Ed 
An A Rated Campus and a B Rated Campus, Separated by One ISD Boundary
Hill Elementary earned a straight A on the 2025 TEA accountability rating ([Texas Tribune](https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/austin-isd/hill-elementary-school-austin/grade/)). Reed Elementary, just a few miles north in Leander ISD, came in with a B ([Texas Tribune](https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/leander-isd/officer-leonard-a-reed-elementary-school/grade/)). It is a real 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 letter grade 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 sold price runs around $408,500 ([Neuhaus Realty Group MLS data, 12 months ending Nov 2025](https://neuhausre.com/homes-for-sale/schools/reed-elementary/)). Hill is in northwest Austin near Great Hills and Balcones Terrace, where the median jumps to around $746,000 ([Neuhaus Realty Group MLS data, 12 months ending Nov 2025](https://neuhausre.com/homes-for-sale/schools/hill-elementary/)). So you are not just choosing between an A and a B. 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 letter grade. So lets walk through what actually matters.
Reed Elementary vs Hill Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Reed Elementary | Hill Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 TEA Rating | B | A |
| Grades | EE – 05 | EE – 05 |
| District | Leander ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Sale (12 mo) | $408,500 | $746,000 |
| Feeds Into | Stiles Middle then Vista Ridge High | Murchison Middle then Anderson High |
TEA School Performance Comparison (2025)
The Texas Education Agency evaluates every public school annually across three performance domains. Here is how both campuses performed in the 2025 accountability cycle.
| Performance Domain | Reed Elementary | Hill Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | B | A |
| Student Achievement | C | A |
| School Progress | C | A |
| Closing the Gaps | B | B |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 38.9% | 15.8% |
The pattern here is pretty clear. Hill outperforms Reed on Student Achievement and School Progress, while both campuses land at B on Closing the Gaps. Reed earned an overall B, which is recognized performance under the TEA’s A through F system, and it serves a campus that is roughly 39 percent economically disadvantaged compared to Hill at 15.7 percent. Context matters with TEA ratings, and a campus serving very different student populations faces a very different set of challenges.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, 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 C, and the campus improved to a B in 2025, so the trajectory has been moving up. Leander ISD has a track record of investing in its campuses, and Reed’s overall B with a B in Closing the Gaps is solid for a school serving a meaningfully more economically diverse population than most Westside campuses.
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 around $746,000, 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 closer to the $500,000 range 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 High School for the long term
You might lean toward Hill Elementary if:
- An A rated campus is a top priority and you want a proven track record
- 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 on the 2025 TEA rating and the gap is real. But Reed gives you access to Leander ISD at a meaningfully lower price point, and Leander ISD as a district earned a B overall in 2025 ([Community Impact](https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/education/2025/08/15/leander-isd-receives-a-b-in-2024-25-tea-accountability-ratings/)) and consistently ranks among the better districts in the metro. A B at Reed paired with the Stiles to Vista Ridge feeder is a perfectly defensible long term plan for buyers who need the math to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 letter grade. I have been helping people navigate these exact comparisons for over 17 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.
