Deerpark vs Noel Grisham Middle School: TEA Scores and Home Values

Two Round Rock ISD Middle Schools, One A and One C

Noel Grisham Middle School earned an A rating with a 91 out of 100 from the Texas Education Agency in 2025. Deerpark Middle School scored a C with a 72. Both campuses are in Round Rock ISD, both sit within a few miles of each other in the northwest corridor of the district, and both feed into McNeil High School. But a 19 point TEA gap between two schools that share the same high school destination? That is significant.

I have worked with buyers in this part of Round Rock for years, and this comparison comes up constantly. People see the McNeil High School feeder pattern and assume all the middle schools feeding into it are roughly equivalent. They are not. And the median home prices (Deerpark at $479,900 vs Noel Grisham at $407,500) actually flip what most people expect. The higher scoring school has the lower price zone. Let that sink in.

So lets look at why these two campuses perform so differently and what it means for your home search.

Deerpark vs Noel Grisham: 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.

Noel Grisham swept every single TEA category with an A. That is hard to do. Deerpark landed squarely at C across the board, which is a passing grade but nothing that is going to turn heads. The demographic data tells much of the story here. Deerpark serves 47.1% economically disadvantaged students and nearly 20% English Learners. Noel Grisham’s numbers are 13.7% and 4.1%. Those are dramatically different student populations, and TEA scores correlate heavily with those demographics. That does not excuse the gap, but it explains a big chunk of it.

For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Deerpark Middle School school page or the Noel Grisham Middle School school page.

Noel Grisham: An A Rated Campus at a B Rated Price

Here is the surprise: Noel Grisham’s zone has a median home price of $407,500. That is lower than Deerpark’s $479,900. In most markets, the better school commands the higher price. Not here. Noel Grisham is a smaller campus (615 students) in the established neighborhoods of northwest Round Rock and Cedar Park, where the housing stock is mostly from the 1990s and early 2000s. The homes are solid but not new, which keeps prices more accessible.

An A rating at a $407,500 median is one of the better value plays in the entire Round Rock ISD map. I do not say that lightly. And with McNeil High School as the destination, you are looking at a complete feeder path that performs well from middle through high school.

Deerpark: Bigger Campus, Evolving Neighborhoods

Deerpark serves 916 students, making it nearly 50% larger than Noel Grisham. The campus draws from newer development areas northwest of Round Rock where neighborhoods have grown rapidly over the past decade. Many of these homes are in master planned communities with amenity centers, pools, and walking trails, which explains the higher median price. You are paying for newer construction and community amenities, not necessarily for school performance.

The C rating is honest. Deerpark is a campus working hard to serve a complex student body, and the staff deserves credit for keeping things moving in the right direction. But buyers who are focused primarily on TEA numbers will see that C and hesitate, and I understand why.

The Neighborhoods

Noel Grisham’s zone covers established neighborhoods near the intersection of US 183 and Parmer Lane, areas like Anderson Mill and the surrounding subdivisions. These are mature neighborhoods with big trees and reasonable lot sizes. Deerpark’s zone extends into newer development areas further northwest, where the homes are newer but the lots are typically smaller and the trees are still growing.

If you want newer construction with community pools and playgrounds, the Deerpark zone delivers that at $479,900. If you want better TEA scores and are willing to accept an older home, the Noel Grisham zone gives you an A rated school for $72,000 less.

Browse all homes zoned to Deerpark Middle School or homes zoned to Noel Grisham Middle School.

Which School Fits You?

Both schools feed into McNeil High School, so the long term destination is the same. The question is what you prioritize during the middle school years.

You might lean toward Noel Grisham if:

• TEA scores are your top priority (an A with a 91 is hard to beat)
• You prefer a smaller campus where your student will not get lost in the crowd
• A lower median price point around $407,500 appeals to your budget

You might lean toward Deerpark if:

• Newer construction and master planned community amenities matter to you
• You are comfortable with a C rated campus and prioritize the home itself
• A larger school environment (916 students) is something your student thrives in
• You want to be in one of the growing neighborhoods northwest of Round Rock

I am going to be straightforward: the Noel Grisham zone is underpriced for what it delivers academically. If TEA performance matters to you at all, that A rating at a sub $410,000 median is one of the best deals in Round Rock ISD. I have told this to probably a dozen buyers over the past year and most of them end up agreeing with me after they see the numbers.

Ready to Find Your Home?

The McNeil High School feeder pattern covers a wide range of neighborhoods and price points, and choosing the right middle school zone is a bigger deal than most people realize. I have been helping buyers in Round Rock ISD for over 19 years, and I know these neighborhoods inside and out. Lets connect and figure out the best fit for you.

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