Lively Middle School is in the Austin ISD and earned a 4/10 rating from Great School’s as of October 2026. The campus sits at 201 E. Mary St., just off South Congress Avenue in South Austin’s 78704 zip code, and serves 6th through 8th grade. For 2026-27, Lively keeps its long-standing South Austin zone and adds about 3.1 square miles east of I-35 from the closed Martin Middle School, mostly in the Allison Elementary zone. About 90% of the zone’s home sales fall in the Travis Early College High School zone and about 10%, the area added from Martin, in the Eastside Early College High School zone. Scroll down to read more about homes near Sarah Lively Middle School.
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Lively Middle School School Snapshot
- Address: 201 E. Mary St., Austin, TX 78704
- Phone: (512) 414-3207
- School District: Austin ISD
- Grades Served: 6th through 8th grade
- Enrollment: 919 students (2025-26)
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 14.8:1 (2024-25)
- Principal: Melissa Rodriguez
- School Hours: 8:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
- Mascot: the Falcons
- Opened: 1886 (current site since 1911)
- GreatSchools Rating: It is 4/10 as of October 2026.
Lively was founded in 1886 and has been at its current site since 1911. It operated as Fulmore Middle School until Austin ISD’s board renamed it Sarah Lively Middle School in 2019, and its orchestra program dates to 1937. In 2025-26, Lively enrolled 919 students, with 68.0% economically disadvantaged, 36.7% emergent bilingual and 23.0% receiving special education services. For 2026-27, Martin dual language students can apply to Lively or Marshall with priority, and the campus opened a new combined after-school program, Falcons Nest. GreatSchools and TEA measure different things. GreatSchools weighs test results against schools with similar student populations, while TEA’s rating, below, is the state’s official accountability measure.
Academic Performance: Texas Education Agency Accountability Rating
In TEA’s 2025-26 accountability ratings, released in August 2026, Lively Middle School earned an overall C with a score of 79. That is up 2 points from a C (77) in 2024-25, and it is the third straight year of gains. Lively was a C (75) in 2021-22, dropped to a D (69) in 2022-23 and has climbed since, to a C (73) in 2023-24.
- Overall TEA Rating (2025-26): C (79)
- Student Achievement: C, 75 out of 100 (based on STAAR performance)
- School Progress: B, 81 out of 100 (Academic Growth C/70, Relative Performance B/81)
- Closing the Gaps: C, 75 out of 100
- Prior Overall Ratings: C (75) in 2021-22, D (69) in 2022-23, C (73) in 2023-24, C (77) in 2024-25
- Austin ISD (2025-26): B (81) district-wide
Under TEA’s scale, an A reflects exemplary performance, B is recognized, C is acceptable, D needs improvement, and F is unacceptable. Lively’s overall rating is driven by School Progress, which rose from a C (79) to a B (81) on the strength of Relative Performance, which compares results with schools serving similar shares of economically disadvantaged students, at 81. Academic Growth improved from a D (65) to a C (70), its best score in the last four years. Student Achievement, the share of students meeting STAAR standards, held at a C (75), and Closing the Gaps, which measures results for student groups, rose from 72 to a C (75). Lively earned no distinction designations from 2021-22 through 2025-26. TEA has identified it for targeted support and improvement every year since 2021-22, which reflects results for specific student groups.
Source: Texas Education Agency accountability summaries for Lively Middle School (campus 227901043), 2022 through 2026 (2025-26 ratings released August 2026). The 2022-23 and 2023-24 ratings were delayed by litigation and released in 2025. TEA issues updated ratings annually, so verify the current rating directly with Austin ISD or TEA before making a decision based on it.
Programs at Lively Middle School
These are the programs Austin ISD and the Lively campus list for this school. Lively’s Law, Humanities and Global Studies Magnet admits students from across Austin ISD by application, so living in the zone does not guarantee a magnet seat.
- Law, Humanities and Global Studies Magnet (application): The magnet was authorized by the board in 2001 and enrolls more than 500 students from across Austin ISD. Applicants must live in Austin ISD and submit fall grades and two teacher recommendations (half the score), STAAR or MAP scores (one quarter), and a letter or two-minute video (one quarter). Applications are taken in Round 1 of Enroll Austin only. Electives include mock trial, Model UN, journalism and Japanese.
- Dual Language: Lively describes its Spanish dual language program as the largest middle school dual language program in Austin ISD. It is open to students from an Austin ISD K-5 dual language program, students with Spanish at home, or by placement test, and includes AP and high school credit options.
- Fine Arts: Art, band, choir, dance, guitar, orchestra and theater.
- CTE and High School Credit: Robotics, web design, graphic design and digital media, plus high school credit Spanish, Chinese and health.
- After School: Falcons Nest combines ACE 21st Century and Prime Time and offers tutoring, enrichment, athletics and clubs.
- Athletics: UIL athletics for 7th and 8th graders.
- PTSA: Lively has an active PTSA.
