Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Austin’s public schools outscore 52% of Texas districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Austin, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Texas, not nationally.
From Texas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Austin’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 479 Texas towns with household incomes within a quarter of Austin’s, its schools beat 44%, lower than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 41% in spring 2022, against 51% and 41% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $14,133 per student, against $12,815 across Texas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
75 elementary schools, then 17 middle and 12 high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Texans Can Academy - Austin, Wayside Eden Park Academy, Wayside Real Learning Academy, Wayside Sci-Tech Middle and H S, Wayside Altamira Academy, Nyos Lamar Secondary, Nyos Lamar El, Texas Empowerment Academy, Texas Empowerment Academy El, Settlement Home, TNC Campus, Texas Preparatory School - Austin Campus, Premier High School-Austin South Campus, Premier High School-Austin Wells Branch, Idea Montopolis Academy, Idea Montopolis College Preparatory, Idea Rundberg Academy, Idea Rundberg College Preparatory, Idea Health Professions Academy, Idea Parmer Park College Preparatory, Idea Health Professions College Preparatory, Idea Parmer Park Academy, Cedars International Academy, Cedars Academy Next Generation H S at Highland, Harmony Science Academy - Austin, Harmony Science Academy-Pflugerville, Harmony School of Excellence - Austin, Harmony School of Science - Austin, Harmony School of Endeavor Austin, Harmony School of Innovation - Austin, University of Texas El Charter School, KIPP Austin College Prep, KIPP Austin Collegiate, KIPP Austin Academy of Arts & Letters, KIPP Austin Comunidad, KIPP Alegria Pri, KIPP Austin Beacon Prep, KIPP Austin Obras, KIPP Austin Brave, KIPP Paseo Preparatory School, KIPP Paseo Pri, Austin Discovery SCH, The East Austin College Prep at Southwest Key, The East Austin College Prep at MLK, Austin Achieve Middle, Austin Achieve Northeast El, Austin Achieve H S, Austin Achieve Ferguson, Basis Austin Pri, Basis Austin, Magnolia Montessori for All, The Excel Center for Adults - South Austin, Diboll, Valor South Austin, Travis HTS El, Mendez Middle, Austin Isd Prek Partnership, Greenleaf NCC, Regents School of Austin (private), Hyde Park Schools (private), Austin Peace Academy (private), Brentwood Christian School (private), Holy Family Catholic School (private), The Magellan International School (private), Redeemer Lutheran School (private), Headwaters School (private), Headwaters School (private), St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (private), St. Francis School (private), Austin Montessori School (private), St. Theresas Catholic School (private), Austin Classical School (private), Mariposa Montessori School (private), St. Louis Catholic School (private), Austin International School (private), School in the Hills, River Place (private), Athena Montessori Academy (private), Headwaters School Elementary Campus (private), Paragon Preparatory Inc (private), St. Austin Catholic School (private), St. Matthew's Episcopal School (private), Cathedral School of St. Mary (private), Primrose School of Shady Hollow (private), St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School (private), Griffin School (private), Good Shepherd Episcopal School (private), Mariposa Montessori School (private), The Girls' School of Austin (private), Casner Christian Academy (private), Lakecreek Montessori International School (private), Little Tiger Chinese Immersion School (private), Austin Jewish Academy (private), Whole Life Learning Center (private), Kirby Hall School (private), Ahb Community School (private), Shining Stars Montessori LLC (private), Long-View Micro School (private), Cedars Montessori School (private), City School (private), Casa Montessori Child Development Center, Inc. (private), Abacus School of Austin (private), Waterloo School (private), Casa de Ninos Bilingual Montessori School (private), Capitol School of Austin (private), Ascent: an Acton Academy (private), Ace Academy (private), Academy of Thought and Industry Austin (private), Williams School (private), Arbor Montessori Academy (private), Odyssey School (private), Hyde Park Montessori (private), Tamim (private), Mi Casita Montessori (private), Huntington-Surrey High School (private), Los Amiguitos (private) and Clearview Sudbury School (private) are in town. University of Texas at Austin H S, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Austin’s grade
B−: better than 52% of Texas school districts, #294 of 642 Texas towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Texas average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Austin, with each school’s own grade.
