Ed 
Guerrero Thompson Earned a B Serving 96.7% Economically Disadvantaged Students. Pickle Earned an F. They Are One Mile Apart.
Guerrero Thompson Elementary earned a B on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. Pickle Elementary, about a mile southwest, earned an F (Texas Tribune Schools Explorer). Both are in Austin ISD. Both serve north Austin neighborhoods with very high percentages of economically disadvantaged students. The 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 an A in School Progress (Texas Tribune Schools Explorer). 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 in the Pickle zone versus $294,950 in the Guerrero Thompson zone, based on Austin MLS closed residential sales since January 2024. 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 | B |
| Enrollment | 406 students | 548 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price (MLS, 2024-present) | $400,000 | $294,950 |
| Feeds Into | Special Campus (school-wide dual language, no standard feeder) | Dobie MS → Navarro ECHS |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school annually across three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 accountability cycle, per the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer.
| Performance Metric | Pickle Elementary | Guerrero Thompson Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | F | B |
| Student Achievement | D | C |
| School Progress | D | A |
| Closing the Gaps | F | C |
| 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 |
Sources: Pickle and Guerrero Thompson on Texas Tribune Schools Explorer.
The School Progress numbers tell most of the story. Guerrero Thompson earned an A in School Progress, putting it among the stronger Austin ISD campuses on student growth. Pickle earned a D. Guerrero Thompson is pushing students forward at a rate 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. 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 overall, A in School Progress, C in Student Achievement, C 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 $294,950 median home price (Austin MLS closed sales, 2024-present) makes the Guerrero Thompson zone one of the most affordable in Austin ISD. For buyers who want a strong school at a low 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 overall with a D in Student Achievement tells you the campus is not getting students to grade level proficiency at the rate the state expects. The D in School Progress shows 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 roughly $105K price gap at the median, per Austin MLS closed sales since 2024, 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 stronger school in this price range
- The campus’s 4 TEA distinctions and A in School Progress impress you
- You want a more affordable entry point in north Austin ISD (median near $295K, per MLS)
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
- You are interested in Pickle’s school-wide dual language program (Pickle is designated a Special Campus for 2026-27, per the Austin ISD 2026-27 Feeder Pattern)
This is one of the most lopsided comparisons I have written. Better school, lower price. 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, or if Pickle’s dual language program is the right fit for your child.
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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