Ed Neuhaus 
One Round Rock ISD Elementary Scores a 91. The Other Scores a 50. They Are Five Miles Apart.
Deep Wood Elementary earned a 91 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. That is a solid A. Joe Lee Johnson Elementary, about five miles east in the same Round Rock ISD, earned a 50. That is an F. Same district, same city, and a 41 point gap that tells you everything you need to know about how variable school performance can be even within a single system.
I have been helping buyers navigate Round Rock ISD for years, and this pairing is one of those that really catches people off guard. Both schools are in well established parts of Round Rock, both draw from neighborhoods with real character, and the median home prices are closer than you would expect given the TEA spread. Deep Wood zone median sits around $445,000, Joe Lee Johnson around $447,500. So the question is not really about price. It is about what you prioritize in your home search.
Lets look at the numbers and the neighborhoods so you can decide for yourself. But I will tell you upfront: the TEA data here paints a very clear picture.
Joe Lee Johnson vs Deep Wood: Quick Comparison
| Joe Lee Johnson Elementary | Deep Wood Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | F (50/100) | A (91/100) |
| Enrollment | 821 students | 359 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Round Rock ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Median Home Price | $447,500 | $445,000 |
| Feeds Into | Deerpark / Hernandez MS, McNeil / Westwood HS | Canyon Vista / Grisham MS, Westwood / Round Rock 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 | Joe Lee Johnson Elementary | Deep Wood Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | F (50/100) | A (91/100) |
| Student Achievement | F (58/100) | A (92/100) |
| School Progress | F (58/100) | A (90/100) |
| Academic Growth | F (58/100) | A (90/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | F (55/100) | B (83/100) |
| Enrollment | 821 students (EE – 05) | 359 students (EE – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 59.1% | 26.7% |
| English Learners | 31.8% | 5.3% |
| TEA Distinctions | Not eligible (F-rated) | 5 of 7 earned |
Deep Wood earned an A in every domain except Closing the Gaps, where it pulled a B at 83. That is an outstanding performance profile. The campus also earned 5 of 7 TEA distinction designations, which puts it in the upper tier of Round Rock ISD elementary schools. Joe Lee Johnson scored an F across the board. It is not close.
What is worth noting is the size difference. Joe Lee Johnson has 821 students, more than double Deep Wood’s 359. Larger campuses often face different operational challenges, and the resource allocation per student can look very different. But the TEA data is the TEA data, and a 41 point spread is hard to explain away with size alone.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Joe Lee Johnson Elementary school page or the Deep Wood Elementary school page.
Deep Wood Elementary: Small Campus, Big Results
Deep Wood is one of those schools that flies under the radar in Round Rock ISD because it is small and tucked into older neighborhoods. But the TEA numbers do not lie. A 91 overall with 5 distinction designations puts this campus in genuinely elite territory. The school draws from the Cimarron and Round Rock West neighborhoods, established communities with mature trees and homes that have real character. This is not a cookie cutter subdivision zone.
At 359 students, Deep Wood has the kind of campus size where the principal knows most students by name and the community feels more like a neighborhood school than an institution. The 5.3% English Learner population and 26.7% economically disadvantaged rate are on the lower side, but the school is still earning strong marks on Closing the Gaps (B, 83) which measures how well the campus serves all student groups.
The feeder pattern here is outstanding. Deep Wood feeds into Canyon Vista Middle School (one of RRISD’s top middle schools) or Grisham Middle School, and then on to Westwood High School or Round Rock High School. The Westwood feeder path in particular is considered one of the strongest K through 12 pipelines in all of Central Texas.
Joe Lee Johnson Elementary: The Numbers Are Tough
Joe Lee Johnson serves the Wells Branch community and surrounding neighborhoods, an area I genuinely like for a lot of reasons. The trail system, the recreation center, the community ponds. Wells Branch has infrastructure that most neighborhoods would love to have. But the school scores are a real concern for buyers who prioritize academics.
An F rating at 50 out of 100 is about as low as TEA scores go. The campus serves 821 students with 59.1% economically disadvantaged and 31.8% English Learners, which presents challenges that not every school is resourced to meet. Round Rock ISD has historically been strong at supporting struggling campuses, so it is worth monitoring what interventions the district brings in over the next cycle.
The Neighborhoods
Here is what makes this comparison fascinating from a real estate perspective: the home prices are essentially identical. Deep Wood zone median is $445,000. Joe Lee Johnson zone median is $447,500. You are paying the same amount for a home in either zone, but the school experience is vastly different.
The Deep Wood zone centers on Cimarron and Round Rock West, mature neighborhoods with larger lots and established tree canopy. The Joe Lee Johnson zone centers on Wells Branch, a well planned community with excellent amenities but a different overall housing stock. Both areas are convenient to I-35, the 45 Toll, and the employment corridors along 183.
Browse all homes zoned to Joe Lee Johnson Elementary or homes zoned to Deep Wood Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
This one is pretty clear cut from an academic standpoint.
You might lean toward Deep Wood if:
- TEA performance matters and you want an A rated campus in Round Rock ISD
- A smaller school environment (359 students) appeals to you
- The Westwood High School feeder path is important to your plans
- You prefer established neighborhoods with mature lots and tree canopy
You might lean toward Joe Lee Johnson if:
- The Wells Branch community amenities (trails, rec center, ponds) are a priority
- You want a larger campus with more programming options for your student
- You plan to supplement with private tutoring or enrichment programs
I do not think it is controversial to say Deep Wood is the stronger campus. A 41 point TEA gap at essentially the same price point makes this an easy call for school focused buyers. But Wells Branch is a legitimately great place to live, and some buyers are going to prioritize that community infrastructure over TEA scores. That is a personal call, and I respect it either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Round Rock ISD school zones can surprise you, and sometimes the best value is not where you would expect. I have been helping buyers make smart decisions in this market for over 19 years. Lets grab a time to talk through your priorities so we can find the right zone and the right home for you.
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