Ed 
Elsa England vs Patsy Sommer Elementary: Two A-Rated Round Rock ISD Campuses, One Decision
If you are house-hunting in the 78717 zip code in far northwest Austin, you are likely choosing between two of the highest-performing elementary schools in Round Rock ISD. Elsa England Elementary and Patsy Sommer Elementary are both A-rated campuses under the Texas Education Agency accountability system, both sit inside the Avery Ranch and Pearson Place corridor, and both pull from the most established northwest Austin neighborhoods. So which one fits which buyer? The answer is more nuanced than the letter grade.
This is one of the more common comparison questions I get from buyers relocating into Round Rock ISD. Both campuses are genuinely strong. The differences come down to community feel, demographics, enrollment size, and what is happening inside the attendance zone right now. Lets walk through both, what TEA actually says about them, and what the resale market looks like across the zone.
Elsa England vs Patsy Sommer: Quick Comparison
| Elsa England Elementary | Patsy Sommer Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| District | Round Rock ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| County | Williamson | Williamson |
| Overall TEA Rating | A | A |
| Student Achievement | A | A |
| School Progress | A | A |
| Closing the Gaps | A | A |
| Enrollment | about 1,005 students | smaller, about 700 students |
| Address | 8801 Pearson Ranch Rd, Austin 78717 | 16200 Avery Ranch Blvd, Austin 78717 |
| Demographic Note | 35.4% in ESL programs, 41.7% at-risk | 57.4% Asian, 4.4% economically disadvantaged |
| District Overall (2024-25) | B (Round Rock ISD) | B (Round Rock ISD) |
Sources: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Elsa England) and Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Patsy Sommer). District rating from Community Impact (Round Rock ISD 2024-25). TEA uses three accountability domains, Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps, which roll up into the overall letter grade.
About Elsa England Elementary
Elsa England Elementary sits at 8801 Pearson Ranch Road in the 78717 corridor of far northwest Austin. The campus enrolls about 1,005 students in pre-K through 5th grade, making it one of the larger elementary campuses in Round Rock ISD. The Texas Tribune Schools Explorer reports 35.4% of students enrolled in bilingual and English language learner programs and 41.7% considered at-risk, which is a more diverse academic profile than many buyers expect for an A-rated northwest Austin campus.
That demographic context is exactly why Elsa England’s straight-A TEA scorecard is impressive. The campus earned A’s across all three accountability domains, Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. The Closing the Gaps A is the one I pay the closest attention to, because that domain measures whether the campus is producing equitable outcomes across all student subgroups, including economically disadvantaged, English learners, and students with disabilities. An A in Closing the Gaps in a campus with this much demographic complexity is a real accomplishment.
Elsa England draws students from the Highland Horizon, Pearson Place, and surrounding neighborhoods inside the 78717 zip. A 2020 boundary adjustment rerouted some Highland Horizon students to Great Oaks Elementary, so check the current Round Rock ISD attendance zone tool before assuming a specific subdivision is zoned here. The Elsa England feeder continues into the Round Rock ISD secondary pipeline serving the northwest Austin and Cedar Park footprint.
About Patsy Sommer Elementary
Patsy Sommer Elementary sits at 16200 Avery Ranch Boulevard, inside the Avery Ranch master-planned community in far northwest Austin. The campus is technically in Williamson County and inside Round Rock ISD even though the mailing address is Austin 78717. Enrollment is smaller than Elsa England, with the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer reporting a campus that is 57.4% Asian and just 4.4% economically disadvantaged, which is one of the most affluent student demographic profiles in central Texas.
The accountability picture is the cleanest possible. Patsy Sommer earned an A overall with A’s across all three domains, Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. That is the consistent pattern you would expect from a campus with the demographic and economic resources Patsy Sommer pulls from. Test scores are exceptional, and the campus has built a reputation among Avery Ranch residents and the broader northwest Austin tech-employee community as a top-tier option.
