Ed Neuhaus 
Same Median Price, Very Different TEA Scores
Casey Elementary scored an 83 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability report, earning a solid B rating. Menchaca Elementary, just a few miles down the road in the same district, came in at 69 out of 100 for a D rating. Both schools are in Austin ISD, both serve south Austin, and the median home price in both zones is exactly $359,000. So why the 14 point gap in their TEA scores?
That is the kind of question that keeps me busy. I have been selling homes in south Austin for 19 years and these two campuses come up in buyer conversations all the time because their attendance zones overlap in that stretch of the city where William Cannon, Slaughter Lane, and MoPac all converge. Buyers looking in this price range have real options, and understanding what each school actually delivers (not just what the letter grade says at first glance) matters more than most people realize.
And look, a D rating does not tell the whole story any more than a B does. Menchaca earned 6 out of 7 TEA distinctions in 2025, which means the campus is excelling in specific academic areas even while its overall score reflects challenges in others. Casey also earned 6 of 7 distinctions. So the schools are closer in some measures than the headline numbers suggest.
Menchaca vs Casey Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Menchaca Elementary | Casey Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | D (69/100) | B (83/100) |
| Enrollment | 699 students | 544 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $359,000 | $359,000 |
| Feeds Into | Bailey / Bedichek / Gorzycki MS | Bedichek / O. Henry / Paredes MS |
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 | Menchaca Elementary | Casey Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | D (69/100) | B (83/100) |
| Student Achievement | D (64/100) | C (79/100) |
| School Progress | D (69/100) | B (82/100) |
| Academic Growth | D (69/100) | B (82/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (71/100) | B (86/100) |
| Enrollment | 699 students (EE-05) | 544 students (EE-05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 44.5% | 56.6% |
| English Learners | 21.3% | 21.3% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 6 of 7 earned |
Casey outperforms Menchaca across every TEA domain, and the gap is widest in Closing the Gaps (86 vs 71) and Student Achievement (79 vs 64). What makes this interesting is that Casey actually serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (56.6% vs 44.5%), yet scores significantly higher. That suggests Casey’s campus level strategies for student support and instruction are working particularly well. Both schools share an identical English Learner percentage of 21.3%, which removes that variable from the comparison entirely.
Menchaca’s strongest showing is in Closing the Gaps at 71, its only C rating, while Casey’s strongest domain is also Closing the Gaps at 86. Both schools earned 6 of 7 TEA distinctions, which shows that Menchaca is still producing real academic results in specific subject areas despite the lower overall score.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Menchaca Elementary school page or the Casey Elementary school page.
Casey Elementary: The South Austin Campus on a Steady Climb
Casey has put together a solid run of B ratings over the past three years, coming in at 81 in 2023, 84 in 2024, and 83 in 2025. That consistency is something I always point out to buyers because it shows a campus that is not just having one good year. It is sustaining its performance. And before that, Casey actually hit an A with 92 out of 100 in 2022, so the ceiling here is genuinely high.
The campus sits in an established part of south Austin where neighborhoods like Texas Oaks, Novel (a newer build community from Risewell Homes), and Buckingham Estates give buyers a range of options. At 544 students, Casey is a mid size elementary that feels personal without being too small. The feeder pattern sends students to Bedichek, O. Henry, or Paredes middle school depending on address, then on to either Akins or Austin High.
Menchaca Elementary: Space, Hill Country, and Upside
Menchaca sits further south in the Manchaca corridor, and the neighborhoods here have a distinctly different feel. We are talking about communities like Estancia Hill Country, Hills of Bear Creek, and Onion Creek Meadows where lot sizes get bigger, the terrain rolls, and the Hill Country starts making itself known. If you want a yard that does not feel like an afterthought, the Menchaca zone delivers.
The school itself has had an up and down trajectory. It hit a B with 85 in 2022, then dropped to D ratings in 2023 and 2024 (69 and 66 respectively). The 2025 score of 69 holds steady rather than continuing downward, and with 6 of 7 TEA distinctions, there are clear pockets of academic strength on campus. The zone feeds into multiple middle schools including Gorzycki and Bailey, then to Akins High School. New construction from KB Home and M/I Homes is still active in this zone, meaning you can buy brand new here.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones offer south Austin living at the same $359,000 median price, but the neighborhoods feel meaningfully different. Casey’s zone is more urban, more established, and more walkable. Think mature trees, neighborhood coffee shops, and a short drive to South Congress or South Lamar. Menchaca’s zone is spacious and semi rural in spots, with Hill Country topography, newer planned communities, and easier access to McKinney Falls State Park and Bear Creek Preserve.
For everyday life, the Casey zone has a slight edge in convenience. William Cannon and MoPac put you close to everything. The Menchaca zone trades some of that convenience for space and natural surroundings. Commute times to downtown Austin are similar from both areas, roughly 20 to 30 minutes under normal conditions via MoPac.
Browse all homes zoned to Menchaca Elementary or homes zoned to Casey Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Both campuses are in Austin ISD, both serve the south side, and both come in at the same price point. The differences are real though.
You might lean toward Casey if:
- A B rated campus with consistent year over year TEA performance is a top priority
- You want a smaller elementary with about 544 students
- Walkable, established south Austin neighborhoods appeal to you
- Access to O. Henry Middle School or Austin High through the feeder pattern matters
You might lean toward Menchaca if:
- Larger lots and Hill Country terrain are more your style
- New construction options from production builders are important
- You are comfortable with a D rated campus that still earned 6 of 7 distinctions and may be trending back upward
I will be straightforward here. If TEA scores are your primary filter, Casey is the stronger campus right now by a meaningful margin. But real estate decisions are not just about test scores. If you need four bedrooms on a quarter acre lot with mature trees and access to Hill Country trails, Menchaca might be the zone where you actually find the home you want. And that matters too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
South Austin is one of those parts of the city where every block feels a little different, and the school zone lines do not always follow the obvious boundaries. I have been helping buyers sort through exactly these kinds of decisions for nearly two decades. Lets sit down and map out which addresses get you into the zone you want at the price that works. That is what I do.
