Bee Cave Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary: A Side-by-Side for Relocating Families

Bee Cave Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary: Which One Is Right for Your Family?

So you’re moving to the Lake Travis area and you’ve narrowed it down to two schools. Maybe you’ve driven through Bee Cave and noticed the new construction everywhere. Maybe you’ve cruised through Lakeway and felt that established, tree-lined neighborhood energy. Either way, you’re asking the same question every relocating parent asks me: which elementary school should we be looking at?

I get this one a lot. After 15+ years of helping families move into Bee Cave and Lakeway, I can tell you that Bee Cave Elementary and Lakeway Elementary are both excellent schools inside an A-rated district. But they offer genuinely different experiences. And understanding those differences before you pick a neighborhood can save you a lot of second-guessing later.

Let me walk you through what actually sets them apart.

Quick Comparison: Bee Cave Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary

Both schools sit inside the same outstanding district. Same curriculum standards. Same access to LTISD programs and resources. But the day-to-day experience at each campus? That’s where the story gets interesting.

Bee Cave Elementary: The Biggest Campus With Big Energy

At 826 students, Bee Cave Elementary is the largest elementary campus in Lake Travis ISD. And honestly, you can feel it. The campus has a buzz to it. There’s an energy that comes from a larger school community, and Principal Kimberly Kellner has built a culture that channels that energy in the right direction.

What does that look like in practice? For starters, Bee Cave Elementary has one of the most active PTAs in the district. We’re talking organized fundraisers, community events, volunteer programs, and parent involvement that goes well beyond the occasional bake sale. If you’re the kind of family that wants to plug into the school community and be part of something, Kellner’s campus gives you plenty of ways to do that.

But here’s what I think matters most for relocating families. Because Bee Cave Elementary is the largest campus, it tends to draw from a wider range of neighborhoods along the Bee Cave growth corridor. That means your kids are going to meet families from all kinds of backgrounds and housing situations. New construction families. Families who’ve been here a decade. Families in townhomes and families on acreage. There’s a real diversity of experience in that building, and for a lot of parents I work with, that’s actually a selling point.

Is a bigger school always better? Of course not. Some kids thrive in a smaller setting where every teacher knows their name by October. But if your child does well in a more dynamic environment with lots of social opportunities, Bee Cave Elementary delivers that in a way the smaller campuses simply can’t.

Looking at homes zoned to Bee Cave Elementary? You’ll find options ranging from newer master-planned communities to established neighborhoods closer to the Hamilton Pool Road corridor.

Lakeway Elementary: The Heritage Campus With Deep Roots

Now let’s talk about the other end of the spectrum. Lakeway Elementary is the most established elementary campus in the district and also the smallest, with about 592 students. And that combination creates something you can’t manufacture. It creates a genuine sense of community that families talk about for years after their kids move on to middle school.

Principal Matthew Nelson is new to Lakeway Elementary as of 2025, but he brings over 10 years of campus leadership experience. That matters. Taking over a heritage campus with deep traditions and an engaged parent community requires someone who understands how to honor what already works while still pushing things forward. From what I’ve seen and heard from families in the area, Nelson is the right fit for that job.

So what makes Lakeway Elementary feel different from Bee Cave Elementary? It starts with size. When you have fewer than 600 kids on a campus, the math just works differently. Teachers know students across grade levels. Parents know each other. The front office staff knows your kid by name. You walk in and it feels less like an institution and more like a neighborhood school. Because that’s exactly what it is.

The “heritage campus” label isn’t just marketing language. Lakeway Elementary has been serving families in the Lakeway core for a long time. There are families where the parents attended Lakeway Elementary themselves and now their kids are walking the same halls. That kind of continuity builds something real. It builds trust between families and staff. It builds traditions that actually mean something. And for a relocating family, it means you’re joining a community that already has strong bones.

Does a smaller school have trade-offs? Sure. You might see fewer elective options or club choices compared to a larger campus. But for families who prioritize that tight-knit feel where your child isn’t just a number, Lakeway Elementary is hard to beat.

