Ed Neuhaus 
Both Rated C, But Bailey and Covington Are Not the Same School
If you are comparing Bailey Middle School and Covington Middle School, the first thing you will probably look at is TEA scores. And ok, fair. Bailey Middle School scored 78/100 and Covington Middle School scored 76/100. But the real question is what those numbers mean for your daily life and your home value.
Both schools are part of Austin ISD, and I have shown homes in both zones for years. The neighborhoods have their own personality, the price points are different, and the day to day experience at each campus is its own thing. That matters more than most buyers expect when they first start their search.
Below, I will break down the full TEA performance data, walk through the neighborhoods zoned to each campus, and give you my honest take on which school zone fits different types of buyers. If you want the deep dive on either campus individually, check out the Bailey Middle School school page or the Covington Middle School school page.
Bailey Middle School vs Covington Middle School: Quick Comparison
| Bailey Middle School | Covington Middle School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (78/100) | C (76/100) |
| Enrollment | 784 students | 632 students |
| Grades | 06 – 08 | 06 – 08 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $434,900 | $550,000 |
| Feeds Into | Akins HS | See school page |
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 | Bailey Middle School | Covington Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (78/100) | C (76/100) |
| Student Achievement | C (79/100) | C (76/100) |
| School Progress | C (73/100) | C (75/100) |
| Academic Growth | C (73/100) | C (75/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (77/100) | C (75/100) |
| Enrollment | 784 students (06 – 08) | 632 students (06 – 08) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 34.2% | 52.4% |
| English Learners | 9.1% | 18.0% |
| TEA Distinctions | 0 of 7 earned | 2 of 7 earned |
These two campuses are remarkably close on paper. The overall scores are within 2 points of each other, and the individual domains tell a similar story. When schools are this close in TEA performance, the tiebreaker usually comes down to neighborhood feel, commute, and home prices rather than classroom outcomes.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Bailey Middle School school page or the Covington Middle School school page.
Bailey Middle School: 784 Students and a C Rating
Bailey Middle School is one of the anchor campuses in Austin ISD, serving sixth through eighth graders in a part of south Austin that has long drawn buyers who want that unmistakable local character without sacrificing convenience. The campus is known for dedicated staff, a broad range of elective offerings, and a school community where parents tend to stay engaged year after year.
With a C rating (78/100) from TEA, Bailey Middle School sits in the middle tier of Austin ISD campuses. The scores show a school that is doing solid work, even if there is room to push higher in some areas. The campus has been steady in recent years.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Tanglewood Forest, Olympic Heights, Shady Hollow. The surrounding neighborhoods offer a range of housing options at accessible price points.
I have spent a good amount of time in this part of town, and Bailey Middle School is one of those campuses where you can feel the community investment the moment you drive through the neighborhood. The neighborhood is evolving and there is real opportunity for buyers who want to get in before prices catch up.
Covington Middle School: The Campus, the Neighborhood, the Numbers
Covington Middle School is one of south Austin’s anchor campuses within Austin ISD, serving sixth through eighth graders from a wide swath of well-established south Austin neighborhoods. The campus brings together students from communities like Park Forest, Southern Oaks, and Cherry Creek, creating a school community deeply rooted in the character and culture of this beloved part of the city.
With a C rating (76/100) from TEA, Covington Middle School sits in the middle tier of Austin ISD campuses. The scores show a school that is doing solid work, even if there is room to push higher in some areas. The campus has been steady in recent years.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Park Forest, Southern Oaks, West Gate Square. The surrounding neighborhoods offer a range of housing options at accessible price points.
The Neighborhoods
There is a real price difference between these two zones. The Covington area has a median around $550,000, while the Bailey zone comes in closer to $434,900. That $115,100 gap reflects differences in neighborhood age, lot size, finishes, and overall demand. Both are in Austin ISD, so the tax rate is the same either way.
One thing I always tell buyers: look at the neighborhood on a Saturday morning, not just a Tuesday at 2pm. You want to see who is walking dogs, who is out running, whether the parks are being used. That tells you more about the community than any listing description ever will. And yes, school zones affect resale value. That is just reality in this market.
Browse all homes zoned to Bailey Middle School or homes zoned to Covington Middle School.
Which School Fits You?
Every buyer has a different set of priorities. Here is how I would think about it.
You might lean toward Bailey Middle School if:
- TEA scores are a top priority and you want the higher rated campus
- You want to keep your home budget closer to $434,900
- The feeder path to Akins High School is important to you
- You prefer the neighborhood character around the Bailey zone
You might lean toward Covington Middle School if:
- You want a neighborhood with higher home values and the lifestyle that comes with it
- You value what the Covington neighborhood offers in terms of location and community
Honestly, these two are close enough on paper that the tiebreaker is going to be neighborhood feel and commute. I would recommend driving both zones on a weekday morning. See how the traffic flows, check out the parks, grab a coffee nearby. The numbers say these campuses are peers, so the decision comes down to lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
If you are weighing the Bailey zone against the Covington zone (or anywhere else in the Austin area), I would love to help you figure it out. I have been doing this for over 19 years and have helped buyers navigate school zone decisions more times than I can count. And honestly, this is one of my favorite conversations to have because it is never just about a school. It is about how you want your mornings to feel, where you will grab coffee, and whether your commute makes you want to scream or not.
Lets grab a coffee, walk through your priorities, and find the neighborhood that actually fits your life. No pressure, no pitch, just honest guidance from someone who knows these neighborhoods inside and out. Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
