Ed 
One School Earned a B With 96% Economically Disadvantaged Students. The Other Scored an F.
Guerrero Thompson Elementary earned a B on the 2025 TEA accountability rating with 97.5% of its students classified as economically disadvantaged, making it one of the most impressive campus turnaround stories in Austin ISD (Texas Tribune). Wooldridge Elementary, about a mile and a half away, earned an F with 96% economically disadvantaged students (Texas Tribune). 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 earned an A in School Progress, which measures student growth and how the school compares to campuses with similar economically disadvantaged populations. Wooldridge earned an F in Student Achievement and a D in both School Progress and Closing the Gaps. The gap between a B and an F serving such similar populations is one of the largest in 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 | F |
| Enrollment | 520 students | 348 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 | F |
| Student Achievement | C | F |
| School Progress | A | D |
| Closing the Gaps | C | D |
| Enrollment | 520 students (EE through 5) | 348 students (EE through 5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 97.5% | 96% |
The School Progress domain tells the most important story here. Guerrero Thompson earned an A in School Progress while Wooldridge earned a D. School Progress measures student growth relative to campuses with similar economically disadvantaged populations, so the gap means Guerrero Thompson is moving students forward at a much faster rate despite serving an almost identical demographic.
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 97.5% economically disadvantaged students, this is one of the most challenging campus profiles in Austin ISD. And yet it earned a B. An A in School Progress at this campus profile is the kind of rating you typically see at campuses with 5% economically disadvantaged populations, not 97%.
The Student Achievement grade of 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.
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 348 students and the F rating is the lowest in this comparison. The F in Student Achievement is particularly concerning, as it means fewer than half of students are meeting grade level expectations on STAAR assessments.
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 the gap between a B and an F 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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