The Austin ISD has numerous high performing schools with a few, like the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Harmony Science Academy and Anderson High School, receiving national acclaim. The Austin ISD as a whole is one of the lesser performing Austin Area School Districts, but has some top rated schools within the district like Bowie High School, Austin High School and Anderson High. If you’re looking for great schools in the Austin ISD, those would be the three districts to check first. The Austin ISD is the largest school district in Austin with 130 schools and 86,000 students. The sheer size of the district is one of the contributing factors in the lower rating.
Health of Austin ISD Forcing Families Further Out
Even though Austin ISD has the most poorly performing schools in the area, they also boast the most highly rated schools than any other district. With the size of the Austin ISD, the highly rated schools intermixed with lower performing schools, recent news of budgetary constraints and threat of school closings, a lot of families are looking into smaller, better performing districts outside the Austin city limits.
Highest Rated School Districts Around Austin
Not only do these smaller school districts offer highly performing schools, smaller classrooms and financially stronger districts, home prices are more affordable than homes within the boundaries of the well performing Austin schools. These benefits are hard to overlook and has prompted an influx of people to these fast growing suburbs of Austin. If you’re looking for options outside of Austin, here are the best school districts around Austin. Some districts, like Dripping Springs, Leander, Pflugerville and Round Rock overlap to the city limits.
#1 Dripping Springs ISD – #33 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Southwest Austin, Dripping Springs, Driftwood
Distance to Downtown Austin: 24.7 miles, 30 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 28.2 miles, 30 minutes
Average Price: $515,349
Median Price: $476,962
Price Range: $150k-$2.6MM
Average SqFt: 2,967
Drippings Springs is located just 24 miles southwest of Downtown Austin. With a population of around 4,000 (2017) but growing fast and only 7 schools in the district, the community still holds a small town feel. The Dripping Springs ISD is the top rated school district outside Austin and is very well liked by parents and students.
Dripping Springs ISD Homes for Sale
#2: Liberty Hill ISD – #60 School District in Texas
Area of Town: West Georgetown, Liberty Hill
Distance to Downtown Austin: 35.8 miles, 40 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 42.3 miles, 40 minutes
Average Price: $373,955
Median Price: $347,700
Price Range: $100k-$1.5MM
Average SqFt: 2,548
Located only 35 minutes northwest of Downtown Austin, the Liberty Hill ISD is one of Austin’s best kept secrets. With only 6 campuses, the district is small, but very well regarded by parents and rankings. The district serves the western section of Georgetown and Liberty Hill. Much of the 100 square mile district is rural, but there are a few master planned communities, with more on the horizon.
Liberty Hill ISD Homes for Sale
#3: Wimberley ISD – #90 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Wimberley, Woodcreek
Distance to Downtown Austin: 37.6 miles, 45 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 41.1 miles, 45 minutes
Average Price: $402,409
Median Price: $329,300
Price Range: $125k-$2MM
Average SqFt: 2,145
The Wimberley ISD is located in the city of Wimberley, TX which located 45 minutes southwest of Downtown Austin. Wimberley is the epitome of small town Texas Hill Country and attracts tourists and residents looking for a slower pace of life. With only four schools, kids in the Wimberley ISD get personalized attention and a sense of community.
Wimberley ISD Homes for Sale
#4: Leander ISD – #142 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Leander
Distance to Downtown Austin: 20 miles, 24 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 26.7 miles, 30 minutes
Average Price: $383,091
Median Price: $323,400
Price Range: $110k-$5.5MM
Average SqFt: 2,590
The Leander Independent School District is located in Northwest Austin with a small part of the district in Travis County and the majority in Williamson County. One of the fastest growing school districts, the Leander ISD has 42 campuses serving approximately 38,200 students. Leander ISD is one of 373 school districts in the US and Canada being named to the 9th Annual AP District Honor Roll.
Leander ISD Focuses on 3 Key Elements
- Continually improving world-class curriculum
- Teaching and modeling ethical behavior
- Encouraging parent and community involvement
Leander ISD Homes for Sale
#5 Round Rock ISD – #163 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock
Distance to Downtown Austin: 19 miles, 20 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 24.4 miles, 24 minutes
Average Price: $342,835
Median Price: $314,000
Price Range: $70k-$4.25MM
Average SqFt: 2,371
The Round Rock ISD, is the largest school district outside of Austin. The district serves approximately 48,000 students with 52 schools. Round Rock ISD has 11 schools rated 10/10 on GreatSchools.net, 5 schools rated 9/10, 5 schools rated 8/10 and 7 schools rated 7/10. Round Rock’s Westwood High School is one of the best performing schools in the area and has made Newsweek’s Annual Best High Schools in America List at number 47 in the country.
Round Rock ISD Homes for Sale
#6 Pflugerville ISD – #324 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Northeast Austin, Pflugerville
Distance to Downtown Austin: 17.7 miles, 22 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 24 miles, 24 minutes
Average Price: $277,397
Median Price: $267,000
Price Range: $130k-$700k
Average SqFt: 2,206
The Pflugerville ISD has over 25,000 students enrolled in 33 campuses. Enrollment is expected to double over the next 10 years with projections of over 40,000 students. Pflugerville ISD encompasses 95 square miles and serves Pflugerville, parts of Austin, Coupland, Manor and Round Rock.
Pflugerville ISD Homes for Sale
#7 Georgetown ISD – #550 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Georgetown, Northern Round Rock
Distance to Downtown Austin: 28 miles, 28 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 33.3 miles, 35 minutes
Average Price: $339,003
Median Price: $306,000
Price Range: $85k-$2MM
Average SqFt: 2,324
The Georgetown ISD is a medium size school district that serves Georgetown and parts of Liberty Hill and Round Rock. As Georgetown moves away from being a retirement community to an area that attracts families, the schools have improved tremendously. For those looking for a little bit more space and a cute Downtown district, Georgetown is the ideal place to be.
Georgetown ISD Homes for Sale
#8 Hays CISD – #575 School District in Texas
Area of Town: Buda, Kyle, Southwest Austin, Driftwood
Distance to Downtown Austin: 22.7 miles, 26 minutes
Distance to Austin Airport: 32.8 miles, 24 minutes
Average Price: $261,626
Median Price: $237,000
Price Range: $55k-$1.8MM
Average SqFt: 2,066
The Hays CISD is another one of Austin’s fastest growing districts and serves Buda and Kyle. Buda is predicted to have a population boom and grow over 200% in the next decade. As more and more people move to Buda and Kyle versus the northern suburbs, this school district is poised to be one of the areas top performing districts.
Hays CISD Homes for Sale
This post was based on information gathered from SchoolDigger.com and each district’s website as of December 2018. Average and Median Price Data comes from ACTRIS closed sales 12/1/2017-11/30/2018.
Need to Be Closer to Town?
If you need to live closer to Austin, there are several great schools you can choose from. Check out these resources:
- Top 3 School Districts in Austin
- Top Elementary Schools in Austin
- Top Middle Schools in Austin
- Best Austin Area High Schools
Buying a Home in a Top High School District? We Can Help
We’ve helped many buyers just like you find the right home in the right neighborhood for their families! We take the time to help buyers understand the home buying process, point out potential resale difficulties and faults of a property and negotiate favorable deals. And, we can help you too! Visit our Austin Home Buyer information page and then call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com to schedule a no obligation and find out if we’re a good match.
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