Ed 
Is an A Rated Middle School Worth More Than a B?
Cedar Park Middle School earned an A on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. Running Brushy Middle School earned a B. Both are Leander ISD middle schools, both serve the Cedar Park and Leander communities, and both deliver strong academic outcomes. Homes zoned to Running Brushy carry a higher median price than homes zoned to Cedar Park Middle, so the B rated school actually sits in the more expensive zone.
Wait, that seems backwards right? It is. And the reason is simple: the Running Brushy zone draws from newer master planned communities in the Leander and north Cedar Park area, where home prices reflect the housing stock and amenities more than the school rating. Cedar Park Middle’s zone covers more established parts of Cedar Park where prices are moderate but the school performance is exceptional. This is one of those Austin area comparisons where the school data and the price data tell opposite stories.
Cedar Park vs Running Brushy Middle: Quick Comparison
| Cedar Park Middle | Running Brushy Middle | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating (2025) | A | B |
| Enrollment | 1,364 students | 1,119 students |
| Grades | 06 – 08 | 06 – 08 |
| District | Leander ISD | Leander ISD |
| Zone Median Home Price | $550,000 | $699,999 |
| Feeds Into | Cedar Park HS | Vista Ridge HS |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school annually across three performance domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 accountability cycle.
| Performance Metric | Cedar Park Middle | Running Brushy Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A | B |
| Student Achievement | A | B |
| School Progress | B | B |
| Closing the Gaps | A | A |
| Enrollment | 1,364 students (06 – 08) | 1,119 students (06 – 08) |
Cedar Park Middle leads in the Student Achievement domain, while both schools earned similar marks on School Progress and Closing the Gaps. Cedar Park Middle’s overall A reflects consistently strong campus performance. Running Brushy at a B is also excellent, with all three domain scores landing in solid territory.
For the full TEA breakdown, visit the Cedar Park Middle school page or the Running Brushy Middle school page.
Cedar Park Middle: The A Rated Campus at a Lower Price
Cedar Park Middle is one of Leander ISD’s flagship campuses, and the A rating reflects years of consistent investment and strong leadership. The school is larger at 1,364 students, which gives it the scale to offer diverse elective options, competitive athletics, and robust fine arts programming. The surrounding neighborhoods in central Cedar Park are well established and conveniently located along the 183 and 1431 corridors. Cedar Park Middle is the dedicated middle school feeder for Cedar Park High School.
Running Brushy: Newer Community, Strong Performance
Running Brushy serves newer communities in the northern Cedar Park and Leander corridor. The campus is slightly smaller at 1,119 students and reflects the growth energy of the communities it serves. The B rating is strong by any measure, and the small gap separating it from an A tells you this school is performing at a very high level. The higher zone median price reflects the newer housing stock rather than any deficiency in the school. Running Brushy feeds into Vista Ridge High School.
The Neighborhoods
Cedar Park Middle’s zone covers the heart of Cedar Park where the median home price is around $550,000. Running Brushy’s zone extends into newer developments where homes trend newer and larger, with a median closer to $700,000. Both zones are thoroughly suburban with modern amenities and strong commercial infrastructure.
Browse all homes zoned to Cedar Park Middle or homes zoned to Running Brushy.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Cedar Park Middle if:
- The A rating is important to you
- You want a lower entry price while getting a higher rated school
- Central Cedar Park location and established neighborhoods appeal to you
- You want a direct path into Cedar Park High School
You might lean toward Running Brushy if:
- Newer construction and master planned community features are a priority
- The north Cedar Park and Leander corridor works better for your commute
- A B on the TEA scale satisfies your school quality requirements
- You want a path into Vista Ridge High School
Cedar Park Middle is the better school by the numbers and it costs less. That combination is unusual and worth highlighting. Running Brushy is excellent too, and the newer neighborhoods in its zone have their own appeal. But if school performance per dollar is what you are optimizing for, Cedar Park Middle is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Leander ISD middle schools are among the strongest in the metro, and I can help you navigate the zones that deliver the best value. Reach out and lets find your fit.
