Ortega vs Blackshear Elementary: Austin ISD TEA Scores and Home Prices

Two East Austin Elementaries, Two Very Different Trajectories

Ortega Elementary and Blackshear Elementary both sit inside Austin ISD, both serve small student bodies in east and northeast Austin, and both have been on the wrong side of the Texas Education Agency accountability grades. But on the latest state report card they diverged: Blackshear edged into a C, while Ortega landed at a D. For buyers looking at homes in these zones, that small letter difference is one part of a much bigger story that includes neighborhood character, demographic context, and a price gap worth paying attention to.

I have been helping buyers navigate school zones across the Austin metro for 19 years, and east side decisions like this one come up more often than people might guess. So lets dig into the data and figure out what it actually means for your home search.

Ortega vs Blackshear: Quick Comparison

TEA School Performance Comparison

The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school across three accountability domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Per the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer, here is how both campuses performed.

The numbers tell a sobering but important story. Both campuses are struggling on Student Achievement and School Progress, the two domains that measure how students perform on state assessments and whether they are improving year over year. Blackshear pulled ahead overall because it earned a C in Closing the Gaps, which measures how well a campus is serving its various student populations. Ortega landed in D territory across the board, with an F in Student Achievement.

The demographic context matters here. Ortega serves a student body that is approximately 81% economically disadvantaged, while Blackshear sits at 55.4%. Both campuses also operate at small enrollment levels, which can amplify the impact of any single grade cohort on year over year results. None of this excuses the ratings, but it does shape how the underlying numbers should be read.

Both schools have access to Austin ISD wide programs, teachers, and resources, and parent involvement varies meaningfully from year to year on small campuses. Buyers considering either zone should plan a campus tour and talk to current parents before drawing conclusions from a single ratings cycle.

Ortega: What Buyers Should Know

Ortega Elementary serves 211 students in northeast Austin, drawing primarily from neighborhoods in the 78723 zip code. Enrollment has dropped about 33% since 2016, which reflects a broader trend of small east side AISD campuses losing students to charter schools, magnet programs, and broader demographic shifts in the area. The campus feeds into AISD middle and high schools, with the historic feeder pathway leading toward Lyndon B. Johnson High School and the LASA magnet that shares the campus.

The Ortega zone has been one of the more interesting east side submarkets to watch over the last decade. Mueller’s continued buildout to the south, expanding employment along the 183 corridor, and steady infill construction have all pushed prices upward while the school itself has remained on the state’s lower performance tier. Buyers who choose this zone often do so for neighborhood character and access, with private or magnet school options layered on top of the assigned campus.

Blackshear: What Buyers Should Know

Blackshear Elementary enrolls 204 students inside the historic east Austin core in 78702. The campus is one of the older school buildings in the AISD system and carries deep community roots, particularly in the surrounding neighborhoods of Chestnut and Rosewood. Like Ortega, enrollment has declined meaningfully over the last decade, down close to 30% since 2016.

The neighborhoods feeding Blackshear have been among the fastest changing in Austin. East 11th and 12th, the Rosewood corridor, and the streets running south toward East Cesar Chavez have transformed dramatically over the last 15 years. New construction sits next to original 1930s and 1940s bungalows, and median home prices in 78702 have moved sharply higher even as the campus has struggled with state accountability results.

The Neighborhoods

The Ortega zone in 78723 mixes mid century ranch homes, mid sized lots, and pockets of newer construction. Streets like Manor Road and the corridors leading toward the airport area have seen meaningful investment, with restaurants, coffee shops, and small retail bringing energy to what was a much quieter part of the city a decade ago. Buyers who want east side character with a slightly more accessible price point often land here.

Blackshear sits in the historic heart of east Austin, where 1920s and 1930s bungalows have been renovated, scraped, or replaced in waves. The 78702 zip code is one of the most architecturally diverse in the city, with modern infill homes priced near a million dollars sitting next to original cottages. Walkability is real here, with central Austin a short trip across I-35 and the East Cesar Chavez restaurant scene close at hand.

Browse all homes zoned to Ortega or homes zoned to Blackshear.

Home Prices: 12 Month Snapshot

Pulled fresh from the VOW database, here is what closed inside each zip code over the last 12 months.

The price gap is about $75,000 at the median, which reflects how far the 78702 corridor has moved in price relative to 78723. Both zones now sit firmly above the AISD wide median, even though the assigned campuses are working with some of the toughest academic context in the district.

Which School Fits You?

You might consider the Ortega zone if:

• You want east side character at a slightly lower price point than central east Austin
• You plan to layer in magnet, transfer, or private school options
• You value access to Mueller, the airport corridor, and the Manor Road dining scene
• You want a campus where lower enrollment can sometimes mean more individual attention

You might consider the Blackshear zone if:

• You want a walkable, historic east Austin location close to downtown
• You are comfortable with the higher price point that comes with the 78702 location
• You value the architectural diversity and the established neighborhood feel
• You plan to be hands on with school choice options regardless of the assigned campus

Every buyer weighs these factors differently, and there is no single right answer. What I can tell you after 19 years in this market is that the best home purchase is the one where you understand all the trade offs before you sign. School ratings are one input among many, and the buyers I see thriving in either of these zones are the ones who go in with eyes open about both the strengths and the challenges of the assigned campus.

Ready to Find Your Home?

I have been helping buyers compare school zones across the Austin metro for 19 years, and east Austin is one of the most nuanced submarkets in the city. Whether you are narrowing down between Ortega and Blackshear or weighing AISD options against charters and magnets, lets connect and figure out the right fit for your situation.

Sources: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Ortega), Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Blackshear), TEA Accountability, Neuhaus Realty Group VOW MLS database (closed sales, trailing 12 months).