Leander Middle vs Walsh Middle: TEA Scores, Homes and Prices

Two Cross District Middle Schools, One Big Decision for Buyers

Walsh Middle School earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency with a 93 out of 100, and Leander Middle is right behind it at B with an 89. Both campuses sit in Williamson County, serve grades 6 through 8, and draw from neighborhoods where buyers consistently tell me schools are the number one priority. But these two campuses belong to different districts, serve different communities, and the price gap between them is wider than you might expect.

So lets talk about what actually separates these two. Leander Middle is a flagship campus in Leander ISD, a district that keeps growing and keeps delivering solid results across the board. Walsh Middle operates within Round Rock ISD, which has been one of the most respected districts in the state for decades. Both districts invest heavily in their campuses, and both have earned reputations that draw buyers from across the Austin metro. The question isn’t really which school is “better” in some abstract sense. The question is which one fits the way you actually want to live.

I have worked with buyers in both of these zones for years, and the conversations always come back to the same things: what does the commute look like, what are the neighborhoods actually like on a Tuesday evening, and does the school match how my kid learns. And honestly, both of these campuses deliver. The differences are real but they are more about neighborhood character and price point than raw academic quality.

Leander Middle vs Walsh Middle: Quick Comparison

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.

Walsh edges ahead in the overall numbers, particularly in Student Achievement where it scored 9 points higher than Leander Middle. But both campuses earned identical A ratings in Closing the Gaps, which measures how well a school serves its most vulnerable student populations. That is not a small thing. Schools that score well in Closing the Gaps are doing the hard, unglamorous work of making sure every student progresses, not just the ones at the top of the class.

Leander Middle serves a more economically diverse student body (25.3% economically disadvantaged vs 13.3% at Walsh), and the fact that it still posts strong numbers across the board says something about the quality of instruction happening on that campus. For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Leander Middle school page or the Walsh Middle school page.

Leander Middle: The Leander ISD Pipeline

Leander Middle feeds directly into Leander High School, and that single feeder pathway is something buyers value more than they realize until they start thinking about it. Your kid goes to the same campus as the neighbors they grew up with, the same friends from elementary school at Bagdad, Camacho, Jim Plain, Whitestone, or Winkley. That continuity matters during the middle school years when everything else feels like it is shifting.

The campus itself reflects Leander ISD’s heavy investment in technology and instructional resources. UIL academic competitions, band, choir, and a full athletics program keep students engaged beyond the classroom. And the MetroRail station in Leander, one of the northernmost stops on the line, gives the broader community a commuter option that most suburban zones simply do not have. The neighborhoods in the Leander Middle zone tend to be a bit more varied in terms of price and home style, ranging from established homes with mature landscaping to newer builds in growing subdivisions. That variety is part of what makes this zone accessible to a wider range of buyers.

Walsh Middle: Northwest Round Rock at Its Best

Walsh draws from some of the most established and sought after neighborhoods in northwest Round Rock. Behrens Ranch, Sendero Springs, Clear Creek, Hidden Glen, Preserve Stone Oak. These are communities where buyers pay a premium and they know exactly why. The homes tend to be larger, the lots more generous, and the neighborhood amenities (pools, trails, community centers) are mature and well maintained.

After Walsh, students can end up at Westwood High School (one of the most highly ranked high schools in the state), Round Rock High, or Stony Point High depending on their address. That Westwood pathway in particular is a massive draw for buyers who are planning ahead. And lets be honest, a lot of the premium in Walsh zone home prices is tied to that Westwood feeder. The school essentially serves as an on-ramp to one of the best high school experiences in Central Texas.

The 183A toll road makes commuting into Austin straightforward, and the Brushy Creek trail system gives residents genuinely excellent outdoor recreation right outside their doors. Round Rock ISD’s institutional stability and decades long track record give buyers confidence that the investment they are making in a home here is backed by a school system that consistently delivers.

The Neighborhoods

The price gap between these two zones tells a clear story. The median active listing in the Leander Middle zone sits around $450,000, while Walsh comes in at roughly $581,000. That $130,000 spread buys you different things in each zone.

In the Leander Middle zone, your dollar stretches further. You will find a wider range of home types and price points, from established neighborhoods with character to newer developments that cater to first time and move up buyers. The Leander corridor gives you proximity to Cedar Park and Georgetown, and the Crystal Falls Golf Club area anchors one of the more premium pockets of the zone.

The Walsh zone in Round Rock leans toward established, master planned communities where the homes are bigger and the price floor is higher. Behrens Ranch and Sendero Springs are the headliners, but neighborhoods like Hidden Glen and Wood Glen offer solid options at slightly lower price points within the zone.

Browse all homes zoned to Leander Middle or homes zoned to Walsh Middle.

Which School Fits You?

Both of these campuses are genuinely strong, so this comes down to what you prioritize beyond the test scores.

You might lean toward Leander Middle if:

• You want more home for your money and a median price point around $450K gives you real options
• The single feeder pathway to Leander High School appeals to you (one middle school, one high school, consistent community)
• MetroRail access matters for your commute
• You prefer a zone with a wider variety of neighborhoods, home styles, and price points

You might lean toward Walsh Middle if:

• The Westwood High School feeder pathway is a top priority and you are willing to pay for it
• You want established, mature neighborhoods with larger lots and premium community amenities
• Round Rock ISD’s decades long track record gives you the confidence you are looking for

If I am being honest, the Walsh zone commands a premium largely because of the Westwood High School pipeline, and that is a legitimate reason to pay more. Westwood’s AP program, college placement record, and academic culture are genuinely elite. But Leander Middle and Leander High are no slouches. You are getting a B rated middle school that earned an A in Closing the Gaps, feeding into a well regarded high school, at a price point that lets you actually enjoy the rest of your life too. That trade off is worth thinking about.

Ready to Find Your Home?

Whether you are drawn to the value and variety of the Leander Middle zone or the established prestige of the Walsh corridor, I can help you find exactly the right home in exactly the right spot. I have been doing this across Williamson County for 19 years and I know these neighborhoods block by block. Lets grab coffee and walk through what matters most to you.