Ed Neuhaus 
Both Schools Earned All 7 TEA Distinctions. The Overall Scores Tell a Different Story.
Lively Middle School scored a 77 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability report, earning a C rating. Webb Middle School came in at 59 out of 100 for an F rating. That is an 18 point gap. But here is the detail that makes this comparison worth your time: both schools earned all 7 of 7 TEA distinctions. Yes, Webb earned every single distinction despite receiving an F overall. That disconnect between the headline grade and the distinction count tells you something important about how TEA scoring works and why looking at only one number is never enough.
Both campuses sit in Austin ISD, both serve south and southeast Austin, and the median home prices are within $900 of each other ($299,000 for Lively, $299,900 for Webb). For buyers searching in this price range, understanding what these schools actually deliver, beyond the letter grade, is essential.
Lively vs Webb: Quick Comparison
| Lively Middle School | Webb Middle School | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (77/100) | F (59/100) |
| Enrollment | 910 students | 502 students |
| Grades | 6 – 8 | 6 – 8 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $299,000 | $299,900 |
| TEA Distinctions | 7 of 7 | Not eligible (F rated) |
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 | Lively Middle School | Webb Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (77/100) | F (59/100) |
| Student Achievement | C (74/100) | F (50/100) |
| School Progress | C (79/100) | F (55/100) |
| Academic Growth | D (65/100) | F (55/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (72/100) | C (70/100) |
| Enrollment | 910 students (6-8) | 502 students (6-8) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 65.7% | 98.0% |
| English Learners | 39.6% | 78.5% |
| TEA Distinctions | 7 of 7 earned | Not eligible (F rated) |
The gap is widest in Student Achievement (74 vs 50, a 24 point difference) and School Progress (79 vs 55). But notice Closing the Gaps: Lively scored 72 and Webb scored 70. That is only a 2 point difference. In the domain that measures how well a school serves its most underserved students, these two campuses are nearly identical. That tells you Webb is doing meaningful work for its population even though the overall metrics are low.
Context matters enormously here. Webb serves a student body where 98% are economically disadvantaged and 78.5% are English learners. Those numbers are among the highest in all of Austin ISD. Lively’s figures (65.7% ED, 39.6% EL) are also well above district averages. Both schools are working with student populations that face significant barriers, and both are finding ways to earn recognition in specific academic areas.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Lively Middle School page or the Webb Middle School page.
Lively Middle: South Austin’s Larger Campus
Lively serves 910 students across the south Austin corridor, making it nearly twice the size of Webb. The campus benefits from a strong south Austin community connection and draws from neighborhoods along the South Congress and South Lamar corridors. Lively’s School Progress score of 79 is its strongest domain and reflects a campus that is showing measurable year over year improvement relative to similar schools.
The Lively zone covers ground that many buyers find appealing for reasons that go well beyond the school itself. South Austin’s local restaurant scene, proximity to Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the general vibe of the area have made it one of the most consistently popular parts of the city for relocating buyers. The campus has fine arts programming, athletics, and elective choices that take advantage of its larger enrollment to offer students more options.
At 65.7% economically disadvantaged, Lively’s student body reflects the economic diversity of south Austin itself. The campus culture emphasizes both academic growth and community, and parent involvement remains a visible part of school life.
Webb Middle: Small Campus, Big Challenges, Real Effort
Webb is one of Austin ISD’s smaller middle schools at 502 students. The campus serves a community in east and southeast Austin where 98% of students are economically disadvantaged. That is not a number I throw out lightly. It means virtually every student on campus qualifies for free or reduced price lunch. And with 78.5% English learners, the school is essentially running a dual mission: teach the full middle school curriculum while simultaneously helping most of its students develop academic English proficiency.
Webb’s Closing the Gaps score of 70 (a C rating, just 2 points behind Lively) is the number that deserves attention. In the domain that specifically measures how a school serves historically underserved student groups, Webb is performing at nearly the same level as its larger neighbor despite facing dramatically more concentrated challenges.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones sit in the sub $300,000 median range, which makes them some of the more affordable options within Austin city limits. The Lively zone extends through established south Austin neighborhoods with the kind of local character (independent coffee shops, taco trucks, neighborhood parks) that defines the south side. The Webb zone covers portions of east and southeast Austin where older homes, newer affordable builds, and infill development create a varied housing landscape.
Commutes from both areas into downtown Austin are practical. The Lively corridor has South Lamar and MoPac access, while the Webb corridor connects via I-35 and the East Riverside corridor. Both zones offer genuine city living at prices that many buyers relocating from the coasts find surprisingly accessible.
Browse all homes zoned to Lively Middle or homes zoned to Webb Middle.
Which School Fits You?
The TEA data creates a clear distinction between these two campuses, but the context behind the numbers is worth understanding before you make a decision.
You might lean toward Lively if:
- A C rated campus with 77 out of 100 and 7 of 7 TEA distinctions meets your performance threshold
- You want a larger campus with 910 students and more extracurricular options
- South Austin’s established neighborhoods and walkable character are a lifestyle priority
- School Progress at 79 (the strongest domain) signals the kind of improvement trajectory you want to see
You might lean toward Webb if:
- You value a small campus with 502 students where your child will not get lost in the crowd
- East and southeast Austin neighborhoods fit your commute or lifestyle better
- You understand the context behind the F rating and are comfortable with a campus that is working hard with a challenging population
I want to be straightforward. On the TEA numbers, Lively is the stronger performing campus. But Webb’s Closing the Gaps score, nearly matching Lively despite serving a dramatically more underserved student body, is something I think buyers should know about. These are real schools with real educators doing real work, and the letter grade does not capture all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Austin ISD school zones can change by block, and the only way to know exactly which campus serves your address is to verify before you make an offer. I have been helping buyers figure this out for 19 years across every part of the city. Lets connect and I will walk you through the options in whatever zone makes sense for your situation.
