Ed 
Two A-Rated LISD Campuses, One Big Question for Buyers
Parkside Elementary scored a 91 and Tarvin Elementary scored a 90 in the 2025 TEA accountability cycle (TEA 2025). Both A rated, both in Leander ISD, both sitting in one of the fastest growing corridors in Williamson County. So if youre comparing zones to buy into, the numbers do not separate these two campuses much at all.
But the neighborhoods, the home prices, the feeder middle schools, and the campus feel are all different. Ive been driving these zones for years (Parkside on the River had model homes when half the road in still felt like a job site), and the choice between Parkside and Tarvin usually comes down to which side of the corridor your day-to-day life lines up with, not which TEA score is one point higher.
So lets walk through the data, the homes, and the honest tradeoffs. Ill tell you what I tell my clients when they ask me which one to pick.
Parkside vs Tarvin Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Parkside Elementary | Tarvin Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (91/100) | A (90/100) |
| Enrollment | 804 students | 835 students |
| Grades | KG to 5 | EE to 5 |
| District | Leander ISD | Leander ISD |
| Median Sold Price (12mo SFR) | $651,400 (n=161) | $695,000 (n=145) |
| Feeds Into | Stiles MS → Rouse HS | Danielson, Knox Wiley, or Stiles MS → Glenn or Rouse HS |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates Texas public schools across three performance domains: Student Achievement, School Progress (which includes the Academic Growth component), and Closing the Gaps. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 cycle.
| Performance Domain | Parkside Elementary | Tarvin Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (91/100) | A (90/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (92/100) | A (91/100) |
| School Progress (includes Academic Growth) | A (93/100) | B (89/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | B (85/100) | B (88/100) |
| Enrollment | 804 (KG-5) | 835 (EE-5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 3.1% | 5.3% |
| English Learners | 19.7% | 32.5% |
| TEA Distinctions (Elementary max = 6) | See official TEA campus report card | See official TEA campus report card |
A note on distinctions: elementary campuses in Texas are eligible for up to six distinction designations, not seven. Social Studies distinctions only apply at the middle and high school level because Social Studies is not STAAR-tested in elementary. The official earned counts for any specific campus should be confirmed on the TEA campus report card, since the data we have at the zone level isnt always a reliable source for that one specific number.
What stands out in the side-by-side: Parkside edges Tarvin on School Progress (which includes the Academic Growth component) by four points. Tarvin edges Parkside on Closing the Gaps by three. Both are within the same A-rated tier and the gap is small enough that I would not pick a zone purely on the score.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, visit the Parkside Elementary school page or the Tarvin Elementary school page.
Parkside Elementary: The River Corridor Campus
Parkside sits in the heart of the Parkside on the River community, a master-planned development that runs along the South San Gabriel River just west of Georgetown. The campus draws almost entirely from Parkside on the River and Parkside at Mayfield Ranch, which means the kids your kid sits next to in kindergarten are largely the same kids theyll ride bikes with through fifth grade. That kind of consistency is a real thing, not just a marketing line.
The student body is smaller than Tarvins by about thirty kids, the economically disadvantaged percentage is lower, and the English Learner population is meaningfully smaller (19.7% vs 32.5%). The campus earned an A with a 91 in the 2025 TEA accountability cycle (TEA) and posted a 93 back in 2019. Thats a long stretch of A-tier performance, which matters more to me than any single year’s score.
Builders in this zone include Perry Homes, Coventry Homes, and Highland Homes. The average home in the Parkside zone is over 3,000 square feet, and four to five bedroom layouts are the standard, not the exception.
Tarvin Elementary: The Bigger Zone, the Bigger Mix
Tarvin pulls from a wider geographic area and a more varied mix of neighborhoods. Palmera Ridge is the most active community in the zone, with M/I Homes, Highland Homes, and Coventry Homes building out spacious four and five-bedroom floor plans. Edgewood, Parkside Peninsula, Wildspring, and Whitetail round out the zone with different price points and feels.
Tarvins enrollment is slightly bigger (835 vs 804), the campus serves an EE through 5 range (so pre-K is on-site, which Parkside doesnt offer), and the demographic profile is broader. Tarvin earned an A in the 2025 TEA accountability cycle. Year-over-year movement at the campus level can shift with cohort changes, so the current rating matters more than any single prior year. Thats not a deal-breaker, but its worth knowing.
The other thing to know about Tarvin is the feeder pattern is genuinely address-dependent. Depending on exactly where your home sits, your child could end up at Danielson, Knox Wiley, or Stiles for middle school, and at Glenn or Rouse for high school. So if youre buying with the long view in mind, confirm the feeders for the specific address before you go under contract. Leander ISD can shift boundaries with growth, but the district will tell you straight what the current assignment is.
The Neighborhoods and Home Prices
The Parkside zone is dominated by Parkside on the River, with smaller contributions from Parkside at Mayfield Ranch, Reagans Overlook, and Sarita Valley. The Tarvin zone is broader, with Palmera Ridge, Edgewood, Wildspring, Whitetail, and several smaller enclaves all in play.
Median sold price over the last twelve months, single family residential only, pulled straight from MLS: Parkside zone at $651,400 across 161 closings, Tarvin zone at $695,000 across 145 closings. Tarvin is running about $44K higher at the median right now, mostly because Wildspring and the higher-end pockets in the Tarvin zone push the upper end up. If youre price-sensitive and want the higher-rated School Progress score, Parkside is the value play.
Browse all homes zoned to Parkside Elementary or homes zoned to Tarvin Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Here is the honest version (the version I would say at the coffee shop, not the one I would say if a corporate marketing team was watching me say it).
You might lean toward Parkside if:
- You want the higher School Progress score (93 vs 89) and the longer streak of A ratings
- You like the idea of a single, cohesive feeder pattern (Stiles then Rouse) without address-by-address variation
- The river corridor and trail access in Parkside on the River fits the lifestyle youre after
- The median home price (~$44K lower) leaves room in the budget for other things
You might lean toward Tarvin if:
- You need pre-K on campus (Tarvin serves EE through 5, Parkside is KG only)
- The specific home you want is in Palmera Ridge, Wildspring, or one of the Georgetown-side neighborhoods
- Closing the Gaps performance matters to you (Tarvin is three points higher there)
If I had to pick blind, with no specific home in mind, Id probably nudge a buyer toward Parkside for the rating consistency and the cleaner feeder path. But honestly the right answer is almost always the home, not the zone average. Both campuses are A rated and both sit in a district buyers fight to stay in. The decision should be driven by which house, which street, and which commute fits your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Ive been helping buyers navigate Leander ISD zones for 19+ years and 2,000+ closed transactions. Whether you lean Parkside or Tarvin, the right home in either zone is the one that fits your day-to-day life, your budget, and your kids. Lets grab coffee and talk through it.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
