Ed 
Graham Earned a C. Barrington Got an F. Both Sit Inside Northeast Austin ISD.
If you are house hunting in north Austin around the 78753 ZIP, you have probably run into both of these elementaries. Graham and Barrington sit just a few miles apart in Austin ISD, and both serve the broader Northeast feeder pattern. But the latest TEA accountability ratings tell a meaningfully different story about each campus, and the long term pathways diverge once students leave fifth grade.
Graham Elementary earned an overall C from the Texas Education Agency. Barrington Elementary earned an F. The 78753 residential market shows a median sale price right around $370,000 in 2024 and 2025 closings pulled from the MLS, so price is not the variable that separates these zones. School performance, feeder chain, and neighborhood character are.
I have been a licensed broker in Austin since 2007, and over 19 plus years and more than 2,000 closed transactions I have walked buyers through this exact comparison more times than I can count. So lets dig into what the data actually says and how I would frame the decision if you were sitting across the table from me.
Graham vs Barrington: Quick Comparison
| Graham Elementary | Barrington Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Overall Rating | C | F |
| Enrollment (2026) | 368 students | 307 students |
| Grades | Elementary (PK through 5) | Elementary (PK through 5) |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Address | 11211 Tom Adams Dr, 78753 | 400 Cooper Dr, 78753 |
| Median Home Price (78753) | ~$370,000 | ~$370,000 |
| Middle School Feeder | Dobie MS | Webb MS |
| High School Feeder | Northeast Early College HS | Northeast Early College HS |
Source: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer for Graham and Barrington. Feeder paths cross referenced against the Austin ISD 2024-25 Feeder Pattern. Home price medians from VOW MLS closings 2024 through May 2026.
TEA School Performance Comparison
The Texas Education Agency rates every public school across three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Here is how each campus performed in the most recent TEA accountability ratings published in 2025.
| Domain | Graham Elementary | Barrington Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C | F |
| Student Achievement | F | F |
| School Progress | C | D |
| Closing the Gaps | C | D |
| Hispanic Enrollment | 83.2% | 87.3% |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 82.1% | 97.1% |
| Enrollment Trend (since 2016) | Down 47.2% | Down 51.0% |
Both campuses scored an F on Student Achievement, which is the STAAR based piece of the rating. What pulled Graham up to an overall C is stronger marks on School Progress and Closing the Gaps, both of which measure growth and outcomes relative to schools with similar student populations. Barrington came in a tier lower across the board.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and any distinctions, visit the Graham school page or the Barrington school page.
Graham: What Buyers Should Know
Graham Elementary sits at 11211 Tom Adams Drive in north Austin, just east of I-35 near the intersection with Rundberg Lane. The campus enrolls 368 students as of the 2026 state count, down roughly 47 percent from its 2016 peak. That enrollment trend matters because Austin ISD has been actively reshaping feeder patterns and consolidating campuses in response to declining district wide enrollment.
Graham is part of the Northeast feeder pattern. Students at Graham typically advance to Dobie Middle School and then on to Northeast Early College High School. The Early College structure at the high school level gives students a path to earn an associate degree alongside their high school diploma, and that is the most interesting long term feature of this pipeline for buyers thinking five to ten years out.
The overall C rating means the campus is performing in the acceptable band on the state scale. The F on Student Achievement reflects STAAR results, while the C marks on School Progress and Closing the Gaps reflect that the campus is making measurable gains with the students it serves.
Barrington: What Buyers Should Know
Barrington Elementary sits at 400 Cooper Drive in 78753, north of Rundberg and east of I-35. Enrollment was 307 students at last state count, down about 51 percent from 2016.
There is one piece of news every buyer evaluating Barrington needs to know up front. As part of Austin ISD’s 2026-27 consolidation plan, Barrington is slated to close, with students reassigned to Guerrero-Thompson Elementary or Wooldridge Elementary. That is not a rumor. It is in the published district consolidation plan, and it changes the calculus for anyone buying with a kindergartener or first grader who would otherwise spend years at this campus. Confirm the current status of the consolidation plan with AISD before making the school zone a deciding factor.
