Eanes vs Forest Trail: Two As in Eanes ISD Westlake

Two A Rated Elementaries in Eanes ISD, Both Inside the 78746 Westlake Market

Eanes Elementary and Forest Trail Elementary both earned an A from the Texas Education Agency on the 2024-2025 accountability ratings (Eanes Elementary on Texas Tribune, Forest Trail Elementary on Texas Tribune). They sit less than half a mile apart in the same Eanes ISD. Both serve the 78746 ZIP, where the median closed residential sale since January 2024 is $1,860,000 across 582 transactions (Neuhaus Realty Group VOW data). This is not a comparison about which school is better. The TEA ratings are essentially identical. This is about understanding the subtle neighborhood differences that matter when you are buying in Westlake.

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

Enrollment and demographics are sourced from the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer profile for Eanes Elementary and the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer profile for Forest Trail Elementary. Feeder patterns come from the campus pages at ee.eanesisd.net and fte.eanesisd.net.

TEA School Performance Comparison (2024-2025)

The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school annually across three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress (which has Academic Growth as Part A and Relative Performance as Part B), and Closing the Gaps. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2024-2025 accountability cycle, per the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer.

Both campuses earned A grades across all three TEA domains. Both serve affluent student populations (1.5% economically disadvantaged at Eanes Elementary, 1.4% at Forest Trail), which creates a different set of challenges than what most Austin area schools face. At the campus level, the difference between these two A rated schools is closer to noise than signal.

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. An A across all three TEA domains 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.

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, Different Feeder Pattern

Forest Trail is essentially Eanes Elementary’s twin in terms of academics. An A overall, an A in Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. The 500 student enrollment is slightly smaller than Eanes Elementary, and the campus draws from a different swath of the Westlake Hills area. The key structural difference is the middle school feeder. Forest Trail feeds West Ridge Middle School, not Hill Country. Both still converge on Westlake High School.

For buyers who want the Eanes ISD experience with a different middle school feeder, Forest Trail delivers equivalent academic quality on the TEA scorecard.

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.

The two zones share Westlake High School but split at the middle school level: Eanes Elementary feeds Hill Country Middle School, Forest Trail feeds West Ridge Middle School. Westlake HS reunites the two paths.

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 Hill Country Middle School feeder pattern
• You prefer the campus enrollment of about 523 students
• The specific streets and subdivisions in the Eanes Elementary zone fit your search

You might lean toward Forest Trail if:

• You want the West Ridge Middle School feeder pattern
• The streets and properties in the Forest Trail zone appeal to you
• You are comfortable with a campus enrollment of about 500 students

I almost feel silly making a recommendation between two schools that both earned As across the board. You are splitting hairs at the academic 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, which middle school feeder you prefer, 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 17 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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