Ed Neuhaus 
Two Round Rock ISD Campuses, Two Very Different Price Points
If you are comparing Cedar Valley Middle School and Pearson Ranch Middle School, the first thing you will probably look at is TEA scores. And ok, fair. Cedar Valley Middle School scored 94/100 and Pearson Ranch Middle School scored 91/100. But the real question is what those numbers mean for your daily life and your home value.
Both schools are part of Round Rock ISD, and I have shown homes in both zones for years. The neighborhoods have their own personality, the price points are similar, and the day to day experience at each campus is its own thing. That matters more than most buyers expect when they first start their search.
Below, I will break down the full TEA performance data, walk through the neighborhoods zoned to each campus, and give you my honest take on which school zone fits different types of buyers. If you want the deep dive on either campus individually, check out the Cedar Valley Middle School school page or the Pearson Ranch Middle School school page.
Cedar Valley Middle School vs Pearson Ranch Middle School: Quick Comparison
| Cedar Valley Middle School | Pearson Ranch Middle School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (94/100) | A (91/100) |
| Enrollment | 1305 students | 979 students |
| Grades | 06 – 08 | 06 – 08 |
| District | Round Rock ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Median Home Price | $547,000 | $585,000 |
| Feeds Into | McNeil HS | McNeil 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 | Cedar Valley Middle School | Pearson Ranch Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (94/100) | A (91/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (95/100) | A (94/100) |
| School Progress | A (92/100) | A (91/100) |
| Academic Growth | A (92/100) | A (91/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | A (93/100) | B (85/100) |
| Enrollment | 1305 students (06 – 08) | 979 students (06 – 08) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 10.6% | 18.0% |
| English Learners | 9.6% | 15.7% |
| TEA Distinctions | 3 of 7 earned | 4 of 7 earned |
These two campuses are remarkably close on paper. The overall scores are within 3 points of each other, and the individual domains tell a similar story. When schools are this close in TEA performance, the tiebreaker usually comes down to neighborhood feel, commute, and home prices rather than classroom outcomes.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Cedar Valley Middle School school page or the Pearson Ranch Middle School school page.
Cedar Valley Middle School: A Closer Look at This Round Rock ISD Campus
Cedar Valley Middle School is a standout campus within Round Rock ISD, one of the most respected school districts in Central Texas. Students here benefit from a well-rounded academic environment that blends rigorous core instruction with enrichment opportunities across the arts, athletics, and technology.
Cedar Valley Middle School earned a A (94/100) from TEA, which puts it among the stronger campuses in Round Rock ISD. That kind of performance does not happen by accident. It reflects consistent instructional quality, engaged leadership, and a campus culture where expectations run high.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park. These are well established residential areas with mature trees and a real sense of community.
I have spent a good amount of time in this part of town, and Cedar Valley Middle School is one of those campuses where you can feel the community investment the moment you drive through the neighborhood. The homes hold their value well here, and resale demand stays consistent.
Cedar Valley Middle School enrolls 1305 students, making it one of the larger campuses in Round Rock ISD. Larger schools can offer more programs, more extracurricular options, and a broader social experience. The tradeoff is that the campus can feel busier, but Round Rock ISD has invested in making sure its bigger campuses still run efficiently.
Pearson Ranch Middle School: The Campus, the Neighborhood, the Numbers
Pearson Ranch Middle School is one of Round Rock ISD’s most sought-after campuses, serving a vibrant collection of northwest Austin and Williamson County neighborhoods that buyers consistently put at the top of their lists. The school draws students from communities like Avery Ranch, Davis Spring, and Forest North Estates, building a strong sense of shared identity around academic excellence and community pride.
Pearson Ranch Middle School earned a A (91/100) from TEA, which puts it among the stronger campuses in Round Rock ISD. That kind of performance does not happen by accident. It reflects consistent instructional quality, engaged leadership, and a campus culture where expectations run high.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Avery Ranch East, Northwoods Avery Ranch, Davis Spring. These are well established residential areas with mature trees and a real sense of community.
The numbers here speak for themselves. A 91/100 from TEA puts Pearson Ranch Middle School in strong company, and the campus culture backs up what the data shows.
The Neighborhoods
Both Cedar Valley Middle School and Pearson Ranch Middle School draw from Round Rock ISD neighborhoods where median home prices are in a similar range. The Cedar zone sits around $547,000 and the Pearson zone around $585,000. At that price point, you are looking at established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and good lot sizes.
One thing I always tell buyers: look at the neighborhood on a Saturday morning, not just a Tuesday at 2pm. You want to see who is walking dogs, who is out running, whether the parks are being used. That tells you more about the community than any listing description ever will. And yes, school zones affect resale value. That is just reality in this market.
Browse all homes zoned to Cedar Valley Middle School or homes zoned to Pearson Ranch Middle School.
Which School Fits You?
Every buyer has a different set of priorities. Here is how I would think about it.
You might lean toward Cedar Valley Middle School if:
- TEA scores are a top priority and you want the higher rated campus
- You want to keep your home budget closer to $547,000
- The feeder path to McNeil High School is important to you
- You prefer the neighborhood character around the Cedar Valley zone
You might lean toward Pearson Ranch Middle School if:
- You want a neighborhood with higher home values and the lifestyle that comes with it
- The McNeil High School feeder path matches your long term plans
- You value what the Pearson Ranch neighborhood offers in terms of location and community
Honestly, these two are close enough on paper that the tiebreaker is going to be neighborhood feel and commute. I would recommend driving both zones on a weekday morning. See how the traffic flows, check out the parks, grab a coffee nearby. The numbers say these campuses are peers, so the decision comes down to lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
If you are weighing the Cedar Valley zone against the Pearson Ranch zone (or anywhere else in the Austin area), I would love to help you figure it out. I have been doing this for over 19 years and have helped buyers navigate school zone decisions more times than I can count. And honestly, this is one of my favorite conversations to have because it is never just about a school. It is about how you want your mornings to feel, where you will grab coffee, and whether your commute makes you want to scream or not.
Lets grab a coffee, walk through your priorities, and find the neighborhood that actually fits your life. No pressure, no pitch, just honest guidance from someone who knows these neighborhoods inside and out. Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
