Ed Neuhaus 
One Campus Climbed to an A. The Other Is Fighting to Get Out of C Territory.
Travis High School earned a 91 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, locking in an A grade and establishing itself as one of the strongest high schools in Austin ISD. Crockett High School, just a few miles north, scored a 74 and landed a C. Both schools sit in south Austin. Both serve the same district. And both reflect very different realities about what public education looks like across different parts of the city.
The 17 point gap between these two campuses is significant, but the home prices tell their own story. The median home near Crockett High is around $499,000, while Travis High’s zone comes in at $625,000. So you are paying more to be in the higher performing zone, and that price gap has widened as Travis has built its reputation over the last several years. For buyers considering south Austin, this comparison matters because the two zones overlap geographically in ways that can surprise people who are not familiar with the boundary lines.
I have watched Travis High’s trajectory closely over the last decade. It went from being a campus that most people overlooked to one of the most improved schools in Austin ISD. Crockett has a very different story, and understanding why requires looking beyond the numbers. Lets dig in.
Crockett vs Travis High: Quick Comparison
| Crockett High School | Travis High School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (74/100) | A (91/100) |
| Enrollment | 376 students | 3,565 students |
| Grades | 09 – 12 | 09 – 12 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $499,000 | $625,000 |
| Key Feeders | Bedichek / Covington MS | Bedichek MS |
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 | Crockett High School | Travis High School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (74/100) | A (91/100) |
| Student Achievement | C (76/100) | A (91/100) |
| School Progress | C (74/100) | A (93/100) |
| Academic Growth | C (73/100) | A (91/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (72/100) | B (89/100) |
| Enrollment | 376 students (09 – 12) | 3,565 students (09 – 12) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 80.9% | 9.1% |
| English Learners | 16.5% | 5.4% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 7 of 7 earned |
The demographic context here is crucial. Crockett serves a student body that is 80.9% economically disadvantaged with 16.5% English learners. Travis is at 9.1% and 5.4% respectively. Those numbers shape everything about how TEA scores land, and a school earning 6 of 7 distinctions while serving that population deserves recognition. Travis at 91 with 3,500+ students and all 7 distinctions is a genuinely elite public high school performance. But comparing these two campuses without acknowledging the demographic reality would be dishonest.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, visit the Crockett High school page or the Travis High school page.
Crockett High: Small Campus, Big Heart, Real Challenges
Crockett is one of the smallest high schools in Austin ISD at 376 students, and that size creates a campus experience that is fundamentally different from the typical large Texas high school. Students know their teachers. Teachers know their students. The counseling staff can actually keep track of who needs what. There is a genuine community here that you do not always find at larger campuses, and for certain students that intimate environment is exactly what they need to thrive.
The challenge is real though. An 80.9% economically disadvantaged rate means the school is working with fewer resources per student and navigating obstacles that wealthier campuses simply do not face. The C rating reflects those headwinds, not a lack of effort or care from the faculty. Crockett has strong career and technical education pathways and a teaching staff that is deeply committed to the community it serves.
Travis High: South Austin’s Flagship
Travis High has become the success story of south Austin. The campus serves over 3,500 students and has built an academic program that rivals the best schools in the region. AP course offerings are deep, the fine arts programs are competitive at the state level, and the athletic programs draw from across the attendance zone. The 91 TEA score with a student body this large is an achievement that puts Travis in the conversation with schools like Westlake and Vandegrift that get all the attention.
The zone pulls from some of Austin’s most desirable south side neighborhoods, and the combination of strong schools and relative proximity to downtown has driven steady appreciation. The Bedichek Middle School feeder is a pipeline that parents in the zone rely on, and Travis benefits from a community that has invested heavily in making the campus what it is today.
The Neighborhoods
Crockett’s zone covers parts of far south Austin where affordability is still a real thing. The median of $499,000 reflects a mix of older homes, condos, and some newer developments that have filled in along the Manchaca and William Cannon corridors. For buyers who need to be in Austin ISD at a price that does not require a jumbo loan, this zone delivers options.
Travis High’s zone is broader and more expensive, pulling from established south Austin neighborhoods where homes in the $500,000 to $800,000 range are standard. The closer you get to the MoPac and Slaughter Lane corridors, the more polished the neighborhoods become. Buyers here are often drawn by the combination of Austin ISD enrollment, the Travis High reputation, and a south Austin lifestyle that remains more laid back than what you find north of the river.
Browse all homes zoned to Crockett High or homes zoned to Travis High.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Crockett High if:
- A smaller, more intimate high school campus appeals to you
- Affordability is a priority and you want to stay under $500,000 in Austin ISD
- You value the career and technical education pathways Crockett offers
You might lean toward Travis High if:
- TEA scores are a top consideration and you want an A rated high school
- A full range of AP courses, fine arts, and athletics matters to your student
- You prefer established south Austin neighborhoods with strong community identity
- You are comfortable in the $600,000 to $800,000 price range
Travis High is the clear winner on the scorecard, and the gap is wide enough that the numbers speak for themselves. But Crockett is doing genuinely important work with a student population that faces more challenges than most, and the 6 of 7 distinctions in that context deserve respect. If your decision is purely about TEA performance, Travis is the answer. If your decision is about budget, community, and what kind of campus environment fits your student, it is worth visiting both before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
South Austin has a lot going on right now, and picking the right school zone is just the starting point. I have been helping people buy and sell in this part of the city for over 19 years, and I can help you sort through the options with real data and honest advice. Lets talk about what you need. Get in touch and lets figure it out together.
