Ed 
These Two Elementaries Are 2.5 Miles Apart and 32 Points Apart on TEA
Hill Elementary scored a 91 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability report. Wooldridge Elementary scored a 59. Both are in Austin ISD. Both sit in north Austin. The median home price in the Hill zone is about $746,000, while the Wooldridge zone runs about $399,000 (VOW MLS, closed sales, trailing 18mo). 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 32 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 weighing these two north Austin zones, 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 | A (91/100) | F (59/100) |
| Enrollment | 810 students | 462 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | ~$746,000 | ~$399,000 |
| Feeds Into | Murchison MS, Anderson HS | Burnet MS, Navarro HS (LASA by application) |
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 | A (91/100) | F (59/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (92/100) | F (42/100) |
| School Progress | A (92/100) | F (57/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | B (88/100) | D (62/100) |
| Relative Performance | C (77/100) | F (43/100) |
| Enrollment | 810 students (EE-05) | 462 students (EE-05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 15.7% | 93.7% |
| English Learners | 9.6% | 79.0% |
| TEA Distinctions | 2 of 6 earned | Not eligible (F rated) |
Hill scored 92 in Student Achievement and 88 in Closing the Gaps. Both A and B ratings. Wooldridge scored 42 and 62 in the same domains. The gap in Student Achievement alone is 50 points, which is about as wide as you will see between two Austin ISD campuses this close together at a similar price point. Wooldridge’s best showing is Closing the Gaps at 62 (a D), which is still 26 points below Hill’s 88 (a B).
And again, the demographics explain much of the divergence. Wooldridge’s student body is 93.7% economically disadvantaged and 79% English learners. Hill’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.
Hill: Strong Domain Scores and a Feeder Pattern That Keeps Giving
Hill is the academic standout in this matchup. An A at 92 in Student Achievement, an A at 92 in School Progress, and a B at 88 in Closing the Gaps. Two of six TEA distinctions earned, which is no small feat for any AISD campus. Eight hundred and ten students. And a feeder pattern that sends students through Murchison Middle School to 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 pathway.
For the northwest Austin neighborhoods that feed into Hill, the combination of a top performing elementary and a respected high school option creates a K through 12 trajectory that few other Austin ISD zones can match. At about $746,000 median, the Hill zone commands a clear premium by north Austin standards (VOW MLS, closed sales, trailing 18mo).
Wooldridge Elementary: Significant Challenges and an Interesting Feeder
Wooldridge serves 462 students, making it one of the smaller elementaries in this part of Austin ISD. The F rating at 59 is not what buyers hope to see, but Wooldridge’s feeder pattern does include some strong downstream options. Students feed through Burnet Middle School to Navarro Early College (tuition free college credits), and they remain eligible to apply district wide to LASA (nationally ranked academics) (Austin ISD feeder pattern).
The neighborhoods surrounding Wooldridge sit in north 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 Wooldridge zone has appeal that goes beyond its elementary school scores, especially given that Burnet to Navarro, with the option to apply to LASA, is one of the more interesting secondary pathways in the district.
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 (about $746,000 for Hill and about $399,000 for Wooldridge) put these zones in very different tiers 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 Hill if:
- An A rated elementary is a non negotiable in your home search
- The Murchison to Anderson high school feeder represents the kind of long term academic pathway you are planning around
- A larger campus with 810 students and 2 of 6 TEA distinctions is important to you
- You want a top performing elementary at an accessible north Austin price point
You might lean toward Wooldridge if:
- The specific home and street in the Wooldridge zone is a better fit for your needs and budget
- The Burnet to Navarro high school pathway, with LASA available by application, is a meaningful long term draw
- You want the Quail Creek and Wooten neighborhood character and the gentrification upside
I will give you the same honest take I give all my clients: if the elementary campus matters most, Hill is the clear academic choice, though the Hill zone carries a meaningfully higher price. The A overall rating and the strong domain scores make it one of the strongest school zones in this part of Austin ISD. But real estate is never just about one factor. If you find a house in the Wooldridge zone that checks every other box, the path through Burnet to Navarro, with LASA open by application, 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 17 years across every corner of Austin ISD. Lets sit down and map it out for your search.
