Eanes vs Forest Trail: Two As in Eanes ISD Westlake

Two A Rated Elementaries in Eanes ISD, One Point Apart, and Both Near the $2.5 Million Mark

Eanes Elementary scored a 95 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. Forest Trail Elementary, less than half a mile away in the same Eanes ISD, scored a 94. Both are A rated. Both are excellent. And the median home price in both zones is north of $2.4 million. This is not a comparison about which school is better (they are essentially identical on TEA). This is about understanding the subtle neighborhood differences that matter when you are writing a check this large.

Eanes ISD is widely considered one of the top school districts in Texas. And these two campuses are at the heart of it. I work with luxury buyers in Westlake Hills and Rollingwood regularly, and the question of “Eanes Elementary or Forest Trail?” comes up more than you might think. The schools are so close together geographically that the attendance zones divide some neighborhoods right down the middle.

So lets look at what actually separates these two campuses, because at this level the differences are more about nuance than performance gaps.

Eanes vs Forest Trail: 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.

Student Achievement is identical: both at 94 out of 100. The separation comes in School Progress and Academic Growth, where Eanes Elementary scored a remarkable 96 in both domains compared to Forest Trail’s 91 in both. A 96 on School Progress is elite, it means the campus is not just maintaining high performance but actively pushing students to grow year over year.

Eanes Elementary earned 3 of 7 TEA distinctions while Forest Trail earned 2. Both campuses serve extremely affluent student populations (1.5% and 1.4% economically disadvantaged), which creates different challenges than what most Austin area schools face. The Closing the Gaps scores (B at 81 for Eanes, C at 79 for Forest Trail) reflect the difficulty of demonstrating growth when your starting point is already near the top.

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

Eanes Elementary: The Flagship Campus

Eanes Elementary is the namesake school of the district, and it performs like it. A 95 overall with 96s in School Progress and Academic Growth is about as good as it gets in public education. The campus sits in the heart of Westlake Hills and draws from some of the most prestigious residential addresses in the Austin metro. The 523 student enrollment keeps the school personal without being too small.

At a $2,695,000 median home price, this is luxury real estate in every sense. You are buying into Eanes ISD’s flagship elementary, the Hill Country Middle School feeder, and ultimately Westlake High School, one of the most recognized public high schools in Texas. The package is compelling if the budget allows it.

Forest Trail Elementary: Equally Strong, Slightly Different Character

Forest Trail is essentially Eanes Elementary’s twin in terms of academics. A 94 overall, identical Student Achievement scores, and a campus that performs at the top of the state. The 500 student enrollment is slightly smaller, and the campus draws from a slightly different swath of the Westlake Hills and Rollingwood area.

The $2,490,000 median is about $200K less than the Eanes Elementary zone. That is meaningful even at this price level. Forest Trail earned 2 TEA distinctions (including one in ELA/Reading) and maintains the same feeder pattern to Hill Country Middle School and Westlake High School. For buyers who want the Eanes ISD experience at a (relatively) lower entry point, Forest Trail delivers nearly identical academic quality.

The Neighborhoods

Both zones cover the Westlake Hills and Rollingwood corridor, the Hill Country enclave west of downtown Austin that has been one of the most desirable residential areas in Texas for decades. The homes are substantial, the lots are generous, and the tree canopy is magnificent. The difference between the two zones is largely about which specific streets and subdivisions you prefer.

Both zones share the same middle and high school feeder: Hill Country Middle School and Westlake High School. So the secondary school experience is identical regardless of which elementary your address falls in.

Browse all homes zoned to Eanes Elementary or homes zoned to Forest Trail Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

You might lean toward Eanes Elementary if:

• You want the highest TEA score available in Eanes ISD (95/100)
• School Progress and Academic Growth scores of 96 are important to you
• You want the campus with more TEA distinctions (3 vs 2)

You might lean toward Forest Trail if:

• A slightly lower entry point ($2.49M vs $2.69M median) matters at this level
• The specific streets and properties in the Forest Trail zone appeal to you
• You prefer a marginally smaller campus (500 vs 523 students)

I almost feel silly making a recommendation between two schools that scored 95 and 94. You are splitting hairs at this level. Both are world class elementary campuses in one of the best school districts in Texas. The real decision comes down to which specific home you fall in love with and which zone that home happens to sit in. Either way, your kids are getting an outstanding education.

Ready to Find Your Home?

Eanes ISD is a unique market where every detail matters. I have been helping luxury buyers navigate Westlake Hills and Rollingwood for over 19 years, and I know these neighborhoods at a level that most agents simply do not. Lets talk about what you are looking for.

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