Ed Neuhaus 
These Two Elementaries Are 2.5 Miles Apart and 34 Points Apart on TEA
Wooldridge Elementary scored a 91 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability report. Hill Elementary scored a 57. Both are in Austin ISD. Both sit in north Austin. The median home prices are $266,500 near Wooldridge and $268,000 near Hill. You could drive between these two schools in under 10 minutes and pass through some of the same shopping centers on the way. And yet the TEA performance gap between them is 34 points, the difference between an A and an F.
This is not an unusual pattern in Austin ISD. The district stretches across a wide range of communities, and the school boundaries create zones that can differ dramatically even when they are geographically close. For buyers shopping in the mid $260s in north Austin, understanding which zone your address falls in is not a minor detail. It is one of the most important things you can know before making an offer.
Hill vs Wooldridge Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Hill Elementary | Wooldridge Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | F (57/100) | A (91/100) |
| Enrollment | 432 students | 810 students |
| Grades | EE – 06 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $268,000 | $266,500 |
| Feeds Into | Bedichek / Murchison MS, Anderson / Akins HS | Burnet MS, LASA / 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 | Hill Elementary | Wooldridge Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | F (57/100) | A (91/100) |
| Student Achievement | F (45/100) | A (92/100) |
| School Progress | F (55/100) | A (92/100) |
| Academic Growth | F (55/100) | A (92/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | D (62/100) | B (88/100) |
| Enrollment | 432 students (EE-06) | 810 students (EE-05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 91.9% | 15.7% |
| English Learners | 48.4% | 9.6% |
| TEA Distinctions | Not eligible (F rated) | 6 of 7 earned |
Wooldridge scored 92 in Student Achievement, School Progress, and Academic Growth. All A ratings. Hill scored 45, 55, and 55 in the same domains. All F ratings. The gap in Student Achievement alone is 47 points, which is about as wide as you will see between any two Austin ISD campuses at a similar price point. Hill’s best showing is Closing the Gaps at 62 (a D), which is still 26 points below Wooldridge’s 88 (a B).
And again, the demographics explain much of the divergence. Hill’s student body is 91.9% economically disadvantaged and 48.4% English learners. Wooldridge’s is 15.7% and 9.6%. These are dramatically different student populations attending schools that are geographically neighbors, and the TEA data reflects challenges that extend far beyond any individual campus’s control.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, visit the Hill Elementary school page or the Wooldridge Elementary school page.
Wooldridge: Triple A Domain Scores and a Feeder Pattern That Keeps Giving
I wrote about Wooldridge in detail in our Brown vs Wooldridge comparison, so I will keep this focused on what matters most for this matchup. Three A ratings at 92 across Student Achievement, School Progress, and Academic Growth. Six of seven TEA distinctions. Eight hundred and ten students. And a feeder pattern that sends students through Burnet Middle School to three of Austin ISD’s most distinctive high schools: LASA (nationally ranked academics), McCallum (celebrated Fine Arts Academy), and Navarro Early College (tuition free college credits).
For the Quail Creek, Wooten, and surrounding neighborhoods that feed into Wooldridge, the combination of a top performing elementary and elite high school options creates a K through 12 trajectory that few other Austin ISD zones can match. At $266,500 median, it is also remarkably accessible by Austin standards.
Hill Elementary: Small Campus, Significant Challenges, an Interesting Feeder
Hill serves 432 students, making it one of the smaller elementaries in this part of Austin ISD. The campus extends through sixth grade (one year beyond most AISD elementaries), which gives students an additional year in the familiar elementary environment before transitioning to middle school. For some students, that extra year can be meaningful.
The F rating at 57 is not what buyers hope to see, but Hill’s feeder pattern does include some strong downstream options. Students feed into Bedichek Middle School or Murchison Middle School, and at the high school level, the pathways include Anderson High School, which carries a strong academic reputation within Austin ISD. Anderson’s AP offerings and college prep culture give Hill zone residents a meaningful high school option despite the elementary level challenges.
The neighborhoods surrounding Hill Elementary sit in northwest Austin with a mix of older ranch style homes and updated properties. The area has genuine neighborhood character: mature trees, established street patterns, and a community that has been in place for decades. For buyers who value location and long term appreciation potential in a part of Austin that is steadily gentrifying, the Hill zone has appeal that goes beyond its elementary school scores.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones share the same north Austin landscape: mid century residential development, accessible commercial corridors, and relatively easy highway access via MoPac and I-35. The median prices ($268,000 for Hill and $266,500 for Wooldridge) put both zones in the affordable tier for Austin buyers, and the homes in both areas offer solid potential for updates and customization.
The Wooldridge zone centers on the Quail Creek and Wooten corridors, while Hill draws from neighborhoods a bit further northwest. Both benefit from proximity to the Domain for retail and entertainment, and commute times to downtown Austin are similar from either zone (roughly 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic and route).
Browse all homes zoned to Hill Elementary or homes zoned to Wooldridge Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
The academic gap here is significant, and the feeder patterns add another layer to the decision.
You might lean toward Wooldridge if:
- An A rated elementary is a non negotiable in your home search
- The LASA and McCallum high school feeders represent the kind of long term academic pathway you are planning around
- A larger campus with 810 students and 6 of 7 TEA distinctions is important to you
- You want the Quail Creek and Wooten neighborhood character
You might lean toward Hill if:
- The specific home and street in the Hill zone is a better fit for your needs and budget
- Anderson High School as a downstream feeder is a meaningful draw
- A smaller campus with 432 students and the extended sixth grade year are advantages for your child
I will give you the same honest take I give all my clients: if the elementary campus matters most and both zones are at the same price, Wooldridge is the clear academic choice. The triple A domain scores and the feeder into LASA or McCallum make it one of the best value school zones in Austin ISD. But real estate is never just about one factor. If you find a house in the Hill zone that checks every other box, the path through Murchison to Anderson High is a legitimate and well regarded secondary school trajectory. Just go in with clear eyes about the elementary years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
North Austin school zone boundaries twist and turn through neighborhoods that otherwise look identical from the street. Knowing which side of the line your address falls on before you make an offer is the difference between a confident purchase and an expensive surprise. I have been doing this for 19 years across every corner of Austin ISD. Lets sit down and map it out for your search.
