Lakeway Elementary vs Rough Hollow Elementary: Old Lakeway vs New Lakeway

The “Old Lakeway vs New Lakeway” School Decision

If you’ve spent any time looking at homes in Lakeway, you’ve probably noticed something. There’s a real divide between the established core of the city and the newer developments pushing west toward the lake. And that divide shows up in the schools, too.

Lakeway Elementary sits in the heart of original Lakeway. It’s the heritage campus. The one that’s been part of the community longer than most of the families living there now. Rough Hollow Elementary opened in 2020 and serves the luxury lakefront neighborhoods that didn’t even exist fifteen years ago.

So which one is the better fit for your family? That depends entirely on what you’re looking for. After fifteen-plus years of helping families navigate Lake Travis ISD school choices, I can tell you both campuses deliver. But they deliver in very different ways.

Let me walk you through everything you need to know about Lakeway Elementary vs Rough Hollow Elementary so you can figure out which side of the “old vs new Lakeway” equation feels right.

Lakeway Elementary vs Rough Hollow Elementary: Quick Comparison

Lakeway Elementary: The Heritage Campus With Deep Roots

Lakeway Elementary is the smallest campus in Lake Travis ISD. And honestly, a lot of families see that as the biggest draw.

With around 592 students, this is a school where your kid doesn’t get lost in the crowd. Teachers know students by name. Parents know each other. There’s a real sense of “this is our school” that you feel the moment you walk in for a campus tour.

The school welcomed a new principal for the 2025 school year in Matthew Nelson. He brings more than a decade of campus leadership experience and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University. That combination of seasoned leadership and fresh energy is exactly what a heritage campus needs. You get someone who understands how schools work at a deep level but comes in with new perspective.

What makes Lakeway Elementary special isn’t something you can put on a brochure. It’s the culture. This is a campus built on tradition and community involvement. The PTA is active. Family events are well-attended. And because the school has been part of Lakeway’s identity for so long, there’s a continuity you don’t find at newer campuses. Some families have had multiple generations pass through those hallways.

Is the building as flashy as the newer schools in the district? No. But if you’re the kind of parent who values a smaller, more personal school environment where your child is truly known, Lakeway Elementary delivers that in a way that’s hard to replicate.

You can browse homes zoned to Lakeway Elementary here.

Rough Hollow Elementary: The Modern Campus Built for What’s Next

Rough Hollow Elementary is the newest elementary campus in Lake Travis ISD, and it looks the part. Everything about this school was designed with modern education in mind.

The standout feature is the dedicated STEM maker space. This isn’t a repurposed closet with a 3D printer in it. It’s a purpose-built space where students get hands-on experience with design thinking, engineering concepts, and creative problem-solving. When a school is built from the ground up in 2020, you get facilities that reflect how kids actually learn today.

Principal Angela Page brings 25 years of education experience to the role. That’s a quarter century of understanding what works for kids, what doesn’t, and how to build campus culture from scratch. And building culture from scratch is exactly what a brand-new school requires. You can’t inherit traditions when you don’t have any yet. You have to create them. That takes a specific kind of leader, and Page has proven she’s up to the task.

With approximately 751 students, Rough Hollow Elementary is noticeably larger than Lakeway Elementary. But it’s still well within the range where kids feel connected to their school community. The difference is that the community here is younger. Many of the families moved to Rough Hollow and Sweetwater specifically because of the new construction and luxury amenities. So you’re surrounded by families who made a deliberate choice to be in a newer, more modern environment.

That shows up in the parent community, too. There’s an energy that comes with building something new. Parents at Rough Hollow Elementary aren’t just participating in existing traditions. They’re creating the traditions that will define this campus for decades.

You can search homes zoned to Rough Hollow Elementary here.

The Neighborhoods: Established Core vs Luxury Lakefront

Here’s where the “old Lakeway vs new Lakeway” dynamic really comes alive. Because the neighborhoods feeding these two schools could not be more different in character.

Lakeway Elementary Neighborhoods

The core of Lakeway is an established community with mature trees, winding streets, and homes that range from modest ranch-styles to renovated custom builds. This is the Lakeway that people picture when they think of the city. Close to the Lakeway Activity Center, the golf courses, and the restaurants along Lohmans Crossing.

You’ll find a mix of home ages and price points here. Some streets have homes from the 1980s and 1990s sitting next to recent rebuilds. That diversity creates a neighborhood feel that’s organic rather than planned. Your neighbors might be empty nesters who’ve lived there for 30 years or young families who bought a fixer-upper and are putting their stamp on it.

The tradeoff? Some of the housing stock is older. You might be looking at homes that need updating. But the lots tend to be generous, the locations are central, and you’re in the beating heart of Lakeway.

Rough Hollow Elementary Neighborhoods

Rough Hollow and Sweetwater are a completely different experience. These are master-planned luxury communities with resort-style amenities, new construction, and price points that reflect it. We’re talking pools, fitness centers, trails, and in Rough Hollow’s case, a marina and yacht club on Lake Travis.

The homes here are newer, larger, and built to current design standards. Open floor plans, high ceilings, outdoor living spaces designed for the Hill Country climate. If you’re moving from a major metro area and want the “Texas luxury” experience, this is where you’ll probably land.

But here’s something worth knowing. Because these communities are relatively new, they don’t have the same layered, multi-generational feel as central Lakeway. Everyone moved in around the same time. That’s not a negative. It just means the community character is still taking shape. And for a lot of families, being part of shaping that character is the whole appeal.

For other nearby neighborhoods feeding into Lake Travis ISD schools, take a look at Lakeway Highlands as well.

So Which School Fits Your Family?

Let me make this simple. You should seriously consider Lakeway Elementary if you value a smaller campus where everyone knows your child, you prefer established neighborhoods with character and variety, and you want a school with deep community roots and traditions. The heritage factor here is real, and for families who prioritize that tight-knit feel, it’s tough to beat.

You should seriously consider Rough Hollow Elementary if you want modern facilities and purpose-built learning spaces like the STEM maker space, you’re drawn to newer luxury communities with resort amenities, and you like the idea of being part of a campus that’s still building its identity and traditions.

Neither choice is wrong. Both schools are part of Lake Travis ISD’s strong elementary lineup, and both will prepare your child well for middle school and beyond. The question is really about which environment and lifestyle fits your family’s personality.

Do you want the charm of the established neighborhood school? Or the energy of the brand-new campus? That’s the core decision here.

Get Involved: LTISD SEPAC

Whichever school you choose, I always encourage families to get connected to the Lake Travis Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC). I serve on SEPAC myself, and it’s one of the most impactful ways parents can advocate for all students in the district.

SEPAC isn’t just for families with children in special education. It’s for anyone who believes every kid deserves the right support. The work this group does influences district-wide policy and resources. If you want to be part of making Lake Travis ISD even better for every student, SEPAC is where that happens.

Let’s Find the Right Fit Together

Choosing between Lakeway Elementary and Rough Hollow Elementary is really about choosing between two different versions of Lakeway. The established core with its deep roots and smaller-school feel, or the modern western edge with its luxury lifestyle and cutting-edge campus.

I’ve helped hundreds of families work through exactly this decision over the past fifteen-plus years. I know the neighborhoods, I know the schools, and I know how to match families with the right fit. Not just the right house, but the right community.

Ready to talk through your options? Reach out to me directly and let’s figure out which side of Lakeway is calling your name.