Maplewood vs Oak Springs: A and F in East Austin ISD

A 33 Point TEA Gap and a Neighborhood That Is Changing Faster Than the School Data

Maplewood Elementary scored a 91 on the 2025 TEA rating and earned an A. Oak Springs Elementary scored a 58 and earned an F. Both are Austin ISD campuses in east central Austin. The median home price near Oak Springs ($625,000) is actually higher than Maplewood ($598,499). And that disconnect, a 33 point TEA gap where the lower performing school sits in the pricier neighborhood, tells you everything about how fast east Austin is changing.

Oak Springs has 96.7% economically disadvantaged students and is one of the smallest campuses in the district at just 215 students. Maplewood has 24.8% economically disadvantaged and 403 students. The schools are only about 2 miles apart, but they serve fundamentally different populations. And yet, the home prices in the Oak Springs zone have climbed well past the Maplewood zone because of the east Austin real estate boom that has been reshaping this part of the city for the last decade.

I have watched this corridor transform over my career. The homes are different now. The restaurants are different. The prices are definitely different. But the school data has not caught up to the neighborhood story yet, and that matters for buyers.

Maplewood vs Oak Springs: 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.

Every domain gap here is enormous. Student Achievement: 47 points (92 vs 45). School Progress and Academic Growth: 39 points each (93 vs 54). Closing the Gaps: 20 points (86 vs 66). Maplewood earned 6 of 7 distinctions. Oak Springs, as an F rated school, is not eligible. This is one of the starkest contrasts between two Austin ISD campuses that sit in adjacent neighborhoods.

For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Maplewood Elementary school page or the Oak Springs Elementary school page.

Maplewood: An A Rated Gem in Central East Austin

Maplewood is a small campus with 403 students that has quietly become one of the top performing elementary schools in Austin ISD. The A rating with 6 of 7 distinctions is impressive by any measure, and the 93 in both School Progress and Academic Growth means this is not just a high testing school but one where students are actively improving. The campus sits in the Cherrywood and French Place neighborhoods, which are some of the most walkable, tree lined parts of Austin.

The school feeds into Marshall Middle School, Kealing Middle School, and O. Henry Middle School depending on address, with McCallum and Austin High School as the primary high school feeders. Kealing in particular has an excellent magnet program that draws students from across the district. The parent community at Maplewood is deeply engaged, and that shows up in the campus culture and the academic results.

Oak Springs: A Tiny Campus With Big Challenges

Oak Springs is one of the smallest elementary schools in Austin ISD with just 215 students. At 96.7% economically disadvantaged, the campus serves one of the highest poverty populations in the district. The F rating at 58 reflects real academic struggles, and the small enrollment means the school has fewer resources and less programming flexibility than larger campuses. But Oak Springs feeds into Kealing Middle School (which has the magnet program) and Martin Middle School, and then Austin High or Eastside Early College High School, so the secondary pathway has genuine strengths.

The Neighborhoods

Maplewood draws from Cherrywood, French Place, and the surrounding neighborhoods east of I-35 and north of Airport Boulevard. The median of $598,499 reflects the premium that buyers pay for walkability, mature trees, local restaurants, and proximity to downtown. These are some of the most character rich neighborhoods in Austin, with 1940s and 1950s bungalows alongside modern renovations.

Oak Springs’ zone is further east, in the area around Rosewood Avenue and Springdale Road. The $625,000 median is actually higher than Maplewood’s, which reflects the rapid gentrification happening in east Austin. Newer construction, renovated properties, and the proximity to Mueller and the East Austin dining scene have pushed prices up even as the school data remains challenging.

Browse all homes zoned to Maplewood Elementary or homes zoned to Oak Springs Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

From a TEA perspective, this is not close.

You might lean toward Maplewood if:

• An A rated campus with 6 of 7 distinctions is what you are looking for
• The Cherrywood and French Place neighborhoods match your lifestyle
• A 93 in Academic Growth tells you the school is genuinely improving student outcomes
• You want the option of the Kealing Middle School magnet program

You might lean toward Oak Springs if:

• You want to be in the east Austin corridor near Rosewood and Springdale
• The Kealing Middle School and Eastside Early College HS pathway interests you

A 33 point gap is hard to spin. Maplewood is objectively the stronger school by a wide margin. And the fact that it costs less ($598K vs $625K median) makes the case even clearer from a value standpoint. The Oak Springs neighborhood is changing fast and the investment case may be strong, but if school performance is in your top three criteria, Maplewood is the obvious choice.

Ready to Find Your Home?

East Austin school zones are shifting as fast as the neighborhoods around them. Getting the right information before you buy is essential. I have been helping buyers navigate central Austin for 19 years. Lets talk about what matters most to you and I will show you the current inventory in both zones.

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