Ed Neuhaus 
One School Earned a B With 96% Economically Disadvantaged Students. The Other Scored an F.
Guerrero Thompson Elementary scored an 87 on the 2025 TEA rating with 96.7% of its students classified as economically disadvantaged. That is a B rating, and it puts Guerrero Thompson among the most impressive campus turnaround stories in Austin ISD. Wooldridge Elementary, about a mile and a half away, scored a 59 with 93.7% economically disadvantaged students. That is an F. Both schools serve nearly identical populations on paper, but the outcomes are dramatically different.
This is one of those comparisons that really makes you think about what is happening inside a building versus what the zip code looks like. Guerrero Thompson posted an A in School Progress (91) and Academic Growth (91), which means students are improving at a rate that rivals some of the most affluent campuses in the district. Wooldridge posted an F in every domain except Closing the Gaps (D at 62). The 28 point overall gap is one of the largest between two schools serving such similar populations in all of Austin ISD.
And here is the part that catches buyers off guard: the median home price near Wooldridge ($450,000) is actually $200,000 higher than Guerrero Thompson ($249,500). You are paying more for a school zone with significantly weaker TEA performance. I know, I know, home prices are about a lot more than school ratings. But it is worth knowing.
Guerrero Thompson vs Wooldridge: Quick Comparison
| Guerrero Thompson Elementary | Wooldridge Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | B (87/100) | F (59/100) |
| Enrollment | 548 students | 462 students |
| Grades | EE through 5 | EE through 5 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $249,500 | $450,000 |
| Feeds Into | Burnet/Dobie/Webb MS, Navarro HS | Burnet MS, Austin/McCallum/Navarro HS |
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.
| Performance Metric | Guerrero Thompson Elementary | Wooldridge Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | B (87/100) | F (59/100) |
| Student Achievement | C (74/100) | F (42/100) |
| School Progress | A (91/100) | F (57/100) |
| Academic Growth | A (91/100) | F (57/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (78/100) | D (62/100) |
| Enrollment | 548 students (EE through 5) | 462 students (EE through 5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 96.7% | 93.7% |
| English Learners | 84.5% | 79.0% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | Not eligible (F-rated) |
The Academic Growth numbers tell the most important story here. Guerrero Thompson scored a 91 (A) in both School Progress and Academic Growth. Wooldridge scored a 57 (F) in both. That 34 point gap in growth metrics means students at Guerrero Thompson are improving at nearly twice the rate of students at Wooldridge, despite serving almost identical populations. Guerrero Thompson also earned 6 of 7 TEA distinctions while Wooldridge is not eligible for distinctions due to its F rating.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Guerrero Thompson Elementary school page or the Wooldridge Elementary school page.
Guerrero Thompson: Proof That Campus Leadership Matters
Guerrero Thompson is located in northeast Austin near the intersection of Cameron Road and Rundberg Lane. With 84.5% English Learners and 96.7% economically disadvantaged students, this is one of the most challenging campus profiles in Austin ISD. And yet it earned a B. The A ratings in School Progress and Academic Growth (both 91) are the kinds of numbers you typically see at campuses with 5% economically disadvantaged populations, not 97%.
The Student Achievement score of 74 (C) shows that raw test scores still have room to improve. Students at Guerrero Thompson are not yet performing at the same level as students at wealthier campuses on state assessments. But they are growing faster than almost anyone, and that growth is what TEA rewards with the B rating. The school’s 6 of 7 distinctions further confirm that instruction is targeted, effective, and producing measurable outcomes across multiple academic areas.
I am genuinely impressed by what is happening at this campus, and I think buyers who focus only on the “C in Student Achievement” number are missing the bigger picture.
Wooldridge: An F Rated Campus That Needs Attention
Wooldridge sits in the North Loop and Brentwood area of central Austin, a neighborhood that has gentrified significantly over the last decade. The school serves 462 students and the F rating at 59 is the lowest overall score in this comparison. The 42 in Student Achievement is particularly concerning, as it means fewer than half of students are meeting grade level expectations on STAAR assessments. Wooldridge is not eligible for TEA distinctions.
The school feeds into Burnet Middle School and has multiple high school options including Austin, McCallum, and Navarro. The neighborhoods around Wooldridge have seen rapid home price appreciation, which creates an unusual dynamic where the homes are getting more expensive while the school performance has not kept pace.
The Neighborhoods
Guerrero Thompson’s zone covers the Rundberg Lane and Cameron Road corridor in northeast Austin. The median home price of $249,500 is one of the lowest in Austin ISD, reflecting the mix of older apartments, small lot homes, and some commercial properties in the area. For buyers looking for affordable entry into Austin, this zone offers some of the most accessible price points in the city.
Wooldridge draws from the North Loop, Brentwood, and Crestview neighborhoods, which have become some of the trendiest addresses in Austin. The median of $450,000 reflects renovated bungalows, new builds, and the walkable restaurant and shop scene along North Loop Boulevard. It is a great neighborhood. The school data just does not match the real estate prices right now.
Browse all homes zoned to Guerrero Thompson Elementary or homes zoned to Wooldridge Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
This comparison flips the usual script where higher home prices equal better schools.
You might lean toward Guerrero Thompson if:
- Academic Growth and School Progress metrics matter more to you than raw test scores
- A campus earning 6 of 7 distinctions with a B rating at this price point is appealing
- Budget is a priority and $249,500 median opens up possibilities
You might lean toward Wooldridge if:
- The North Loop and Brentwood neighborhood lifestyle is your top priority
- You plan to supplement with enrichment programs outside of school
I respect that neighborhood character matters and that many buyers in the North Loop area choose their home based on the community feel, the restaurants, the walkability. Those are real quality of life factors. But a 28 point TEA gap is hard to ignore, especially when the cheaper school zone is dramatically outperforming the more expensive one. If TEA data drives your decision at all, Guerrero Thompson is the clear winner here, and it is not close.
Frequently Asked Questions
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North Austin school zones do not always follow the patterns you would expect based on home prices. I have been navigating these surprises with buyers for 19 years. Lets sit down and I will walk you through the options in both zones so you can make the choice that fits your priorities and your budget.
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