Barrington’s current feeder chain runs to Webb Middle School and then on to Northeast Early College High School. Webb and Dobie both feed Northeast, which is why Graham and Barrington students often end up at the same high school despite different elementary and middle school paths.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones sit in north Austin in the 78753 ZIP, and the residential market behaves similarly across both attendance areas. Recent MLS closings show a median sale price around $370,000, with most inventory falling in the $300,000 to $450,000 band depending on size, condition, and lot. This pocket of Austin offers some of the more accessible price points inside the city limits and remains popular with first time buyers and investors looking at long term rentals.
The trade off compared to central or south Austin is commute time to the urban core and the trajectory of the schools. Buyers who prioritize price per square foot and proximity to north Austin tech employers tend to find this zone hits the right notes. Buyers who care most about TEA ratings often end up looking further out.
Browse all homes zoned to Graham or homes zoned to Barrington.
The Feeder Pipeline
Here is where this comparison gets interesting. Both elementaries roll up to Northeast Early College High School, but they take different middle schools to get there.
- Graham pathway: Graham Elementary, then Dobie Middle School, then Northeast Early College High School.
- Barrington pathway: Barrington Elementary, then Webb Middle School, then Northeast Early College High School.
For buyers looking past the elementary years, the long term destination is the same regardless of which zone you pick. That means the middle school choice (Dobie versus Webb) is the only divergence in the public school pipeline. If you are evaluating both middle schools, pull each one’s TEA ratings and enrollment trends before locking in a decision.
The Northeast Early College High School designation is a meaningful pull for some buyers. The associate degree pathway can save a residents tens of thousands of dollars in community college tuition, and that is a tangible economic benefit that does not show up on a TEA scorecard.
Home Prices in Each Zone
The 78753 ZIP that contains both schools posted a median residential close price of roughly $370,000 across 446 closed sales in 2024 through May 2026 per VOW MLS data. That makes this zone one of the more accessible options inside Austin city limits, particularly compared to south or central Austin where medians can run two to three times higher.
Both school zones draw from similar housing stock. Single family ranch homes from the 1970s and 1980s dominate, with a layer of newer infill and rebuilds scattered through. Townhomes and small condo communities show up around the edges. Anyone targeting under $400,000 with a yard inside Austin city limits should have this part of the city on their list.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Graham if:
- The overall C rating clears your bar for school performance and you value the C marks on School Progress and Closing the Gaps
- You want the Dobie Middle School pathway specifically
- The campus location near Tom Adams Drive matches your commute
You might lean toward Barrington if:
- You have confirmed with AISD how the 2026-27 consolidation will affect your specific address
- The Cooper Drive location fits your geography better
- You are prioritizing the Webb Middle School feeder over Dobie
Honest read: as of today, Graham’s TEA ratings come in a tier above Barrington’s, and Barrington is on the consolidation list. That tilts the comparison for most buyers I work with. But TEA scores measure only what STAAR measures, and there are buyers who put more weight on neighborhood, commute, price, and family connection to a specific campus. There is no single right answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want a Closer Look at These Zones?
If you are weighing 78753 against other Austin pockets, or comparing Graham and Barrington against schools outside the Northeast feeder, the right call depends on details that do not show up on any TEA report card. Visit my contact page to schedule a conversation and walk through what fits your situation.
Sources: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer, Texas Education Agency Accountability, Austin ISD 2024-25 Feeder Pattern, AISD Graham, AISD Barrington, VOW MLS closed sales 2024 through May 2026.
Ed Neuhaus is a licensed Texas broker (2009) and founder of Neuhaus Realty Group, with 19 plus years and more than 2,000 closed transactions across the Austin metro.