Want to see what’s available? Browse homes zoned to Lakeway Elementary to get a sense of the neighborhoods feeding into this campus.

Neighborhoods and Real Estate: Two Different Markets

Here’s where my real estate brain kicks in. Because the school question and the neighborhood question are really the same question, aren’t they?

Bee Cave is a growth corridor. Full stop. New retail, new restaurants, new master-planned communities, new commercial development along 71 and Hamilton Pool Road. If you want a newer home with modern finishes in a neighborhood that’s still being built out, Bee Cave is where you’re looking. The trade-off is that the area is evolving quickly, which means the character of your neighborhood might shift over the next five to ten years as development fills in around you.

Lakeway is a different story. This is an established community with mature landscaping, neighborhood pools, golf courses, and a city government that actively manages growth. Homes in the Lakeway core tend to be older but well-maintained, and you’ll find a mix of original builds and thoughtfully renovated properties. The neighborhoods feeding into Lakeway Elementary have a settled, finished quality that appeals to families who want to know exactly what they’re getting.

So which is the better investment? That depends entirely on your timeline and what you value. Bee Cave offers upside potential as the area continues to develop. Lakeway offers stability and a proven track record. Both are strong markets. But they attract different buyers for different reasons.

If you want to dig deeper into either area, start with Bee Cave homes for sale or Lakeway homes for sale and you’ll see what I mean about the differences in housing stock.

Which School Fits YOUR Family?

I’ve watched hundreds of families make this exact decision. And after all these years, I’ve learned that the “right” school is never about test scores alone. It’s about fit. So let me give you some honest framing.

Bee Cave Elementary might be your school if:

• Your child thrives in larger social settings with lots of kids to connect with
• You want a highly active PTA and tons of parent involvement opportunities
• You’re drawn to newer construction and the energy of a growing community
• You like the idea of a bigger campus with more programs and activities

Lakeway Elementary might be your school if:

• Your child does better when teachers and staff know them personally
• You value tradition, continuity, and a school with deep community roots
• You prefer an established neighborhood where you know what you’re buying into
• You want the smallest campus feel in the district with that true neighborhood school vibe

And here’s the thing I always tell families. You genuinely cannot make a bad choice between these two schools. They’re both inside Lake Travis ISD, which carries an A rating from the Texas Education Agency, graduates 97.7% of its students, and serves over 11,230 kids across the district. The foundation is rock solid at both campuses. The question is just about which flavor of excellent works better for your family.

The LTISD Advantage You Might Not Know About

One thing that sets Lake Travis ISD apart from other districts in the Austin area is the strength of its parent-driven support organizations. And the one I want every relocating family to know about is LTISD SEPAC, the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee.

I’ve been involved with SEPAC personally, and I can tell you it’s one of the most impressive parent advocacy groups I’ve encountered in any school district. If your child has an IEP, a 504 plan, or any kind of learning difference, SEPAC is a resource that will make your transition into the district significantly smoother. They host workshops, connect parents with each other, and serve as a bridge between families and the district’s special education team.

Even if special education isn’t on your radar right now, the existence of organizations like SEPAC tells you something important about this community. Parents here are engaged. They show up. They advocate. And that culture flows into every campus in the district, including both Bee Cave Elementary and Lakeway Elementary.

You can learn more about the full range of Lake Travis ISD elementary schools in my comprehensive comparison guide. It covers every campus in the district so you can see how Bee Cave and Lakeway stack up against the other options.

Ready to Find Your Family’s Fit?

Choosing between Bee Cave Elementary and Lakeway Elementary is really about choosing the neighborhood and lifestyle that matches how your family lives. And that’s a conversation I have with relocating families every single week.

If you want someone who knows these school zones block by block, who has walked through these neighborhoods for over 15 years, and who can help you think through the school decision alongside the real estate decision, let’s connect. I’m happy to share what I know, point you to the right neighborhoods, and make sure you’re set up for a smooth landing in the Lake Travis area.

Because picking the right school isn’t just about academics. It’s about finding the place where your family belongs.