Ed Neuhaus 
Lake Travis ISD Meets Eanes ISD Along the Shores of Lake Austin
Lakeway Elementary scored a 90 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. Valley View Elementary, just a few miles east in Eanes ISD, scored an 87. Both are strong schools in two of the most sought after districts west of Austin, and both draw from neighborhoods where the median home price starts well above $700,000. This is a luxury school zone comparison, and the differences between these two campuses say a lot about what kind of Hill Country lifestyle you are looking for.
Lake Travis ISD and Eanes ISD are both elite districts by any measure. But they serve very different communities. Lakeway Elementary sits in the heart of Lakeway, a planned resort community built around golf courses, the lake, and a lifestyle that feels like a permanent vacation. Valley View is in the West Lake Hills and Rollingwood area, closer to downtown Austin, with a more established suburban character and some of the most coveted real estate in the entire metro. The schools are both excellent. The neighborhoods could not be more different in feel.
Lakeway vs Valley View Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Lakeway Elementary | Valley View Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (90/100) | B (87/100) |
| Enrollment | 521 students | 272 students |
| Grades | KG – 05 | KG – 05 |
| District | Lake Travis ISD | Eanes ISD |
| Median Home Price | $717,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Feeds Into | Hudson Bend / Lake Travis MS then Lake Travis HS | Hill Country / West Ridge MS then Westlake 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 | Lakeway Elementary | Valley View Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (90/100) | B (87/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (93/100) | A (93/100) |
| School Progress | B (87/100) | B (82/100) |
| Academic Growth | B (85/100) | C (76/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | A (93/100) | B (89/100) |
| Enrollment | 521 students (KG – 05) | 272 students (KG – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 6.9% | 7.4% |
| English Learners | 7.3% | 4.4% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 6 of 7 earned |
Student Achievement is identical at 93 for both schools. The gap shows up in Academic Growth, where Lakeway’s 85 significantly outpaces Valley View’s 76. That C in Academic Growth is what pulls Valley View down to a B overall despite strong achievement scores. For context, Academic Growth measures how much students improve year over year, not where they start. A school can have extremely high achieving students but still score lower on growth if those students are not making as much progress from one year to the next. It is a nuance that matters more than most people realize.
For the full TEA breakdown, visit the Lakeway Elementary school page or the Valley View Elementary school page.
Lakeway Elementary: Lake Living and Lake Travis ISD
Lakeway is a lifestyle as much as it is a location. The communities zoned to Lakeway Elementary include The Hills of Lakeway, Flintrock at Hurst Creek, and several established neighborhoods along Lohmans Crossing and the 620 corridor. These are communities built around golf, lake access, and outdoor recreation. The school reflects that energy with an engaged parent community and a campus culture that benefits from a relatively affluent and stable population.
The feeder pattern runs through Hudson Bend Middle School or Lake Travis Middle School and then up to Lake Travis High School, which has built a statewide reputation for academics and athletics (the football program alone draws national attention). At a median of $717,000, you are getting Lake Travis ISD schooling at a price point that is genuinely competitive compared to what Eanes ISD asks.
Valley View Elementary: The Westlake Feeder
Valley View is a small school with 272 students, and that intimacy is part of the appeal. The campus sits in the West Lake Hills area, drawing from neighborhoods like Seven Oaks and the established communities along Bee Caves Road. This is Eanes ISD territory, which means the long term feeder path goes through Hill Country or West Ridge Middle School and then on to Westlake High School. Westlake High is arguably the most prestigious public high school in the Austin metro, and buying into the feeder pattern is a significant part of what drives prices in this zone to a median of $1,100,000.
The trade off is that you are paying a substantial premium for that Westlake pipeline, and Valley View’s B rating at 87 is actually lower than Lakeway’s A at 90. The school is still strong by any objective measure, but if you are choosing purely on current TEA performance, Lakeway has the edge.
The Neighborhoods
Lakeway’s zone offers resort style living with golf course communities, lake access, and that Hill Country feel. Homes range from the $500s into the millions, with most of the inventory in the $600,000 to $900,000 range. The 620 corridor can be a commute challenge during rush hour, but for buyers who work remotely or keep flexible schedules, the lifestyle is hard to match.
Valley View’s zone is closer to downtown Austin and feels more like an established urban suburb than a resort community. The homes are older on average, the lots are generous, and the tree cover is extraordinary. But the price of entry is steep. You are looking at $1 million plus for most single family homes in this zone, and the inventory is limited because people who buy here tend to stay.
Browse all homes zoned to Lakeway Elementary or homes zoned to Valley View Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Lakeway Elementary if:
- You want an A rated campus at a lower price point than Eanes ISD
- The lake lifestyle, golf communities, and resort feel appeal to you
- Lake Travis High School is your long term target
- You work remotely or have a flexible commute schedule
You might lean toward Valley View Elementary if:
- The Westlake High School feeder pattern is non negotiable
- You want to be closer to downtown Austin
- Established neighborhoods with mature trees matter more to you than resort amenities
I will say this plainly. Lakeway Elementary is the better TEA performer right now, and it costs $383,000 less in median home price. The Westlake feeder is a powerful draw, and Eanes ISD has an almost unmatched reputation, but the numbers at the elementary level favor Lakeway in 2025. That does not mean Valley View is a bad school (it is not), but buyers should go in with clear eyes about what they are paying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Shopping for homes in the Lake Travis or Eanes ISD zones is a big commitment, and the stakes are high at these price points. I have worked with buyers across both districts for years and I know which neighborhoods deliver the best value for the investment. Lets connect and walk through what makes sense for your situation. Reach out to me and lets find the right fit.