Falcons Nest, new for 2026-27, combines the ACE 21st Century and Prime Time after-school programs. For current details on magnet admission, dual language placement, fine arts or athletics, contact Lively Middle School at (512) 414-3207.
Where is Sarah Lively Middle School?
Lively Middle School is located at:
201 E. Mary St.
Austin, TX 78704
Lively Middle School Attendance Zone Map
Lively’s zone now has two separate parts. The long-standing South Austin part covers the Travis Heights, Galindo, Linder and Zilker-area elementary zones, including Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, South Heights, Swisher Addition, Sherwood Oaks, Blue Bonnet Hills, Santa Monica Park, Brinwood, Fairview Park and Loma Linda. The new part is about 3.1 square miles east of I-35 that belonged to Martin Middle School, mostly in the Allison Elementary zone with part of the Sánchez zone. Austin ISD closed Martin at the end of 2025-26 and reassigned its students by address to Kealing, Marshall or Lively.
Austin ISD plans Phase 1 boundary changes for 2027-28, with a board vote expected in fall 2026, and a district-wide boundary and feeder realignment for fall 2028, so confirm any address with Austin ISD’s school finder before buying.
Homes Zoned to Lively Middle School: Market Stats
The figures below cover single-family homes sold through Unlock MLS whose addresses fall inside Lively Middle School’s 2026-27 attendance zone, based on Austin ISD’s official SY 2026-27 boundary map, not the school typed into each listing. Of the zone’s 901 sales since September 2022, 808 were in the long-standing South Austin area, led by Travis Heights, South Heights, Bouldin, Swisher Addition and Sherwood Oaks, and 93 were in the area added from Martin. In MLS, 89 listings in the zone were still tagged to Martin, so the school field lags the new boundaries.
3-Year Closed Sales Trend
| Period | Homes Sold | Median Sale Price | Median $/Sq Ft | Sale-to-List Ratio | Median Days on Market |
| Sept 2022 – Aug 2023 | 215 | $994,000 | $621.72 | 96.4% | 40 days |
| Sept 2023 – Aug 2024 | 203 | $850,000 | $545.95 | 95.9% | 47 days |
| Sept 2024 – Aug 2025 | 226 | $905,000 | $547.62 | 95.8% | 52 days |
| Trailing 12 Months (Sept 2025 – Aug 2026) | 257 | $813,750 | $499.62 | 96.3% | 37 days |
Data sourced from Unlock MLS. Statistics deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Single-family homes only. Each Austin ISD listing was geocoded and matched to Austin ISD’s SY 2026-27 Lively Middle School attendance boundary, so the figures reflect today’s zone rather than the school typed into each listing.
The median sale price across the Lively zone fell from $994,000 in 2022-23 to $813,750 over the trailing twelve months, a change of about -18.1%. Median price per square foot fell by a similar amount, from $621.72 to $499.62 (-19.6%), with the median home size steady near 1,750 square feet, so the decline reflects lower prices rather than smaller homes.
Sales volume rose from 215 homes in 2022-23 to 257 in the past twelve months. Median days on market was 37 days over the past year, down from 40 days in 2022-23 and 52 days in 2024-25, and sellers received a median of 96.3% of their final list price, about the same as 96.4% in 2022-23.
The two parts of the zone are very different markets. In the long-standing South Austin area, the median went from $1,099,000 in 2022-23 to $886,000 over the past twelve months, down about 19.4%, on 196 and 230 sales. In the area added from Martin, where homes are smaller, the median went from $475,000 to $335,000, down about 29.5%, on 19 and 27 sales.
Current Inventory Snapshot
As of October 2, 2026
| Status | Count | Median List Price | Median Days on Market |
| Active | 124 | $850,000 | 78 days |
| Active Under Contract | 18 | $874,475 | 17 days |
| Pending | 10 | $707,000 | 6 days |
Data sourced from Unlock MLS. Statistics deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Single-family homes only, same zone method as above.
152 homes are currently active, under contract, or pending in the Lively Middle School zone. With 124 active listings against about 21.4 sales a month over the past year, the zone has roughly 5.8 months of inventory, a balanced market close to favoring buyers.
The median active list price of $850,000 is above the trailing-twelve-month median sale price of $813,750, and active listings have been on the market a median of 78 days.
Homes for Sale Near Sarah Lively Middle School
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Neighborhoods Zoned to Lively Middle School
The neighborhoods below have their own guides and are zoned to Lively Middle School for 2026-27. Only about 30% of Chernosky’s sales fall inside the Lively zone, so check the specific address there.
The zone also includes South Heights, Swisher Addition, Blue Bonnet Hills, Cherry Hills, Brinwood, Fairview Park, Loma Linda, La Perla, Garden Villa Estates, Oak Ridge Heights and Garden Oaks, which don’t have separate guides.
