Cunningham vs Joslin Elementary: Same Grade, Very Different Price Tags

What Does an Extra $120,000 Buy You in South Austin Schools?

Joslin Elementary and Cunningham Elementary both earned B ratings from the Texas Education Agency for 2024-25 ([TEA via Texas Tribune](https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/austin-isd/joslin-elementary-school/grade/)). But the median home sale price in the Joslin zone is around $620,000, while Cunningham’s zone sits around $497,000 (Austin MLS, trailing 12 months). Both are B-rated schools in Austin ISD, both serve south Austin neighborhoods, and both ultimately feed into Crockett High School ([AISD 2024-25 Feeder Pattern](https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/planning-asset-management/2024-25_FMP_Feeder_Pattern_20240904(1).pdf)). So where does that $120,000 price gap come from?

I get this question a lot from buyers who start their search focused on school ratings and then realize the map of south Austin is full of surprises. Cunningham has around 346 students in an older 78745 neighborhood. Joslin has around 245 students along the Manchaca Road corridor. The TEA letter grades are identical. The price tags are not.

And that, right there, is why you need to look at more than just the TEA letter grade when you are picking a school zone. Lets walk through what actually separates these two campuses.

Cunningham vs Joslin: Quick Comparison

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.

These two schools are remarkably close across every TEA metric. Both earned a B overall, both posted the same letter grades across the three TEA accountability domains (Student Achievement C, School Progress B, Closing the Gaps A). Their student populations are also more similar than people assume. Cunningham serves around 54% economically disadvantaged students with about 18% English Learners. Joslin serves around 50% economically disadvantaged with around 48% in bilingual or English language programs. Both campuses are doing real work with real south Austin demographics.

For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Cunningham Elementary school page or the Joslin Elementary school page.

Cunningham Elementary: Small Campus, Big Value

Cunningham is one of those Austin ISD campuses that flies under the radar. With only 345 students, it has a small school feel that bigger campuses simply cannot replicate. The school sits in a neighborhood of older homes (mostly 1960s and 1970s builds) that have been steadily appreciating as south Austin continues to attract buyers priced out of central neighborhoods. At a $499,900 median, you are looking at homes that still feel attainable by Austin standards.

The campus feeds into Bedichek Middle School and then Crockett High School ([AISD 2024-25 Feeder Pattern](https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/planning-asset-management/2024-25_FMP_Feeder_Pattern_20240904(1).pdf)). Crockett is an Early College High School, which means students can graduate with college credit through a partnership with Austin Community College.

Joslin Elementary: Boutique Campus, Premium Price

Joslin is small. At around 245 students it is one of the smaller elementary schools in Austin ISD, and that size is a selling point for a lot of buyers. Smaller campuses mean teachers and staff know every kid by name, and the community feel is hard to beat. The school sits at 4500 Manchaca Road and draws from a mix of 78704 and 78745 neighborhoods, which is why the median home sale clocks in around $620,000 (Austin MLS, trailing 12 months). You are paying for the location as much as the school.

Joslin feeds into Covington Middle School and then Crockett High School ([AISD 2024-25 Feeder Pattern](https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/planning-asset-management/2024-25_FMP_Feeder_Pattern_20240904(1).pdf)). That means both Cunningham and Joslin students end up at the same high school, just through different middle school campuses. The Joslin price premium is really about Manchaca corridor location and walkability, not a different long-term feeder path.

I have sold homes in both zones, and I can tell you the Joslin zone buyer is typically someone who wants closer proximity to the South Lamar restaurant corridor. The Cunningham zone buyer wants more house for the money in deeper 78745. Both are making smart choices.

The Neighborhoods

Cunningham’s zone covers south Austin neighborhoods west of I-35 and south of Ben White, an area that has seen tremendous reinvestment over the past decade. The housing stock is mostly older single story homes on generous lots, many of which have been renovated or expanded. Joslin’s zone pulls from areas closer to Zilker and South Lamar, where the walkability score is significantly higher and the price tag reflects it.

The roughly $120,000 price difference between these zones is not really about school quality (the scores prove that). It is about neighborhood proximity to central Austin amenities and the Manchaca Road corridor.

Browse all homes zoned to Cunningham Elementary or homes zoned to Joslin Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

Since both schools carry B ratings with nearly identical TEA scores, this decision really comes down to budget and lifestyle preferences.

You might lean toward Cunningham if:

• You want strong TEA scores without the premium price tag
• A median around $500,000 fits your budget better
• You prefer larger lots and more house for the money

You might lean toward Joslin if:

• You value a smaller campus where the staff knows every student
• Proximity to South Lamar and the Manchaca corridor is a high priority
• A median around $620,000 is comfortable for your budget

If I am being honest, the Cunningham zone is one of the better values in Austin ISD right now. Same letter grade, same high school, around $120,000 less in median sale price. The math speaks for itself. But location is location, and if you want to be closer to South Lamar, that is hard to put a number on.

Ready to Find Your Home?

South Austin school zones can be confusing, and the price differences between zones that look almost identical on paper can catch you off guard. I have been working these neighborhoods for over 19 years and I know where the value is. Lets sit down and figure out which zone makes the most sense for your budget and priorities.

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