Ed Neuhaus 
Why Bee Cave Schools Keep Showing Up on Every Family’s Search Criteria
When families start researching Bee Cave, the school question comes up within the first five minutes. And it should. Schools drive more real estate decisions in the Austin metro than any other single factor, including price. I know this because I watch it happen every week in my business. A family will stretch their budget, accept a longer commute, or change neighborhoods entirely based on which school their kids would attend. In Bee Cave, the schools answer is Lake Travis ISD, and that answer tends to end the conversation in a good way.
I have a daughter at Lake Travis High School, so I’m not writing about these bee cave schools from a brochure. I’m writing from parent nights, email threads with teachers, and the kind of first-hand experience that only comes from actually navigating the system. Here’s what you need to know about every campus.
Lake Travis ISD: The District Overview
Lake Travis ISD serves approximately 11,000 students across the western Travis County area, including Bee Cave, Lakeway, and surrounding communities. Niche rates the district A-minus overall and ranks it as the 3rd best school district in the Austin metro area. Those rankings are based on test scores, graduation rates, parent reviews, teacher quality, and diversity metrics.
The district consistently performs above state and national averages on standardized assessments, and its college readiness indicators are strong. The graduation rate hovers around 97%, and the percentage of students taking AP courses is well above the Texas average. LTISD also invests meaningfully in technology, with 1:1 device programs, modern facilities, and the kind of infrastructure that supports both traditional and innovative teaching approaches.
Is Lake Travis ISD the absolute best district in the Austin area? Eanes ISD (which serves West Lake Hills and Westlake) consistently ranks #1 and has a valid claim to that title. But LTISD is right there in the top tier, and the gap is narrow enough that other factors (home prices, taxes, commute, community) often make Bee Cave the better overall value proposition for families. We’ve covered that comparison in detail in our Bee Cave vs West Lake Hills article.
Bee Cave Elementary
Bee Cave Elementary serves students in several core Bee Cave neighborhoods, including parts of Falconhead, Sweetwater, and surrounding areas. The campus typically enrolls around 700 to 800 students in grades K through 5.
Academically, Bee Cave Elementary consistently receives strong ratings from the Texas Education Agency and independent review sites. The parent community is engaged and well-organized, with a PTA that funds supplemental programs, technology upgrades, and enrichment activities beyond the district’s base budget. Class sizes are manageable, and teacher retention is high relative to the broader Central Texas market, which is a meaningful indicator of workplace quality.
The campus features modern facilities, outdoor learning spaces, and the kind of physical environment that supports elementary-age learning. The before and after school care programs are well-run, which matters a lot for working parents. For a detailed campus-by-campus comparison, see our LTISD elementary schools comparison and our articles on Bee Cave vs Serene Hills Elementary and Bee Cave vs Lake Pointe Elementary.
Lake Pointe Elementary
Lake Pointe Elementary serves the Lake Pointe neighborhood and surrounding areas. It’s one of the most sought-after elementary assignments in the district, and that demand directly impacts home values in its attendance zone. Families will specifically target Lake Pointe because of this school, and the correlation between school assignment and property values is about as direct as it gets in real estate.
The campus performs at or above district averages across most metrics, with particularly strong outcomes in reading and math. The facilities are well-maintained, the administration is responsive, and the school culture emphasizes both academic achievement and social-emotional development. Lake Pointe also benefits from a relatively stable enrollment, which means less disruption from rapid growth and more consistency in the classroom experience year to year.
Serene Hills Elementary
Serene Hills Elementary is one of the newer campuses in the LTISD system, built to accommodate the growth in western Bee Cave and surrounding areas. It serves portions of Provence, parts of Sweetwater, and other developing neighborhoods in the area.
Being a newer campus means modern facilities, current technology infrastructure, and a teaching staff that was hired during a period of strong district investment. The tradeoff is that newer schools are still establishing their culture and traditions, which some families value in older campuses. That said, Serene Hills has built a strong reputation quickly and performs well within the district.
Hudson Bend Middle School
Hudson Bend Middle School is the primary middle school serving Bee Cave students (grades 6-8). The campus sits along RR 620 and serves a broad geographic area that includes most of the Bee Cave neighborhoods discussed in this article.
Middle school is where a lot of parents get nervous, and I understand why. The transition from elementary to middle school is a big deal socially and academically. Hudson Bend handles it well. The school offers a range of elective programs including fine arts, athletics, technology, and pre-AP coursework that sets students up for the advanced track at Lake Travis High School. The counseling staff is proactive about the transition process, and the structured scheduling helps students adjust to the multi-teacher, multi-class format.
Athletically, Hudson Bend fields competitive teams across multiple sports, and the fine arts programs (band, choir, theater) are well-funded and well-attended. For students interested in STEM, there are dedicated programs and competitions that feed into the high school’s advanced offerings.
Lake Travis High School
Lake Travis High School is where all Bee Cave students converge for grades 9-12, and it’s the flagship campus of the district. Enrollment is approximately 3,000 students, making it one of the larger high schools in the region. The campus is expansive, with facilities that rival many small colleges.
Academically, LTHS offers a broad AP program with strong participation rates. The percentage of students taking at least one AP course is well above the state average, and the exam pass rates are competitive with the best public schools in Texas. The graduation rate is above 97%, and the college matriculation rate is high, with graduates attending schools across the state and country.
The athletic programs at Lake Travis are legendary. The football program has won multiple state championships and regularly produces Division I college athletes. But the athletic excellence extends well beyond football. Swimming, track, tennis, golf, soccer, volleyball, and baseball programs are all competitive at the state level. The facilities reflect this priority, with a stadium, aquatic center, and practice complexes that are top-tier for a public school.
Fine arts are equally strong. The band program, theater department, and visual arts programs produce students who go on to study at the university level and beyond. The debate and academic competition teams are also well-supported.
For a broader perspective on LTISD’s strengths, read our article on why we love Lake Travis schools. And for families comparing LTISD to the other top district in the area, our Lake Travis ISD vs Dripping Springs ISD comparison covers the differences in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How School Assignments Work
School assignments in LTISD are based on your home address. There’s no school-of-choice or magnet program that overrides geographic zoning (as of 2026). This means your neighborhood selection directly determines your child’s school assignment at every level. That’s why I always recommend that families verify the exact school assignment for any home they’re considering before making an offer. Boundary lines don’t always follow neighborhood boundaries, and assumptions can lead to surprises.
The LTISD website has an address lookup tool that will tell you exactly which elementary, middle, and high school your address feeds into. I encourage every family buyer to use it. And if you want help understanding which neighborhoods feed into which schools, reach out and I’ll walk you through it. This is one of the most important decisions in the homebuying process, and getting it right matters.
For the complete picture of Bee Cave beyond schools, start with our ultimate guide to living in Bee Cave.
