Ortega vs Zavala Elementary: East Austin Schools and Home Prices

Buying Near Downtown Austin? These Two Elementaries Are Closer Than You Think

Zavala Elementary earned a C rating and Ortega Elementary earned a D on the 2025 TEA accountability report (Texas Tribune). Both schools sit in the urban core of Austin ISD, both serve east Austin neighborhoods that have been transformed by development over the past decade, and both carry median home prices that would have seemed impossible for these zip codes 15 years ago. Trailing 12 month sold medians run about $663,750 in Zavala’s 78702 zone and about $489,900 in Ortega’s 78721 zone (source: Austin MLS via Neuhaus VOW).

So we have two schools separated by about two miles, serving neighborhoods that are both rapidly changing. The letter grade gap, a C versus a D, is real but the schools serve similar student populations. The story behind these numbers is really about the evolving identity of east Austin itself.

I have watched this part of town transform over my 19 years selling real estate here, and I can tell you the schools are changing too. Not always at the same speed as the neighborhoods, which is worth understanding before you buy.

Ortega vs Zavala: 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.

Source: Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Ortega) and Texas Tribune Schools Explorer (Zavala). TEA publishes letter grades across three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps.

Both campuses are very small, with 211 and 202 students respectively. That is tiny by Austin ISD standards and it means individual class performance can swing these ratings year to year. Zavala outscores Ortega in each of the three TEA domains, which suggests a real performance difference rather than a one year anomaly. But context matters: both schools serve very high percentages of economically disadvantaged students (81 and 90.6 percent), and both are doing the hard work of educating a complex student body in neighborhoods where real estate prices have outpaced school investment.

For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, visit the Ortega Elementary school page or the Zavala Elementary school page.

Zavala Elementary: East Austin’s Quiet Performer

Zavala sits in the heart of east Austin, near the neighborhoods east of I-35 that have seen explosive growth and gentrification. The school has deep roots in the community and a C rating that, given its student population, represents solid work by the staff. Zavala feeds into Kealing Middle School, which is one of the more interesting middle school options in Austin ISD thanks to its magnet programs in performing arts and advanced academics. That feeder connection is a genuine draw for buyers who are thinking ahead.

The neighborhoods around Zavala include some of the most walkable, culturally rich blocks in Austin. You are close to East Cesar Chavez, the restaurants on East 6th, and downtown. The trade off is smaller lots, older housing stock, and ongoing construction as the area continues to densify.

Ortega Elementary: Small School, Big Neighborhood Changes

Ortega is slightly larger than Zavala at 211 students, and it serves one of the more transitional neighborhoods in Austin ISD. The D rating is a concern, and I am not going to sugarcoat that. But the neighborhood around Ortega has been one of the fastest appreciating areas in Austin over the past decade, and the school is navigating a community in flux. Ortega feeds into Martin Middle School and then Eastside Early College High School.

The Neighborhoods

Both schools draw from east Austin neighborhoods that sit in the shadow of the downtown skyline. Zavala’s zone covers areas closer to East Cesar Chavez and Holly in 78702, while Ortega’s zone extends into neighborhoods near Govalle and Johnston Terrace in 78721. Trailing 12 month sold medians run about $663,750 in 78702 and $489,900 in 78721, so the Zavala side carries roughly a 35 percent price premium. Buyers here are paying for proximity to downtown and the east Austin lifestyle, with the Holly and East Cesar Chavez corridor commanding the higher price.

Browse all homes zoned to Ortega Elementary or homes zoned to Zavala Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

This comparison comes down to price, TEA performance, and feeder patterns. Zavala’s zone runs roughly 35 percent higher in sold price than Ortega’s, and Zavala carries the higher TEA rating.

You might lean toward Zavala if:

• A C rating gives you more comfort than a D
• The Kealing Middle School magnet programs interest you
• You want to be in the East Cesar Chavez corridor

You might lean toward Ortega if:

• You prefer the quieter Govalle neighborhood pace
• The Martin Middle School to Eastside Early College High School path works for you
• A very small campus (211 students) is appealing

If I am being straight with you (and I always try to be), most buyers in east Austin right now are buying for the neighborhood and the proximity to downtown, not the school scores. That does not mean the schools do not matter, it just means the location premium dominates the decision. And that is ok, as long as you go in with eyes open.

Ready to Find Your Home?

East Austin is one of the most dynamic housing markets in the city, and school zone boundaries add another layer to navigate. I have been helping buyers find their spot in Austin for over 19 years, and I can help you understand what each zone really looks like on the ground. Lets connect.

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