Ed 
When a C and an A Share the Same Corner of Williamson County
Chandler Oaks Elementary earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency in 2025. Jim Plain Elementary earned a C. Both schools sit in Williamson County, both serve the northwest Austin suburban corridor, and homes zoned to either campus are within about 8 miles of each other. But they belong to different districts and the gap between them is significant, not just in test scores but in the kind of community you are buying into.
Jim Plain is a Leander ISD campus. Chandler Oaks belongs to Round Rock ISD. That distinction matters more than most buyers realize because these two districts, while both strong overall, have very different campus level results when you get down to individual schools. And in a market where school zone often determines your home search radius, understanding what each campus actually delivers is the first step toward making a smart decision.
I have shown homes in both of these zones more times than I can count, and the buyer conversations always get interesting when we start comparing the data side by side. So lets do exactly that.
Jim Plain vs Chandler Oaks: Quick Comparison
| Jim Plain Elementary | Chandler Oaks Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating (2025) | C | A |
| Enrollment | 695 students | 548 students |
| Grades | PK through 5th | K through 5th |
| District | Leander ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Median Home Price | ~$468,000 | ~$525,000 |
| Feeds Into | Danielson or Leander Middle → Glenn, Leander, or Rouse HS | Walsh Middle → Westwood, Round Rock, or Stony Point HS (by address) |
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 | Jim Plain Elementary | Chandler Oaks Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating (2025) | C | A |
| Student Achievement | C | A |
| School Progress | C | A |
| Closing the Gaps | C | A |
| Enrollment | 695 students (PK-5) | 548 students (K-5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 29.2% | 10.9% |
Source: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Jim Plain) and Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Chandler Oaks). TEA publishes letter grades across three accountability domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps.
The gap here is real and it shows up across every domain. Chandler Oaks earned straight A’s, which is genuinely hard to do. Jim Plain sits at a consistent C. Worth noting: Chandler Oaks serves a smaller share of economically disadvantaged students (10.9% vs 29.2% at Jim Plain), so the campuses are not working with identical populations.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Jim Plain school page or the Chandler Oaks school page.
Jim Plain: Leander ISD’s Accessible Entry Point
Jim Plain Elementary sits in the Leander corridor, drawing from neighborhoods that tend to be newer and more affordable than what you find in many other parts of Williamson County. The campus can feed into either Danielson or Leander Middle, then Glenn, Leander, or Rouse High School depending on address, so verify your specific feeder pattern before you buy. Leander ISD has invested heavily in technology across its campuses and the district as a whole maintains a strong reputation, even if individual campus scores vary.
The neighborhoods in the Jim Plain zone reflect what Leander does best: solid suburban communities with parks, trails, and easy access to the 183A corridor. Homes here tend to skew toward newer construction, and the price points are approachable for buyers who want Williamson County schools without stretching into higher brackets. For buyers who plan to be in a home for 5 to 10 years, the Leander growth story adds a potential upside to the value equation.
Chandler Oaks: A Campus That Delivers at Every Level
An A overall with A ratings across all three domains is not something many campuses can claim. Chandler Oaks sits in the Mayfield Ranch and Stone Oak corridor of northwest Round Rock, an area that has attracted buyers for years because of the mature neighborhoods, the proximity to outdoor amenities, and the strong Round Rock ISD feeder pipeline. The Walsh Middle to Westwood High pathway is one of the most sought after in the entire Austin metro, and Chandler Oaks is the front door to that journey.
The Chandler Oaks zone trades at a premium. Median sale price in the Mayfield Ranch, Stone Oak, and Behrens Ranch corridor sits around $525,000 (NRG analysis of VOW MLS data, trailing 365 days), compared to about $468,000 for Leander 78641 where most Jim Plain buyers shop. That is roughly a $57,000 gap, and it tracks with what the school ratings would predict. You are paying more for the higher rated campus, which is the more common pattern in this market.
The Neighborhoods
Jim Plain draws from Leander neighborhoods along the 183A and Highway 29 corridor, with a mix of newer master planned communities and some older established subdivisions. The area has easy access to Cedar Park shopping and dining, and the MetroRail commuter line at Leander station is a legitimate transportation option for those working south.
Chandler Oaks pulls from Behrens Ranch, the Preserve at Stone Oak, and Village Mayfield Ranch, among others. These are communities with pools, greenbelts, and the kind of established neighborhood infrastructure that takes years to develop. The Brushy Creek trail system runs through the area, giving residents one of the best trail networks in the suburbs.
Browse all homes zoned to Jim Plain Elementary or homes zoned to Chandler Oaks Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
This is one of those comparisons where the data makes the conversation pretty straightforward.
You might lean toward Jim Plain if:
- You are specifically drawn to the Leander corridor and want to be part of a growing community
- You are comfortable verifying the specific middle and high school pathway for your address (Jim Plain feeds multiple options)
- You value MetroRail commuter access
You might lean toward Chandler Oaks if:
- TEA scores and distinctions are a top priority in your school search
- The Westwood High School feeder pathway matters to you (it should, it is elite)
- You want established neighborhoods with mature amenities at a competitive price point
- A campus that serves a diverse student body and still earns A’s across the board is important to you
I am not going to sugarcoat this one. If school performance is your primary driver, Chandler Oaks is the stronger campus by a significant margin. And the fact that it comes at a similar or even slightly lower price point makes the math even more compelling. But school ratings are one factor in a home purchase, not the only factor. The right neighborhood, the right commute, the right house at the right price, all of that matters too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Whether the Leander corridor or the Round Rock side of Williamson County feels right, I can walk you through both zones and help you find a home that checks every box. I have been working this market for 19 years and I know these neighborhoods inside and out. Lets set up a time to talk about what matters most to you.
