swimming lessons, as well as “jump start” clinics which are a week of daily swimming lessons for a more intensified learning experience.

Start Swimming Now

Tomball location

Start Swimming Now is an indoor facility serving all ages, because “It’s never too late to learn and it’s also never too early!” They offer year round swimming lessons, homeschool PE programs, as well as water safety talks and presentations.

Pengu Swim School

Houston-Central, Cypress, Katy, SugarLand locations

Pengu Swim School was born from a mission of creating safety and fun around swimming. They have four area locations and students and their families can choose custom lessons and flexible times, as well as private swimming lessons.  Look for a weeklong intensive “headstart” clinic, offered year round, or a 1-2 week long summer clinic to boost your little swimmer’s ability quickly.

SafeSplash + Swimlabs Swim School

Humble location

This swim school believes “swimming is a life skill” and that consistency leads to greater competency- they offer lessons and clinics for every age and ability, including swim camps for beginners and swimmers looking to gain skills and stroke clinics for more seasoned swimmers.

Aqua-Tots

Cypress, Humble, Katy, Missouri City, Pearland, Pasadena, Spring/Klein locations

Aqua-Tots touts itself as “the world wide leader in swim instruction” and aims to get your child swimming with safety and confidence. They offer clubs, teams, and lessons from parent and baby classes all the way through advanced swimming lessons.

Harris County Aquatics Center

Houston, Precinct 1 location

Harris County Aquatics Center offers swimming instruction on a first come, first serve basis for children aged 6-18, so apply early for their programs. Classes are offered year-round in three different sessions. Swimming lessons are offered in four week sessions with class twice a week: Spring (February through April), Summer (June through July) and Fall (September through December).

Saint Street Swim

Houston, River Oaks location

Saint Street Swim is family owned and every instructor is a certified lifeguard. They use a gentle approach and specialize in working with beginners. Class sizes are small with a 3-1 student-to-instructor ratio, and are offered for ages six months and up.

Power Packed Swimming

Houston, Memorial location

Housed within Divetech, Power Packed Swimming offers group or private lessons for all skill levels. Their indoor pool has an adjustable depth for different abilities, too. Though there are a variety of different lessons to choose from, Power Packed Swimming offers Summer Everyday Classes from 9-11 am which might easily fit into your summer schedule!

Swim Houston Aquatics Center

Houston location

Swim Houston Aquatics Center offers lessons in their indoor facility, but also boasts a state-of-the-art outdoor competition pool with lots of different length course lanes. You can choose private or group lessons, which are offered every half hour from 9 am until 7 pm.

YMCA of Greater Houston

Many Area Locations

For over 160 years, the Y has offered communities programs to uplift and empower, and swimming lessons are based in building safety techniques for young swimmers. They use a swim-float-swim approach aimed at drowning prevention and offer group classes, private lessons, and stroke clinics from preschool ages and up.

Check Your Local School District

Many area school districts offer swimming lessons on weekends or over the summer in the district aquatic center or natatorium. Check out your local school district’s webpage for information!

Here’s to a summer full of safe, fun swimming!

Do you love a swim school that offers swim lessons in Houston that is not listed here? Let us know in the comments!