Ed 
Campbell Is a D. Oak Springs Is an F. For East Austin Buyers, These Are the Realistic Options.
Oak Springs Elementary earned an F in the 2025 TEA accountability ratings (Texas Tribune Schools Explorer). Campbell Elementary, about a mile north in the same Austin ISD, earned a D (Austin ISD campus page). Neither rating is going to excite anyone, and there is a critical detail buyers need to know up front: Oak Springs is on Austin ISD’s closure list. The district voted to consolidate Oak Springs with Blackshear into a new $47M Oak Springs campus by 2028, and students will be reassigned starting 2026-27 (KUT). If you are buying in this corridor, the school zone you are quoted today is not necessarily the school zone your kids will attend.
East Austin has changed dramatically over the past decade. The homes are better, the restaurants are incredible, and the investment potential is real. But the elementary school performance in this corridor has not kept pace with the neighborhood transformation. That is the honest reality, and pretending otherwise does not help anyone make a good decision.
So lets look at the numbers, talk about what each campus is working with, and figure out what makes sense for different types of buyers in this market.
Campbell vs Oak Springs: Quick Comparison
| Campbell Elementary | Oak Springs Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 TEA Rating | D | F (closing — see below) |
| Enrollment | ~190 students | ~215 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| 2025 Median Sale (zip) | ~$631,000 (78722) | ~$717,000 (78702) |
| Feeds Into (2026-27) | Kealing or Marshall MS, then Northeast ECHS | Reassigned via Austin ISD closure plan |
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 | Campbell Elementary | Oak Springs Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Overall Rating | D | F |
| Student Achievement | D | F |
| School Progress | D | D |
| Closing the Gaps | C | D |
| Enrollment | ~190 students (PK-5) | ~215 students (PK-5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | ~70% | ~97% |
| Closure Status | Open, no closure planned | Closing — consolidating with Blackshear into new Oak Springs campus by 2028 |
Sources: Austin ISD Campbell page, Texas Tribune Oak Springs, KUT closure coverage. TEA uses three accountability domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps.
Campbell outscores Oak Springs across every domain. The widest gap is in Student Achievement, where Campbell sits at a D while Oak Springs is at an F. Both schools are very small (under 220 students each), which means individual student performance swings can have an outsized impact on campus-wide scores. But the pattern is consistent across all domains.
Oak Springs serves a campus where roughly 97% of students are economically disadvantaged — one of the highest rates in Austin ISD (Texas Tribune). Campbell is also high at around 70% (PublicSchoolReview), but the gap likely plays into the performance difference.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Campbell Elementary school page or the Oak Springs Elementary school page.
Campbell Elementary: Small Campus in a Changing Corridor
Campbell is one of the smaller campuses in Austin ISD at roughly 190 students. The school sits in the East Austin corridor that has been ground zero for Austin’s gentrification conversation over the past 15 years. The neighborhood mix is shifting, new construction sits next to older homes, and the student population reflects that transition. A D rating is not great, but for a campus this small serving a high-need population, the score tells you the school is functioning. Notably, Campbell is NOT on Austin ISD’s closure or restart list.
The 78722 zip code that includes Campbell saw 2025 median sale prices around $631,000 (Austin Board of Realtors MLS data), which puts you in the heart of East Austin with quick access to downtown, the East Side entertainment district, and I-35.
Oak Springs Elementary: The Toughest Numbers in This Comparison
Oak Springs is in a tough spot. The campus earned F ratings in three consecutive years, which is why Austin ISD voted to consolidate it with Blackshear into a new combined campus by 2028 (KUT). Roughly 97% of students are economically disadvantaged, which speaks to the challenges the school faces. The 78702 zip code around Oak Springs saw 2025 median sale prices around $717,000 (Austin MLS) — reflecting downtown proximity, not the elementary school.
Buyers purchasing in the Oak Springs zone are typically buying for location and investment upside, not for the elementary school. That is a legitimate strategy in a market like Austin where real estate appreciation has historically rewarded East Side buyers. But you should go in knowing two things: the school performance is at the bottom of the district, and the school itself is being closed and consolidated into a new combined campus, so the elementary zone you are quoted today may not be where your child actually attends starting in 2026-27.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones are in East Austin, both are close to downtown, and both have seen significant real estate appreciation. The Campbell zone (78722) sits slightly north and was more affordable in 2025 at roughly $631K median. The Oak Springs zone (78702) sits closer to the East Riverside and Holly corridors, commanding roughly $717K median that reflects its proximity to downtown and the lake.
Browse all homes zoned to Campbell Elementary or homes zoned to Oak Springs Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Campbell if:
- You want the higher TEA score between the two East Austin options
- A lower entry point (~$631K vs ~$717K at zip level) matters
- A small campus environment (~190 students) appeals to you and you want a school NOT on the closure list
You might lean toward Oak Springs if:
- Proximity to downtown and the lake is your top priority
- You are buying primarily as an investment and are less focused on school scores
- You plan to use private school or charter options for K through 5
- You understand the campus is being closed and consolidated by 2028 and you are comfortable with your kids being reassigned
If school performance is in your top three priorities, Campbell is the clear pick between these two. A D is better than an F, the campus is not on the closure list, and the zip-level median is roughly $85K lower. But East Austin real estate decisions are rarely just about the school. The location premium in the Oak Springs zone exists for a reason, and some buyers are willing to pay it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
East Austin school zones present unique tradeoffs between location, investment potential, and school performance. I have been navigating this market for 19 years and can help you think through all the variables. Lets connect and figure out what works for you.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
