Lake Travis Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary: Which Campus is Right for You?

**Lake Travis Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary: Which Campus is Right for You?**

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So you’re moving to Lakeway and you’ve narrowed it down to two elementary schools. Both have “Lakeway” in their DNA. Both serve families right here in the heart of this community. But Lake Travis Elementary and Lakeway Elementary offer two genuinely different experiences for your kids. And the differences matter more than you might think.

I’ve spent over 15 years helping families navigate exactly this decision. As a member of LTISD’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), I’ve seen these campuses from the inside. So let me walk you through what actually sets them apart and help you figure out which one fits your family best.

Lake Travis Elementary vs Lakeway Elementary: Quick Comparison

That table gives you the snapshot. But the real story is in the details. Let me dig into each campus so you can see what daily life actually looks like for your child.

Lake Travis Elementary: The District’s Most Diverse Campus

Lake Travis Elementary sits right in the heart of Lakeway and serves the largest attendance zone of any elementary in this part of the district. With around 712 students, it’s a bigger campus. But that size brings something you won’t find at every school in Lake Travis ISD. It brings genuine diversity.

Why does that matter? Because your child learns to work alongside kids from different backgrounds, different family structures, different perspectives. That’s not just a nice talking point. It shapes how they see the world. And in a district that can lean homogeneous, LTE stands out for giving kids that broader experience while still delivering the academic quality Lake Travis ISD is known for.

Leadership That Goes Deep

Principal Amanda Prehn leads the campus, and she’s built a leadership team that reflects LTE’s commitment to serving every student. But the person I want you to know about is Assistant Principal Lauryn Bryan. She brings 16 years of education experience, and 12 of those years were spent in special education.

Think about what that means for a minute. You have a campus leader who has spent the majority of her career understanding how different kids learn differently. That experience doesn’t just benefit students with IEPs or 504 plans. It shapes the entire culture of a school. When your leadership team genuinely understands differentiated instruction at that level, every kid benefits. The struggling reader. The gifted math student who needs more challenge. The anxious first-grader who needs a different approach.

As someone who sits on SEPAC, I can tell you that kind of special education depth in campus leadership is not something you can take for granted. It’s a real asset.

Who Thrives at LTE?

Families who are drawn to Lake Travis Elementary tend to value a few things. They want their kids exposed to a wider range of peers. They appreciate a larger school’s ability to offer more programs, more clubs, more opportunities for their child to find their “thing.” And they want leadership that understands the full spectrum of learners.

Is it the right fit for every family? No. Some parents prefer a smaller, more intimate setting. And that’s exactly where Lakeway Elementary comes in.

Lakeway Elementary: The Heritage Campus

Lakeway Elementary is the smaller of the two, with about 592 students. It’s the tightest-knit elementary campus in this area. And that’s not an accident. It’s by design.

When people talk about that “small school feel” inside a big district, this is the campus they’re describing. Teachers know your kid by name. Parents see the same faces at pickup every day. The PTA feels less like an organization and more like a group of neighbors getting things done. Because, well, that’s exactly what it is.

New Leadership, Deep Roots

Starting in 2025, Principal Matthew Nelson takes the helm at Lakeway Elementary. He brings over 10 years of campus leadership experience and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University. So while he’s new to this specific campus, he’s not new to running a school.

New leadership at a heritage campus is an interesting combination. You get fresh energy and ideas paired with a community that already knows exactly who it is. Lakeway Elementary families are deeply invested in their school. They show up. They volunteer. They hold the campus to high standards. And a principal with Nelson’s experience will understand how to honor that existing culture while bringing his own vision.

Will there be a transition period? Probably. But is that a reason to avoid the campus? Not at all. In fact, it could be a great time to join the community and help shape what comes next.

Who Thrives at LWE?

Families who gravitate toward Lakeway Elementary often want that close community above everything else. They want their child to feel known. They want to know the other parents. They want a campus where nothing feels anonymous.

If you’re the kind of family that values tight relationships and a school that feels like an extension of your neighborhood, Lakeway Elementary delivers that in a way that’s hard to replicate at a larger campus.

Neighborhoods and Location: Two Different Parts of Lakeway

Here’s something that trips up families who are new to the area. Both of these schools are in Lakeway. But they serve different parts of the city, and those neighborhoods have their own personalities.

Lake Travis Elementary’s zone is the largest, stretching across a wide swath of central Lakeway. You’ll find everything from newer construction to established neighborhoods within its boundaries. The housing stock is varied, the price points cover a wider range, and the families reflect that variety.

Lakeway Elementary’s zone is more compact, anchored in the established core of Lakeway. The neighborhoods here tend to be more mature. Tree-lined streets. Homes that have been there for decades alongside thoughtful newer builds. It’s the part of Lakeway that longtime residents think of when they picture the city.

Neither location is better. But they feel different when you’re living in them. And the neighborhood you choose will shape your family’s daily experience just as much as the school itself.

Want to explore homes in both zones? You can browse Lake Travis Elementary homes here and Lakeway Elementary homes here.

So Which School Fits Your Family?

This is the question, right? And honestly, there’s no wrong answer here. Both campuses are part of Lake Travis ISD, which consistently ranks among the best districts in Central Texas. Your child will get an excellent education at either school.

But the day-to-day experience will differ. So ask yourself a few questions.

Do you value diversity and a broader peer group? Lake Travis Elementary gives your child exposure to the widest range of classmates in this part of the district. That matters for social development and perspective-building in ways that show up years later.

Do you want a campus with deep special education expertise in leadership? LTE’s Lauryn Bryan brings a level of experience in differentiated learning that benefits every student on campus, not just those with formal plans. If your child learns differently or you suspect they might, that’s worth considering.

Do you prioritize a tight-knit, everybody-knows-everybody feel? Lakeway Elementary is the smallest campus in the area. That intimacy is real, and for some families, it’s the most important factor. Kids who thrive when they feel deeply known and connected often do their best work in that kind of environment.

Are you comfortable with a leadership transition? Principal Nelson brings strong credentials to Lakeway Elementary. But if stability in leadership is high on your list, LTE’s established team might give you more peace of mind right now.

What kind of neighborhood do you want to live in? Remember, you’re not just choosing a school. You’re choosing a daily commute, a set of neighbors, a community. Drive both areas. Walk the streets in the evening. See which one feels like home.

A Note About Special Education and Student Support

I want to take a moment on this because it comes up in almost every conversation I have with families. As a SEPAC member, I know how important it is to understand what support your child will have access to at each campus.

Both schools operate within Lake Travis ISD’s framework for special education, 504 plans, and student support services. The district sets the standard, and both campuses deliver on it. But the depth of experience in campus leadership can affect how proactively those services are implemented day to day.

If your child has an IEP, a 504 plan, or any learning difference, I’d encourage you to visit both campuses and ask specific questions about how they handle those needs. And if you want help navigating that process, that’s something I do regularly with the families I work with. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

For a broader comparison across all the district’s elementary campuses, check out my full Lake Travis ISD elementary school comparison.

Let’s Find the Right Fit Together

Choosing between Lake Travis Elementary and Lakeway Elementary isn’t about picking the “better” school. It’s about picking the better fit for your specific family. And that decision is deeply personal.

I’ve helped hundreds of families work through exactly this process over the past 15+ years. I know these campuses. I know the neighborhoods. I know the questions to ask and the things most people don’t think to look for. And I’m happy to share everything I know.

If you want to talk through your options, compare neighborhoods, or just get an honest take from someone who’s been in these schools for over a decade, reach out anytime. No pressure, no pitch. Just real information from someone who cares about getting this right for your family.