Austin’s public schools are run by Austin Independent School District, which also serves San Leanna and Sunset Valley. Parts of Austin (12%, 10%, 8%, 7%, 3%, 3% and 2% of its land) are served by Del Valle Independent, Round Rock Independent, Leander Independent, Manor Independent, Pflugerville Independent, Eanes Independent and Hays Consolidated Independent instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Austin vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Texas towns that share Austin’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | B− | Austin Independent |
| Cedar Park | A− | Leander Independent |
| West Lake Hills | A+ | Eanes Independent |
| Rollingwood | A+ | Eanes Independent |
| Round Rock | A− | Round Rock Independent |
| Bee Cave | A | Lake Travis Independent |
| San Leanna | — | Austin Independent |
| Manor | D | Manor Independent |
| Pflugerville | C+ | Pflugerville Independent |
| Buda | B− | Hays Consolidated Independent |
| Bear Creek | — | Dripping Springs Independent |
Every school in Austin
272 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Texas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 23 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Helping Hand, KIPP Austin Vista Middle Schools, Ki Charter - Austin, The University of Texas at Austin International H, Austin St. Hospital, Daep- El, Leadership Academy, Travis County J J A E P, Phoenix Academy, Travis County Day School, Dell Children's Medical Center, Blazier Pri, Nicole's Place, Travis Co J J A E P, New H S, Adult Transition Services, Travis County Jjaep, Travis Co J J A E P, Travis Co J J A E P, Wildhorse El, Travis Co J J A E P, Texasworks - Austin-Wells Branch and The Texas Girls School).
Questions about Austin’s schools
Are Austin’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Texas: the public schools Austin children attend outscore 52% of Texas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #294 of 642 Texas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Austin in?
Austin Independent School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 72,272 students in 123 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Austin are served by Del Valle Independent, Round Rock Independent, Leander Independent, Manor Independent, Pflugerville Independent, Eanes Independent and Hays Consolidated Independent.
Where do Austin kids go to high school?
One of 12 high schools, depending on your address: Bowie H S, Akins Early College H S, Austin H S, Anderson H S, McCallum H S, Navarro Early College H S, Lasa H S, Crockett Early College H S, Travis Early College H S, Northeast Early College H S, LBJ Early College H S and Eastside Early College H S.
What is Austin’s graduation rate?
91% of the class of 2023 in Austin Independent School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Texas.
How much does Austin spend per student?
$14,133 in Austin Independent School District (FY2024), against $12,815 across Texas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Austin?
Yes: Regents School of Austin (religious, grades K–12, 1,073 students), Hyde Park Schools (religious, grades PK–12, 775 students), Austin Peace Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 748 students), Brentwood Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 679 students), Holy Family Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 620 students), The Magellan International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 572 students), Redeemer Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 546 students), Headwaters School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 524 students), Headwaters School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 422 students), St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 414 students), St. Francis School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 398 students), Austin Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–9, 352 students), St. Theresas Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 327 students), Austin Classical School (religious, grades PK–11, 313 students), Mariposa Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 299 students), St. Louis Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 287 students), Austin International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 247 students), School in the Hills, River Place (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 198 students), Athena Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 194 students), Headwaters School Elementary Campus (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 191 students), Paragon Preparatory Inc (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 190 students), St. Austin Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 183 students), St. Matthew's Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–K, 172 students), Cathedral School of St. Mary (Catholic, grades PK–8, 169 students), Primrose School of Shady Hollow (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 165 students), St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 163 students), Griffin School (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 160 students), Good Shepherd Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–K, 149 students), Mariposa Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 146 students), The Girls' School of Austin (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades K–8, 143 students), Casner Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–K, 133 students), Lakecreek Montessori International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 122 students), Little Tiger Chinese Immersion School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 112 students), Austin Jewish Academy (religious, grades K–8, 103 students), Whole Life Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 93 students), Kirby Hall School (nonsectarian, grades PK–7, 89 students), Ahb Community School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 87 students), Shining Stars Montessori LLC (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 86 students), Long-View Micro School (nonsectarian, grades 2–8, 82 students), Cedars Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 79 students), City School (religious, grades PK–8, 76 students), Casa Montessori Child Development Center, Inc. (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 76 students), Abacus School of Austin (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 74 students), Waterloo School (religious, grades 9–12, 70 students), Casa de Ninos Bilingual Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 67 students), Capitol School of Austin (special education, grades PK–5, 64 students), Ascent: an Acton Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 64 students), Ace Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 60 students), Academy of Thought and Industry Austin (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 54 students), Williams School (special education, grades PK–6, 50 students), Arbor Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students), Odyssey School (special education, grades 5–12, 41 students), Hyde Park Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students), Tamim (religious, grades PK–7, 32 students), Mi Casita Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 29 students), Huntington-Surrey High School (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 29 students), Los Amiguitos (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 25 students) and Clearview Sudbury School (nonsectarian, grades , 20 students). Austin also has 58 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Austin families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Austin → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Texas. Stars are from neighbors.