Cody and Deborah Fisher, a married couple of former educators, started a small local company, Austin Cotillion, around 2016. “As the pandemic persisted, we saw more and more kids struggling with loneliness, depression and social anxiety,” Ms. Fisher said. The couple wanted to give kids in their community the chance to learn social skills and build confidence.

The Fishers’ classes aren’t traditional. They incorporate magic or games to keep drifting minds engaged. They also do not enforce strict gender codes. “Our cotillion is for everybody,” Mr. Fisher said. “We don’t check birth certificates.”