The Patsy Sommer attendance zone is dominated by Avery Ranch itself, with the highest concentration of residential addresses along Williams Way and Zachary’s Run. The zone is mostly 2000s and newer master-planned single-family on lots ranging from 5,000 square feet for townhome and patio sections up to roughly quarter-acre for the larger product. The community itself carries the Avery Ranch amenities (golf, pools, parks, sidewalks) on top of the school zoning.
Neighborhoods Served
Both campuses pull from the 78717 zip but the attendance zones do not overlap. Here is the breakdown.
- Elsa England zone covers Pearson Place, parts of Highland Horizon, and surrounding subdivisions along the Pearson Ranch Road corridor. Housing stock is a mix of 1990s and 2000s single-family on standard suburban lots, with some newer infill.
- Patsy Sommer zone is dominated by Avery Ranch, particularly along Williams Way and Zachary’s Run. Avery Ranch is a 2000s-and-newer master-planned community with consistent product, an integrated golf course, and walkable amenities. Some buyers move into Avery Ranch specifically for this campus.
Verify your specific address with the Round Rock ISD school finder before you make an offer. Round Rock ISD has rezoned portions of this corridor multiple times in the last decade as enrollment patterns shift.
Home Prices Right Now
The 78717 corridor is one of the more consistent pricing zones in Round Rock ISD. Pulling closed single-family sales from the last 12 months (May 2025 through May 2026) out of the Neuhaus Realty Group VOW MLS dataset:
- 78717 zip code overall (covers both Elsa England and Patsy Sommer zones): 251 closings, median sale price $590,800, median $232 per square foot.
- Avery Ranch subdivision (Patsy Sommer-dominant): 112 closings, median sale price $585,000, median $235 per square foot. Active listings range from the high $300s for condo and townhome product up to north of $1.1M for the largest single-family on the golf course.
The notable thing about this comparison is how tight the price-per-square-foot numbers are between the broader 78717 zone and Avery Ranch specifically. Both campuses anchor desirable inventory, and the resale market reflects that. The difference between zones is more about the housing stock available (Avery Ranch product is newer, more consistent, master-planned) than a school-zoning premium.
To browse current inventory, see homes zoned to Elsa England Elementary or homes zoned to Patsy Sommer Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Both campuses are TEA A-rated across every domain. There is no academic-performance loser in this comparison. The decision really comes down to housing stock, community feel, and the kind of school environment you want for your student.
You might lean toward Elsa England Elementary if:
- You want a larger, more demographically diverse campus where your student sees a wider cross-section of the world
- You value a campus delivering A-rated outcomes across a much more challenging demographic profile, which is harder to produce
- You prefer the Pearson Place and Highland Horizon housing inventory (a mix of 1990s and 2000s single-family on more varied lot configurations)
- You want to be in a Round Rock ISD A-rated zone without paying the Avery Ranch master-planned community premium
You might lean toward Patsy Sommer Elementary if:
- You want the Avery Ranch master-planned lifestyle (golf, pools, parks, sidewalks, integrated retail) plus the school zoning
- You want the most demographically affluent campus environment in Round Rock ISD’s footprint
- You value consistent newer housing stock built in the 2000s and later
- You prefer a smaller campus where your student is one of fewer total enrolled
Honestly, both campuses are durable real estate investments. The Round Rock ISD secondary pipeline both feed into is well-regarded at the middle and high school level, and the 78717 zip has held value through multiple market cycles precisely because of the consistency across these elementary zones. The school-zoning premium between Elsa England and Patsy Sommer is small. The community premium is real, and that is what most Avery Ranch buyers are actually paying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
I have walked buyers through the 78717 corridor for the better part of 19 years, including plenty of relocations into Avery Ranch and Pearson Place. Both Elsa England and Patsy Sommer are durable picks at the elementary level, and the broader Round Rock ISD pipeline holds up at the secondary level. Lets sit down and map out what actually fits your timeline, budget, and the kind of campus environment you want.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
