Ed Neuhaus 
Mills Scored a 94 on TEA. Patton Just Dropped to a 77. They Share Three of the Same Neighborhoods.
Mills Elementary earned a 94 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, placing it among the top elementary campuses in all of Austin ISD. Patton Elementary, less than two miles south, scored a 77. And here is the part that gets interesting for buyers: both schools draw students from overlapping neighborhoods in southwest Austin, including parts of Village Western Oaks. So the street you choose can literally determine which school your kids attend.
I have been selling homes in this part of Austin for over 19 years, and the Mills zone versus Patton zone question comes up constantly. Buyers see a home they love on Convict Hill Road or somewhere near William Cannon, and the first thing I tell them is to check which school zone that address falls in before they get attached. Both schools are in Austin ISD, both serve the same general part of the city, but the TEA performance gap between them is significant. So lets walk through what the numbers actually say and what the neighborhoods around each campus look like for buyers right now.
And look, a TEA score is not the whole story (it never is), but a 17 point spread between two schools this close together tells you something real about the academic experience at each campus. If you are shopping southwest Austin and schools matter to you, this comparison is worth your time.
Mills vs Patton: Quick Comparison
| Mills Elementary | Patton Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (94/100) | C (77/100) |
| Enrollment | 701 students | 735 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $592,400 | $549,000 |
| Feeds Into | Bedichek / Gorzycki / Small MS, Austin / Bowie / Crockett HS | Small MS, Austin / Bowie 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 | Mills Elementary | Patton Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (94/100) | C (77/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (94/100) | C (78/100) |
| School Progress | A (93/100) | C (75/100) |
| Academic Growth | A (93/100) | C (75/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | A (94/100) | C (73/100) |
| Enrollment | 701 students (EE – 05) | 735 students (EE – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 7.6% | 30.2% |
| English Learners | 9.8% | 18.0% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 0 of 7 earned |
The gap here is consistent across every single domain. Mills did not just edge out Patton in one category; it outperformed across the board. Student Achievement, School Progress, Academic Growth, Closing the Gaps, all of them show Mills at the A level and Patton at the C level. And Mills picked up 6 out of 7 TEA distinction designations while Patton earned zero. That is a meaningful spread.
But here is the thing that jumps out if you have been following Patton over the years: this school was a solid B from 2019 through 2024. The drop to a C in 2025 is recent, and it is worth watching to see if the campus rebounds or if this is the start of a trend. Mills, on the other hand, has been an A every single year going back to 2019. That kind of consistency is rare.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Mills Elementary school page or the Patton Elementary school page.
Mills Elementary: The Southwest Austin Anchor
Mills has been an A rated campus every year since TEA resumed accountability ratings after COVID. That is not an accident. The school sits in the heart of southwest Austin and draws from neighborhoods like Village Western Oaks and Legend Oaks, communities where the parent involvement runs deep and the campus culture reflects it. I have walked buyers through this zone dozens of times, and the first thing people notice is the stability. Teachers stay. Parents show up. The school runs like a well oiled machine.
The numbers back it up. A 94 on Student Achievement means the kids are performing at a high level on state assessments. A 93 on Academic Growth means the school is pushing students forward regardless of where they start. And that 94 on Closing the Gaps, which is arguably the hardest domain to score well on, tells you the campus is reaching students across every subgroup. Six of seven TEA distinctions in 2025. That is elite performance.
The Mills zone also benefits from proximity to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Dick Nichols Park, and the Brodie Lane and William Cannon corridors for everyday shopping. It is well connected to MoPac and US 290 for commuters. Honestly it is one of the most livable school zones in Austin ISD, and the home prices reflect that.
Patton Elementary: A Campus at a Crossroads
Patton is the school I want to talk about more carefully, because the 2025 numbers do not tell the full story. This campus held a B rating from 2019 through 2024. The drop to a C with a 77 is real, but one year does not define a school. Patton serves a broader range of students than Mills (30.2% economically disadvantaged compared to Mills at 7.6%), and campuses with more diverse academic needs sometimes see more year to year fluctuation in TEA scores.
The neighborhoods in the Patton zone, including Westcreek, Valley View, and parts of Laurels Legend Oaks, offer genuinely good homes at a lower price point than the Mills zone. The median active listing near Patton is $549,000 compared to $592,400 near Mills. That $43,000 difference buys a lot of kitchen upgrades or a bigger backyard, and for some buyers that tradeoff makes sense.
The Neighborhoods
Southwest Austin is one big puzzle of overlapping school boundaries, and the Mills and Patton zones are a perfect example. Both touch Village Western Oaks, which means two homes on the same street can be in different school zones. The Mills side of the zone trends slightly west and includes some of the pricier addresses along the MoPac corridor. The Patton side extends south and east, picking up more of the established subdivisions along Convict Hill and William Cannon.
Browse all homes zoned to Mills Elementary or homes zoned to Patton Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Both of these campuses are in Austin ISD and serve the same general corner of town. But the academic profiles are different enough that your priorities will steer you one way or the other.
You might lean toward Mills if:
- You want the highest TEA scores available in southwest Austin ISD
- Consistency matters to you (Mills has been an A rated campus for six straight years)
- You are looking for a campus that earned 6 of 7 TEA distinctions in 2025
- Access to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and MoPac corridor is a priority
You might lean toward Patton if:
- You want a lower entry point in southwest Austin (median around $549K versus $592K near Mills)
- You are comfortable with a campus that historically performed at a B level and may rebound
- The Westcreek and Laurels Legend Oaks neighborhoods appeal to you
If I am being honest, Mills is the stronger academic pick right now. The TEA data is clear on that. But Patton is not a bad school by any stretch. It held a B for years, and the southwest Austin location is excellent. I would tell any buyer to watch the 2026 TEA numbers closely before writing Patton off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Southwest Austin school zones can be tricky, and a few blocks in either direction can change your assignment entirely. I have been helping buyers navigate exactly this kind of decision for over 19 years, and I would love to help you figure out which zone and which neighborhood fits your goals. Lets set up a time to talk through your options.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
