Ed 
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. Both schools earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency in the most recent accountability cycle ([Texas Tribune: Cedar Valley](https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/round-rock-isd/cedar-valley-middle-school/grade/), [Pearson Ranch](https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/round-rock-isd/pearson-ranch-middle-school/grade/)). 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 | A |
| Enrollment | ~1,228 students | ~1,030 students |
| Grades | 06 – 08 | 06 – 08 |
| District | Round Rock ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Feeds Into | Round Rock HS or McNeil HS (split) | 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 | A |
| Student Achievement | A | A |
| School Progress | A | A |
| Closing the Gaps | A | B |
| Enrollment | ~1,228 students (06 – 08) | ~1,030 students (06 – 08) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 10.3% | 16.3% |
These two campuses are remarkably close on paper. Both earn A overall ratings from TEA, with similar performance across the Student Achievement and School Progress domains. The main difference shows up in Closing the Gaps, where Cedar Valley earns an A and Pearson Ranch earns a B. 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 an A 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 sits in northwest Austin near Avery Ranch and draws from established residential neighborhoods in the 78717 area 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 about 1,228 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 an A 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. An A rating 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 home prices land in a similar range. At these price points, 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 a campus with strong consistent academic results across all TEA domains
- 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.