Bouldin Creek
1-15 beds, 1-13 baths, 500-6,500 sqft, High $500,000s – $4.7MMs
Chernosky
1-5 beds, 1-3 baths, 400-2,000 sqft, Mid $100,000s – High $300,000s
Dawson
1-7 beds, 1-5 baths, 700-4,000 sqft, Mid $400,000s – $1.7MMs
Galindo
1-5 beds, 1-5 baths, 500-5,600 sqft, Low $400,000s – $2.2MMs
River Bluff
See the full guide for current homes and pricing
Santa Monica Park
3-5 beds, 1-3 baths, 1,000-2,800 sqft, High $200,000s – Mid $700,000s
Sherwood Oaks
2-5 beds, 1-4 baths, 900-3,500 sqft, Mid $400,000s – $1.9MMs
Skyway
2-3 beds, 3-4 baths, 1,467-2,140 sqft, Mid $500,000s – High $600,000s
South Congress
1-6 beds, 1-7 baths, 700-4,000 sqft, High $300,000s – $3.9MMs
Travis Heights
1-6 beds, 1-6 baths, 350-4,700 sqft, High $300,000s – $3.4MMs
Villa Court
2-4 beds, 2-3 baths, 1,395-1,761 sqft, Mid $600,000s – High $900,000s
Feeder Elementary and High Schools
For 2026-27, five elementary zones feed Lively: Galindo (about 39% of the zone’s home sales), Travis Heights (about 38%), Allison (about 10%), Zilker (about 7%) and Linder (about 5%). About 90% of the zone’s home sales fall in the Travis Early College High School zone and about 10%, the area added from Martin, in the Eastside Early College High School zone, with a handful in the Austin High School zone.
Feeder Elementary Schools
- Galindo Elementary School (about 39% of the zone’s home sales)
3800 S. Second St., Austin, TX 78704
Great Schools Rating: 4/10 - Travis Heights Elementary School (about 38% of the zone’s home sales)
2010 Alameda Dr., Austin, TX 78704
Great Schools Rating: 6/10 - Allison Elementary School (about 10% of the zone’s home sales)
515 Vargas Rd., Austin, TX 78741
Great Schools Rating: 3/10 - Andrew J. Zilker Elementary School (about 7% of the zone’s home sales)
1900 Bluebonnet Ln., Austin, TX 78704
Great Schools Rating: 9/10 - Linder Elementary School (about 5% of the zone’s home sales)
2800 Metcalfe Rd., Austin, TX 78741
Great Schools Rating: 2/10
Feeder High Schools
- Travis Early College High School (about 90% of the zone’s home sales)
1211 E. Oltorf St., Austin, TX 78704
Great Schools Rating: 1/10 - Eastside Early College High School (about 10% of the zone’s home sales)
900 Thompson St., Austin, TX 78702
Great Schools Rating: 1/10
Source: Austin ISD’s official SY 2026-27 attendance boundary and school reassignment layers (updated July 30, 2026); shares are based on where the zone’s single-family home sales since Sept 2022 fall. Feeder patterns can change, and Austin ISD plans boundary changes for 2027-28 and a district-wide realignment for fall 2028, so confirm with the district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ratings and Zoning
Lively earned a C with a score of 79 in TEA’s 2025-26 accountability ratings, released in August 2026. Its score has risen each year since a D (69) in 2022-23, to 73 in 2023-24 and 77 in 2024-25.
School Progress rose to a B (81), and Academic Growth climbed from 65 to 70. Closing the Gaps also rose to 75, while Student Achievement held at 75.
Yes. TEA has identified Lively for targeted support and improvement every year from 2021-22 through 2025-26, which reflects results for specific student groups rather than the campus as a whole.
Lively added about 3.1 square miles east of I-35 from the former Martin zone, mostly in the Allison Elementary zone with part of the Sánchez zone. That area feeds Eastside Early College High School rather than Travis.
Use Austin ISD’s school finder and confirm with the district. Austin ISD plans Phase 1 boundary changes for 2027-28 and a district-wide boundary and feeder realignment for fall 2028.
Programs, Feeder Schools and Home Prices
Austin ISD residents apply in Round 1 of Enroll Austin. Fall grades and two teacher recommendations count for half the score, STAAR or MAP scores for a quarter, and a letter or two-minute video for a quarter.
Yes. Lively describes its Spanish dual language program as the largest middle school dual language program in Austin ISD. It is open to students from an Austin ISD K-5 dual language program, students with Spanish at home, or by placement test.
About 90% of the zone’s home sales fall in the Travis Early College High School zone. The East Austin area added from Martin, about 10%, is zoned to Eastside Early College High School.
Over the trailing twelve months, 257 single-family homes sold in the Lively zone at a median of $813,750, down about 18.1% from $994,000 in 2022-23. The median was $886,000 in the long-standing South Austin area and $335,000 in the area added from Martin.
Homes sold in a median of 37 days over the past year. As of October 2, 2026, there were 124 active listings, about 5.8 months of inventory, and those listings had been on the market a median of 78 days.
Looking to Buy a Home Near Lively Middle School?
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Learn more about who we are and how we work at our Buyer Representation Program page.
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Rebecca Jacks
Broker Associate, CRS, ABR, SFR · Eleven Oaks Realty
Call or text (512) 827-8323 · info@11OaksRealty.com
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