Reed vs Hill Elementary: C vs A in Two Districts (2025 TEA)

An A Rated Campus and a C Rated Campus, Separated by One ISD Boundary

Hill Elementary scored a 91 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, earning a straight A from the state. Reed Elementary, just a few miles north in Leander ISD, came in at 73 with a C. That is a significant gap on paper, and it is the kind of thing that stops buyers in their tracks when they are comparing school zones across northwest Austin and Cedar Park.

But here is the thing. These two schools serve very different communities at very different price points, and the TEA score alone does not tell you which one is the better fit for your situation. Reed sits in the heart of Cedar Park near the Lakeline corridor, where the median home price runs around $447,000. Hill is in northwest Austin near Great Hills and Balcones Terrace, where the median jumps to $665,000. So you are not just choosing between an A and a C. You are choosing between two neighborhoods, two districts, and two very different lifestyles. And that distinction matters a lot more than most people realize when they start their home search.

I have worked with dozens of buyers who started their search obsessing over TEA ratings and ended up buying in a completely different zone once they saw the full picture. Both Leander ISD and Austin ISD bring strengths to the table, and both Reed and Hill have things going for them that do not show up in a single number. So lets walk through what actually matters.

Reed Elementary vs Hill Elementary: 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.

The numbers here are pretty clear. Hill outperforms Reed across every TEA domain, and the gap is widest in School Progress and Academic Growth where Reed earned D grades compared to Hill’s A marks. What is interesting, though, is that both schools earned 6 of 7 TEA distinctions. Reed’s distinctions in areas like ELA/Reading, Mathematics, and Science tell you that the school is producing strong results in specific subject areas even if the overall composite score came down from the B it earned in 2024. Context matters with TEA scores, and a campus serving nearly half economically disadvantaged students faces a very different set of challenges than one at 15.7%.

For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Reed Elementary school page or the Hill Elementary school page.

Reed Elementary: Cedar Park Convenience at a Lower Price Point

Reed sits in the Lakeline corridor of Cedar Park, which is one of the most practical places to live in the Austin metro if you value having everything you need within a five minute drive. HEB, Costco, Target, Lakeline Mall, and about a hundred restaurants are all right there. The commute to the Domain or north Austin tech employers is straightforward via 183 and 45, and for a lot of buyers relocating from California or the Midwest, this part of Cedar Park checks every box on the convenience list without the Austin city tax rate.

The school zone includes neighborhoods like Red Oaks for traditional single family homes, Cypress Creek Townhomes for buyers who want lower maintenance, and even some estate properties out in Panoramic Hills if you want acreage. That range is one of the most appealing things about the Reed zone. You can get into a townhome in the mid $300s or stretch into a custom home on a large lot, all within the same school boundary.

Reed’s 2024 TEA rating was a B at 84/100, so the drop to a C in 2025 is worth watching. One year does not define a school, and Leander ISD has a track record of investing in campuses that need support. But if you are buying specifically for school quality, it is something to keep an eye on.

Hill Elementary: Northwest Austin’s Established Academic Powerhouse

Hill has been an A rated school for most of the last decade, and it sits in one of the most desirable pockets of northwest Austin. The Great Hills and Balcones Terrace neighborhoods are the kind of places where the trees are taller than the houses, the lots are generous, and residents have been there for 20 or 30 years because they genuinely love it. That stability shows in the school culture.

The price of entry is real though. At a median of $665,000, you are paying a premium for the combination of an A rated elementary, established northwest Austin neighborhoods, and the kind of tree canopy you simply cannot replicate in newer developments. And the feeder pattern is strong. Hill students feed into Murchison Middle School and then Anderson High School, which is one of the most respected high schools in Austin ISD with deep AP course offerings and strong college placement numbers.

The Neighborhoods

The Reed zone is Cedar Park through and through. Suburban infrastructure, newer commercial development, easy freeway access, and a community that has grown rapidly over the last 15 years. If you want a newer home with modern finishes in a neighborhood where most of your neighbors moved in within the last decade, Reed’s zone delivers that.

Hill’s zone is the opposite in many ways. Established neighborhoods with mature landscaping, older homes that have been updated (or could be), and a location that puts you closer to downtown Austin and the 360 corridor. The trade off is that you are paying more per square foot and the homes tend to be older. But the location is genuinely hard to beat if you work anywhere along MoPac or in central Austin.

Browse all homes zoned to Reed Elementary or homes zoned to Hill Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

This one comes down to budget and lifestyle more than anything else.

You might lean toward Reed Elementary if:

• You want to stay under $500,000 and still be in a strong school district
• Cedar Park’s suburban convenience and newer housing stock appeal to you
• You work in north Austin, the Domain, or along the 183/45 corridor
• You value the Leander ISD brand and want access to Vista Ridge or Cedar Park High for the long term

You might lean toward Hill Elementary if:

• TEA scores are a top priority and you want a proven A rated campus
• You prefer established neighborhoods with mature trees over newer suburban development
• The Anderson High School feeder pattern is important to your long term plan

If I am being honest, Hill is the stronger school by the numbers and it is not particularly close right now. But Reed gives you access to Leander ISD at a significantly lower price point, and Leander ISD as a district consistently ranks among the best in the metro. A 73 on the TEA scale is not where you want to stay, but one year does not erase the district’s overall track record. For buyers who need the math to work at a lower price, Reed is worth a serious look.

Ready to Find Your Home?

Choosing between school zones is one of the biggest decisions buyers make in the Austin area, and it is not one you should make based on a single TEA number. I have been helping people navigate these exact comparisons for over 19 years, and I can tell you that the best school for your situation depends on a lot more than what the state report card says. Lets sit down, look at your budget, your commute, and what matters most to you, and figure out which zone actually fits. Reach out to me and lets get started.

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