Ed Neuhaus 
Same Price, Different Districts, and an 18 Point TEA Gap Along Highway 71
Bee Cave Elementary in Lake Travis ISD scored an 87 on TEA and earned a B. Oak Hill Elementary in Austin ISD scored a 69 and earned a D. The median home price near Bee Cave is $895,000. The median near Oak Hill is $899,000. So you are paying essentially the same price for two schools that are 18 points apart on TEA accountability. That is the kind of data point that changes a buyer’s search overnight.
The Highway 71 corridor west of Austin is one of the more confusing areas for school zone boundaries. You can be looking at homes in the Bee Cave area and cross an invisible line that puts you in Austin ISD instead of Lake Travis ISD. The neighborhoods look similar. The price points are similar. But the school data tells a very different story. And once you start looking at the middle and high school pathways, the gap only gets wider.
I have sold homes on both sides of this boundary more times than I can count (ok I probably could count but that would take a while and honestly the number would just depress me about how fast time moves). The point is, this comparison matters for anyone looking in southwest Austin or the Bee Cave area.
Bee Cave vs Oak Hill: Quick Comparison
| Bee Cave Elementary | Oak Hill Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | B (87/100) | D (69/100) |
| Enrollment | 779 students | 617 students |
| Grades | KG through 5 | EE through 5 |
| District | Lake Travis ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $895,000 | $899,000 |
| Feeds Into | Bee Cave MS, Lake Travis HS | Small/O. Henry MS, Austin/Bowie HS |
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 | Bee Cave Elementary | Oak Hill Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | B (87/100) | D (69/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (91/100) | C (72/100) |
| School Progress | B (83/100) | D (69/100) |
| Academic Growth | B (83/100) | D (69/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (78/100) | D (63/100) |
| Enrollment | 779 students (KG through 5) | 617 students (EE through 5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 3.5% | 50.4% |
| English Learners | 5.6% | 41.3% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 6 of 7 earned |
Bee Cave’s Student Achievement score of 91 (A) is the standout. That is 19 points higher than Oak Hill’s 72 (C). The School Progress and Academic Growth domains tell a similar story: B ratings for Bee Cave vs D ratings for Oak Hill. What is interesting is that both schools earned 6 of 7 TEA distinctions. Oak Hill is performing well in specific subject areas even though its overall score is dragging, which suggests areas of real strength on the campus that the headline number does not capture.
The demographic profiles could not be more different. Bee Cave has 3.5% economically disadvantaged students and 5.6% English Learners. Oak Hill has 50.4% and 41.3% respectively. These are fundamentally different instructional environments despite serving the same part of the metro area.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Bee Cave Elementary school page or the Oak Hill Elementary school page.
Bee Cave: Lake Travis ISD and the Hill Country Lifestyle
Bee Cave Elementary sits in the heart of Bee Cave, one of the fastest growing communities in the Hill Country west of Austin. The campus serves 779 students and feeds into Bee Cave Middle School and then Lake Travis High School, which is one of the most recognized high schools in the state for both academics and athletics (the football program alone is legendary, but I digress). Lake Travis ISD is a smaller district than Austin ISD, which means tighter community connections and a more focused approach to campus management.
With only 3.5% economically disadvantaged students, this is one of the most affluent school zones in the area. The neighborhoods around Bee Cave include master planned communities like Falconhead, Sweetwater, and Spanish Oaks, along with custom homes on larger lots scattered through the hills. The median of $895,000 reflects the Hill Country premium, and buyers here are paying for the combination of Lake Travis ISD schools, the natural beauty of the terrain, and proximity to the Galleria shopping center and the restaurants along Bee Cave Parkway.
Oak Hill: Austin ISD’s Western Edge
Oak Hill Elementary serves 617 students in the Oak Hill area of southwest Austin, right where Highway 71 meets the Y at Oak Hill. This is one of those Austin ISD campuses that sits in a high value neighborhood but serves a student population that looks very different from the surrounding home prices. With 50.4% economically disadvantaged and 41.3% English Learners, the school draws from a wide range of housing types including apartments, older single detached homes, and some newer construction.
The D rating at 69 is tough for buyers to see at a $899,000 median. But remember that the school zone boundaries extend well beyond the immediate neighborhoods, and the median price reflects the expensive homes in the zone, not necessarily the full picture of who is attending the school. Oak Hill feeds into Small or O. Henry Middle School and then Austin or Bowie High School, both of which are strong Austin ISD high schools.
The Neighborhoods
Bee Cave’s neighborhoods are spread across the hills west of Austin along Highway 71 and 620. You will find everything from newer townhome communities to custom builds on acreage. The area has seen massive retail and commercial growth over the last decade, and it no longer feels like the small town it was when I started selling real estate in 2007. The trade off is traffic on 71 and 620, which can be painful during peak hours.
Oak Hill sits at the intersection of 71 and 290, an area that has been promised infrastructure improvements for years (the Oak Hill Parkway project is finally moving forward, which should help). The neighborhoods include a mix of 1970s and 1980s ranch homes, some newer infill, and pockets of custom homes on larger lots. At $899,000 median, you are paying for location and lot size more than new construction.
Browse all homes zoned to Bee Cave Elementary or homes zoned to Oak Hill Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
This one has a clear winner on TEA data, but lifestyle factors make it more nuanced than the numbers suggest.
You might lean toward Bee Cave if:
- TEA performance is a priority and you want a B rated campus with an A in Student Achievement
- The Lake Travis ISD brand and the Lake Travis High School pathway matter to you
- Hill Country living with newer communities appeals to your lifestyle
You might lean toward Oak Hill if:
- You want to stay in Austin ISD for the Bowie or Austin High School pathway
- A more established, less suburban neighborhood character fits your style
- The 6 of 7 TEA distinctions suggest areas of strength worth investigating
At essentially identical price points, Bee Cave is the stronger choice from a TEA perspective. An 18 point gap is hard to explain away. But some buyers specifically want Austin ISD for the secondary options (Bowie High School in particular has an excellent reputation), and Oak Hill’s neighborhoods have a character that the newer Bee Cave communities simply cannot replicate. It is genuinely a matter of what you value most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
The district boundary along Highway 71 is one of the most consequential lines on the school zone map in the Austin area. I have been helping buyers navigate this exact decision for 19 years. Lets talk about what matters most to you and I will pull current listings on both sides of the line.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
