Ed Neuhaus 
Guerrero Thompson Earned a B Serving 96.7% Economically Disadvantaged Students. Pickle Earned an F. They Are One Mile Apart.
Guerrero Thompson Elementary scored an 87 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, earning a B. Pickle Elementary, about a mile southwest, scored a 56 and received an F. Both are in Austin ISD. Both serve north Austin neighborhoods with very high percentages of economically disadvantaged students. And the 31 point gap between them is a powerful reminder that demographics do not have to be destiny.
I wrote about Guerrero Thompson in a previous comparison because the story there deserves attention. This campus serves 96.7% economically disadvantaged students and 84.5% English Learners, and it still earned a B with a 91 in School Progress. Pickle, with 95.3% economically disadvantaged and 82.0% English Learners, scored an F. Similar populations, dramatically different outcomes. Something is working at Guerrero Thompson that is not working at Pickle, and that matters for buyers looking at these zones.
The median home prices are also different: $400,000 for Pickle versus $249,500 for Guerrero Thompson. So the school with the better TEA score is actually in the more affordable zone. That is not the pattern you usually see.
Pickle vs Guerrero Thompson: Quick Comparison
| Pickle Elementary | Guerrero Thompson Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | F (56/100) | B (87/100) |
| Enrollment | 406 students | 548 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $400,000 | $249,500 |
| Feeds Into | Burnet / Webb MS, Reagan / LBJ HS | Burnet / Webb MS, Reagan / LBJ 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 | Pickle Elementary | Guerrero Thompson Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | F (56/100) | B (87/100) |
| Student Achievement | F (51/100) | C (74/100) |
| School Progress | D (60/100) | A (91/100) |
| Academic Growth | D (60/100) | A (91/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | F (53/100) | B (83/100) |
| Enrollment | 406 students (EE – 05) | 548 students (EE – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 95.3% | 96.7% |
| English Learners | 82.0% | 84.5% |
| TEA Distinctions | Not eligible (F-rated) | 4 of 7 earned |
The School Progress and Academic Growth numbers tell the whole story. Guerrero Thompson scored a 91 in both, A level performance that puts it in the top tier of Austin ISD on growth metrics. Pickle scored a 60 in both, which is a D. That 31 point difference in growth domains means Guerrero Thompson is pushing students forward at a rate that Pickle is not matching. And Guerrero Thompson is doing it with an even higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students and English Learners.
Guerrero Thompson earned 4 of 7 TEA distinctions including Progress and Closing the Gaps. Pickle is not eligible for distinctions due to its F rating.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Pickle Elementary school page or the Guerrero Thompson Elementary school page.
Guerrero Thompson: Proof That Campus Culture Matters More Than Demographics
Guerrero Thompson is one of the most impressive schools in Austin ISD when you look at what they are achieving relative to the challenges they face. A B at 87 overall, A in School Progress and Academic Growth, B in Closing the Gaps, and 4 TEA distinctions. All with 96.7% economically disadvantaged students. Whatever the leadership, the teachers, and the community are doing at this campus is working. Period.
The $249,500 median home price makes the Guerrero Thompson zone one of the most affordable in Austin ISD. For buyers who want a strong school at the lowest price point in the city, this is a genuinely compelling option.
Pickle Elementary: Same Corridor, Different Results
Pickle is one mile away and serves an almost identical student population. But the outcomes are dramatically different. An F at 56 with a 51 in Student Achievement tells you the campus is not getting students to grade level proficiency. The D scores in growth domains (both 60) show some forward motion, but not nearly enough. This campus needs what Guerrero Thompson has, and the district should be studying the comparison closely.
The Neighborhoods
Both zones serve the North Lamar and Rundberg corridor. Guerrero Thompson draws from slightly further north and east, where home prices are lower and the housing stock tends toward smaller, older homes. Pickle’s zone is slightly further south, closer to the transitioning neighborhoods near Crestview. The $150,500 price gap at the median is significant, and it does not favor the school with the better TEA score.
Browse all homes zoned to Pickle Elementary or homes zoned to Guerrero Thompson Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Guerrero Thompson if:
- TEA performance matters and you want the strongest school in this price range
- The campus’s 4 TEA distinctions and A level growth scores impress you
- You want the most affordable entry point in north Austin ISD ($249K median)
You might lean toward Pickle if:
- You want to be slightly closer to the Crestview and North Loop corridors
- Your buying decision is driven by location rather than school scores
This is one of the most lopsided comparisons I have written. Better school, lower price, same feeder pattern. Guerrero Thompson wins on almost every metric that matters for school focused buyers. The only reason to choose the Pickle zone is if you specifically want a home in the neighborhoods closer to Crestview, and even then, I would think carefully about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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School zone boundaries in north Austin can mean the difference between an F rated and a B rated campus on the same corridor. I have been navigating these zones for 19 years. Lets find the right one for you.
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