Ed 
Cedar Park High vs Leander High: Which Leander ISD Campus Fits Your Budget?
Cedar Park High School earned an A in the 2025 TEA accountability ratings (Texas Tribune). Leander High School also earned an A (Texas Tribune). Both are flagship campuses in Leander ISD, both serve large student bodies, and both sit in the heart of the Cedar Park and Leander communities that have been among the fastest growing in Texas for over a decade. The median home prices tell a bigger story: about $360,000 near Cedar Park High vs about $242,500 near Leander High based on trailing 12-month MLS closings.
So you have two A rated high schools in the same district, 4.5 miles apart, with roughly a $117,000 price gap. That is the kind of math that gets buyers thinking carefully about what they are really paying for. And after selling homes in both zones for 19 years, I can tell you the answer is mostly “location and housing stock,” not school quality.
Cedar Park vs Leander High: Quick Comparison
| Cedar Park High School | Leander High School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A | A |
| Enrollment | 2,242 students | 2,139 students |
| Grades | 09 – 12 | 09 – 12 |
| District | Leander ISD | Leander ISD |
| Median Home Price | ~$360,000 | ~$242,500 |
| Key Feeders | Cedar Park MS, Henry MS | Leander MS, Running Brushy MS |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school across three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 accountability cycle (Texas Tribune).
| Performance Metric | Cedar Park High School | Leander High School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A | A |
| Student Achievement | B | C |
| School Progress | B | B |
| Closing the Gaps | B | B |
| Enrollment | 2,242 students (09 – 12) | 2,139 students (09 – 12) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 13.8% | 28.1% |
Both schools earned an A overall. The per-domain breakdown shows both campuses landing in the B range across School Progress and Closing the Gaps, with Cedar Park edging Leander in Student Achievement. Cedar Park enrolls about 2,242 students; Leander enrolls about 2,139. Leander High earns its A while serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (28.1% vs 13.8%), which makes its performance even more noteworthy.
For the full breakdown, visit the Cedar Park HS school page or the Leander HS school page.
Cedar Park High School: The Premium Pick
Cedar Park High draws from the more established and central parts of Cedar Park, including neighborhoods near the Parmer Lane corridor and the areas south of Whitestone Boulevard. These neighborhoods tend to feature larger homes on bigger lots, many from the early 2000s to 2010s build cycle that brought so many people to Cedar Park in the first place. The roughly $360,000 median reflects that maturity and location. The school draws from both Cedar Park Middle School and Henry Middle School, two of the strongest middle schools in the district.
Leander High School: A Rated Quality at a Lower Entry Point
Leander High serves the more northern and western reaches of the district, including neighborhoods in the city of Leander proper that have seen explosive growth. The housing stock is more varied, with newer construction mixing with established neighborhoods, and the roughly $242,500 median makes this one of the most affordable A rated high school zones in the greater Austin area. The school draws from Leander Middle School and Running Brushy Middle School and has a strong athletics program that generates real community pride.
I have watched Leander evolve from a sleepy small town to one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, and the high school has kept pace with that growth. The campus facilities are excellent, the programs are deep, and the community support is genuine. At that price point, this is one of those zones where I tell buyers “you are getting more than you paid for.”
The Neighborhoods
Cedar Park’s zone covers the more centrally located neighborhoods with better proximity to Hwy 183 and the amenities along Whitestone and Cypress Creek. Leander’s zone extends further north and west where development is still active and new neighborhoods are still coming online. Both areas offer excellent community amenities, parks, and trail systems.
Browse all homes zoned to Cedar Park HS or homes zoned to Leander HS.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Cedar Park High if:
- Central location with shorter commute times to Austin is a priority
- Established neighborhoods with mature landscaping appeal to you
- You are comfortable at the higher Cedar Park price point
You might lean toward Leander High if:
- Saving roughly $117,000 on the median while keeping the A rating sounds smart
- Newer construction options and active development interest you
- You are willing to trade a slightly longer commute for more house
Two A rated schools in the same district. One costs roughly $117,000 more. I know where the value is, but I also know that commute times matter and central Cedar Park has a convenience factor that Leander is still building toward. Either way, you are getting an excellent school in one of the best districts in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Leander ISD offers some of the strongest schools in the Austin area, and choosing between Cedar Park High and Leander High zones is a decision I help buyers make regularly. Lets sit down and figure out which neighborhood fits your life.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
