Ed Neuhaus 
Leander ISD Buyers: Two C Rated Elementaries, Very Different Campuses
Jim Plain Elementary scored a 76 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability report. Camacho Elementary came in at 72 out of 100. Both earned C ratings, both are in Leander ISD, and they sit just 1.1 miles from each other in the heart of Leander. The median listing price in the Jim Plain zone is $317,000 and in the Camacho zone it is $321,492. So for buyers shopping in the low $300s in one of Central Texas’s most sought after school districts, this is a head to head comparison worth understanding.
Leander ISD has built a reputation as one of the strongest districts in the Austin metro, and that reputation drives a lot of the buyer demand in this part of Williamson County. But not every campus within a strong district performs identically, and the Camacho vs Jim Plain comparison illustrates that perfectly. Both schools are solidly mid range within the district, earning C ratings that put them below Leander ISD’s top performers but still within a system that invests heavily in teacher quality, campus resources, and the kind of feeder patterns that carry students through to graduation.
Camacho vs Jim Plain: Quick Comparison
| Camacho Elementary | Jim Plain Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (72/100) | C (76/100) |
| Enrollment | 617 students | 699 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Leander ISD | Leander ISD |
| Median Home Price | $321,492 | $317,000 |
| Feeds Into | Danielson / Leander MS | Leander ISD middle schools |
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 | Camacho Elementary | Jim Plain Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (72/100) | C (76/100) |
| Student Achievement | D (60/100) | C (73/100) |
| School Progress | C (71/100) | C (75/100) |
| Academic Growth | C (71/100) | C (75/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (73/100) | C (77/100) |
| Enrollment | 617 students (EE-05) | 699 students (EE-05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 37.6% | 24.0% |
| English Learners | 11.8% | 14.9% |
| TEA Distinctions | 0 of 7 earned | 0 of 7 earned |
Jim Plain leads Camacho in every domain, though the gaps are relatively modest. The widest separation is in Student Achievement, where Jim Plain’s 73 is 13 points above Camacho’s 60 (which dipped into D territory). School Progress and Academic Growth are 4 points apart each, and Closing the Gaps shows the same 4 point gap. Neither school earned any of the 7 possible TEA distinctions in 2025, which is notable for a district with Leander ISD’s overall reputation.
The demographic profiles show meaningful differences. Camacho serves a student body that is 37.6% economically disadvantaged compared to Jim Plain’s 24.0%. That 13 percentage point gap correlates with the academic score differences, particularly in Student Achievement where the impact of economic factors tends to be most visible. Jim Plain actually has a slightly higher English Learner percentage (14.9% vs 11.8%), which makes its performance edge in that context more noteworthy.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, visit the Camacho Elementary school page or the Jim Plain Elementary school page.
Jim Plain: Slightly Higher Scores, Slightly Larger Campus
Jim Plain’s 76 out of 100 puts it at the upper end of the C range, just 4 points from a B. The campus serves 699 students and benefits from Leander ISD’s district wide resources including gifted and talented pathways, fine arts, and STEM enrichment. The consistency across Jim Plain’s domain scores (73, 75, 75, 77) tells you this is a campus performing evenly without any major weak spots dragging down the average.
The Jim Plain attendance zone covers neighborhoods in the Leander area where you will find a mix of established subdivisions and newer construction. Homes in this zone tend to offer the suburban lifestyle that draws buyers to Leander in the first place: reasonable lot sizes, community amenities, good roads, and proximity to the broader Cedar Park and north Austin commercial corridors.
Camacho: Heart of Leander with a Strong Feeder Pattern
Camacho’s 72 overall and that D in Student Achievement (60) are the numbers that catch your eye. But here is where the feeder pattern becomes the selling point. After Camacho, students move to either Danielson Middle School or Leander Middle School, both well regarded within the district. From there, the high school options include Glenn, Leander, or Rouse high schools, all three of which carry strong reputations for academics, athletics, and college preparation.
That is the thing about Leander ISD. Even when an elementary campus is not posting top marks, the middle and high school options downstream can be genuinely excellent. Buyers who think long term about the entire K through 12 pipeline sometimes find that a C rated elementary feeding into strong secondary schools is a perfectly acceptable trade off, especially when the neighborhood and price point check every other box.
The Camacho zone includes neighborhoods like Vista Ridge Estates, Cedar Brook, and Westview Meadows, with new construction still available from builders like CastleRock Communities and M/I Homes. The Cap Metro rail station in Leander gives commuters a genuine transit option into downtown Austin.
The Neighborhoods
At $317,000 and $321,492 median prices, both zones sit squarely in the accessible range for Leander ISD. These are not the premium price tiers you see in some of the district’s western zones, but they deliver the full Leander ISD experience: strong district infrastructure, competitive extracurriculars, and the kind of community investment that shows up in parks, trails, and well maintained public spaces.
Cedar Park sits just to the south with additional shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Round Rock and Georgetown are accessible for buyers who want to explore the broader north Austin corridor while staying in the Leander ISD orbit.
Browse all homes zoned to Camacho Elementary or homes zoned to Jim Plain Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Both campuses are C rated in the same district at similar price points. The decision here is about trade offs rather than a clear winner.
You might lean toward Jim Plain if:
- The 4 point overall edge and the 13 point Student Achievement advantage matter to you
- A slightly lower economically disadvantaged rate (24% vs 37.6%) at the campus level is a factor in your decision
- You want a slightly larger campus with 699 students
You might lean toward Camacho if:
- The feeder pattern into Danielson or Leander Middle, then Glenn, Leander, or Rouse High, is a strong draw
- The neighborhoods in the zone (Vista Ridge Estates, Cedar Brook) match what you want in a home
- New construction availability from production builders is important
- Access to the Leander Cap Metro rail station adds commute flexibility
Honestly, the 4 point gap between these schools is small enough that I would not let it override a significant neighborhood or home preference. If you find the right house at the right price in the Camacho zone, you are still in Leander ISD with a strong secondary school pathway ahead. And that is what most buyers are actually buying when they choose this district.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Leander ISD zones move fast, especially in the low $300s. I have been working with buyers in this market for 19 years, and I can tell you which streets are in which zone, which builders are active, and which neighborhoods give you the best long term value. Lets connect and find your home.
