Lake Travis Elementary vs Serene Hills Elementary: A Parent’s Comparison

Two Schools, Two Neighborhoods, One Big Decision

If you are looking at homes in the Lake Travis ISD area, there is a good chance your search has narrowed down to two neighborhoods on opposite sides of Highway 620. On one side, you have the established heart of Lakeway. On the other, the rapidly growing edge of Bee Cave. And each side feeds into a different elementary school.

So which one is the better fit for your family? That is exactly what we are going to walk through today. I have spent over 15 years helping families find homes in this district, and I can tell you that Lake Travis Elementary vs Serene Hills Elementary is one of the most common comparisons I get asked about. Both are strong schools. Both have dedicated leadership. But they serve very different communities, and understanding those differences matters when you are making a decision this big.

Let me break it down for you.

Lake Travis Elementary vs Serene Hills Elementary: Quick Comparison

Both campuses are part of Lake Travis ISD, which consistently ranks among the top districts in the Austin metro. But numbers on a chart only tell you so much. Let me give you the fuller picture.

Lake Travis Elementary: The Established Hub

Lake Travis Elementary sits right in the middle of Lakeway, and that location tells you a lot about the school. This is the campus that has been here the longest. It draws from the widest attendance zone in the district, pulling families from neighborhoods that stretch across central Lakeway and beyond.

What does that mean in practice? It means Lake Travis Elementary is the most diverse campus in LTISD. You will find families from a wide range of backgrounds and income levels. Your child is going to sit next to kids who live in different types of homes, come from different cultures, and have different life experiences. For a lot of parents I work with, that is a huge draw.

Principal Amanda Prehn leads a campus of approximately 712 students, and the school has a deep sense of community that comes from being rooted in an established area. The neighborhoods surrounding LTE are mature. The trees are tall. The families have been here for years. And that stability extends into the school itself.

If you value a campus where your child will experience genuine diversity within a top-performing district, Lake Travis Elementary checks that box in a way that few other LTISD campuses can. You can browse homes zoned to Lake Travis Elementary here.

Serene Hills Elementary: The Growing Campus

Now let me take you to the other side of the comparison. Serene Hills Elementary sits on the Bee Cave side of the district, serving the Serene Hills neighborhood and surrounding developments. And if Lake Travis Elementary represents the established core, Serene Hills represents where the growth is happening.

Principal Keegan Luedecke brings a strong background to the role. Before stepping into the principal position, Luedecke spent three years as an assistant principal and nine years in the classroom. That is 12 years of experience working directly with students and families before taking the lead. Why does that matter to you? Because it means the person running the building understands what happens inside a classroom, not just from an administrative perspective, but from the ground level.

With approximately 758 students, Serene Hills is slightly larger than Lake Travis Elementary. But the feel is different. This campus has a strong emphasis on student leadership programs, which means your child is going to have opportunities to take on responsibility early. Whether that is peer mentoring, school-wide projects, or leadership roles within the student body, Serene Hills actively builds those skills into the campus culture.

The surrounding community is newer. You are looking at homes that were built more recently, families that are often in a similar life stage, and a neighborhood energy that comes with growth and development. It is a campus that is building its identity right now, and there is something exciting about being part of that.

You can explore homes zoned to Serene Hills Elementary here.

The Neighborhoods: Lakeway vs Bee Cave

Here is something I always tell my clients. You are not just choosing a school. You are choosing a neighborhood, a commute, a lifestyle. So let me give you the honest comparison of what daily life looks like in each area.

Living Near Lake Travis Elementary

Lakeway is one of the most established communities in the Hill Country corridor. If you buy near Lake Travis Elementary, you are getting tree-lined streets, neighborhood pools, proximity to Lake Travis itself, and a town that has its own city services, police department, and community events.

The housing stock varies quite a bit because the area has been developed over several decades. You will find everything from mid-range homes built in the 1990s to newer construction and luxury properties. That variety is part of what makes the LTE zone so diverse.

Your daily commute into Austin will typically run along 620 or through the Bee Cave corridor, depending on where you work. Grocery stores, restaurants, and everyday services are close. This is not a community where you feel isolated. It is connected and convenient.

Living Near Serene Hills Elementary

The Bee Cave side of the district has a different energy. Serene Hills and the surrounding neighborhoods tend to feature newer construction, modern floor plans, and that fresh community feel where everyone moved in around the same time.

You are close to the Hill Country Galleria, the shops along Bee Cave Parkway, and some of the best restaurants in the corridor. The area has seen significant commercial development in recent years, so convenience is not an issue.

For families with young children, there is a real appeal to neighborhoods where most of your neighbors are in the same stage of life. Block parties happen organically. Kids ride bikes together after school. It has that “growing up together” feel that some parents are specifically looking for.

So Which School Fits Your Family?

This is the question I get most often, and I am going to be straightforward with you. There is no wrong answer here. Both campuses are part of a district that consistently performs at a high level. But the right fit depends on what you prioritize.

Consider Lake Travis Elementary if you value:

• A diverse student body that reflects a wider range of backgrounds
• An established community with deep roots and long-standing traditions
• A central Lakeway location with mature neighborhoods
• More variety in housing options and price points

Consider Serene Hills Elementary if you value:

• A growing campus with strong student leadership opportunities
• Newer construction and modern neighborhood design
• A community of families in similar life stages
• Proximity to Bee Cave’s commercial and dining options

Can I share something I have noticed over the years? Families who prioritize community character and diversity tend to gravitate toward LTE. Families who want that newer, “building something together” energy often land at Serene Hills. Both instincts are good ones.

One More Thing: Get Involved With SEPAC

Whichever school you end up at, I want to make sure you know about LTISD’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC). This is something I am personally involved with, and it is one of the best resources in the district for families who have children with learning differences or special needs.

SEPAC connects parents with information, advocacy resources, and a community of families navigating similar situations. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, or if you suspect they might need additional support, SEPAC is where you want to start. Both Lake Travis Elementary and Serene Hills Elementary work with district special education services, and having the SEPAC community behind you makes a real difference.

Do not wait until there is a problem to get connected. The earlier you plug in, the better.

Ready to Find Your Home in Lake Travis ISD?

Choosing between Lake Travis Elementary and Serene Hills Elementary is really about choosing the neighborhood and lifestyle that fits your family best. And that is exactly the kind of decision I help people work through every day.

I have been working with families in the Lake Travis ISD area for over 15 years. I know these schools, these neighborhoods, and what daily life actually looks like in each one. If you want to talk through your options or start looking at homes in a specific school zone, reach out to me directly. I am happy to help you figure out which side of 620 is right for your family.