Ed Neuhaus 
Akins Scored an 81. Austin High Scored an 89. The Price Gap Is $409,000.
Austin High School earned a B with an 89 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. Akins High School also earned a B, at 81 out of 100. Both are Austin ISD high schools, but they serve communities on opposite ends of the city’s economic spectrum. The median home price near Austin High is $799,000. Near Akins, it is $390,000. That is a $409,000 gap for an 8 point difference on the TEA scale.
Austin High sits along the shores of Lady Bird Lake in one of the most prestigious zip codes in the city. Akins serves the far south Austin communities along Slaughter Lane and beyond, where affordability still exists within the Austin city limits. Both schools carry B ratings, both are part of the same district, and both offer strong academic programs. But the experience of attending each school and living in each zone could not be more different.
This is one of those comparisons that tells you a lot about how Austin’s real estate market works. The school rating gap is modest. The lifestyle gap is massive. And the price gap is somewhere in between. Lets figure out what actually matters for your situation.
Akins vs Austin High: Quick Comparison
| Akins High School | Austin High School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | B (81/100) | B (89/100) |
| Enrollment | 531 students | 2,321 students |
| Grades | 09 – 12 | 09 – 12 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $390,000 | $799,000 |
| Key Programs | Career & tech pathways, small campus | Deep AP, athletics, fine arts |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school annually across multiple performance domains. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 accountability cycle.
| Performance Metric | Akins High School | Austin High School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | B (81/100) | B (89/100) |
| Student Achievement | C (79/100) | A (91/100) |
| School Progress | B (84/100) | B (87/100) |
| Academic Growth | B (83/100) | B (86/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (77/100) | A (90/100) |
| Enrollment | 531 students (09 – 12) | 2,321 students (09 – 12) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 81.0% | 9.1% |
| English Learners | 30.5% | 3.2% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 7 of 7 earned |
Austin High leads in every category, but the gaps in School Progress and Academic Growth are relatively small (3 points each). The big separations come in Student Achievement (91 vs 79) and Closing the Gaps (90 vs 77). And the demographic context is stark: Akins serves 81% economically disadvantaged students with 30.5% English learners, while Austin High is at 9.1% and 3.2%. In that light, Akins earning an 81 overall, a B, and 6 of 7 distinctions is a remarkable achievement. The school is doing serious academic work with a student body that faces real barriers to performance.
For the full TEA breakdown, visit the Akins High school page or the Austin High school page.
Akins High: Far South Austin’s Best Kept Secret
Akins is a smaller campus at 531 students, and it has built a strong identity around career and technical education pathways that prepare students for immediate employment or college. The school sits in far south Austin where $390,000 still buys a real house, and the zone offers some of the most affordable single family housing in all of Austin ISD. For buyers who want the Austin city limits, the Austin ISD enrollment, and a monthly payment that does not require a six figure household income, Akins is one of the few remaining options.
The B rating and 6 of 7 distinctions say this is a school that is punching well above its weight. The Academic Growth score of 83 tells you students are learning and improving, which is exactly what you want to see from any campus regardless of the overall rating.
Austin High: Lake Austin Living and a Legacy Campus
Austin High is the original Austin ISD high school, and it occupies one of the most enviable locations in the city along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The campus draws from Tarrytown, West Austin, and the neighborhoods along Lake Austin Boulevard that represent some of the most expensive real estate in the metro. At $799,000 median, you are paying for location, lifestyle, and access to a high school with deep AP course offerings, competitive athletics (the crew team practices on the lake), and a fine arts program that benefits from a well resourced community.
The 89 TEA score with all 7 distinctions is strong, and the campus has maintained its reputation as one of Austin ISD’s premier high schools for decades. But that 89 is a B, not an A, and for the price of entry some buyers expect an A rated campus. The reality is that very few large high schools crack the 90 threshold, and Austin High’s consistency is its real selling point.
The Neighborhoods
The Akins zone is far south Austin, the part of the city that still feels more like small town Texas than booming tech capital. Older homes on larger lots, some newer development, and a pace of life that is notably different from central Austin. The commute to downtown is real (30+ minutes in traffic), but for buyers who work south or remotely, it is a non issue.
The Austin High zone is the Austin that people picture when they think of the city: Lady Bird Lake, live music, walkability, and homes with genuine character under mature pecan trees. It is beautiful, it is expensive, and the lifestyle is hard to replicate anywhere else in the metro.
Browse all homes zoned to Akins High or homes zoned to Austin High.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Akins High if:
- Budget is the primary driver and you want Austin ISD at under $400,000
- Career and technical education pathways are important for your student
- You value a small campus where students get individual attention
You might lean toward Austin High if:
- You want the West Austin, Tarrytown, or Lake Austin lifestyle
- Deep AP course offerings and competitive extracurriculars matter
- Budget is not the limiting factor and you are willing to pay the premium for location
- Proximity to downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake is a priority
Here is what I tell buyers when this comparison comes up. If you can afford the Austin High zone and the lifestyle appeals to you, it is a special place to live and the school is strong. But Akins at $390,000 with a B rating and 6 distinctions is one of the most underrated values in all of Austin ISD. The fact that an 81 TEA score costs $409,000 less than an 89 should make every budget conscious buyer stop and think. I digress, but the math is the math.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Whether you are shopping in the $400s or the $800s, finding the right Austin ISD zone takes local knowledge that goes beyond the TEA report card. I have been doing this for over 19 years, and I love helping buyers discover the neighborhoods that actually match their lives. Lets talk. Reach out to me and we will find your spot.
