Ed Neuhaus 
Million Dollar Neighborhoods, Two Different Districts, and a 13 Point School Gap
Canyon Creek Elementary in Round Rock ISD earned an A with a 92 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating. River Place Elementary in Leander ISD earned a C with a 79. Both schools sit in some of the most expensive neighborhoods northwest of Austin, with median home prices above $1 million in the River Place zone and right at $1 million in Canyon Creek. But that 13 point TEA gap is worth understanding before you write a seven figure check.
This is one of those comparisons that catches buyers off guard. You assume that a million dollar neighborhood automatically means a top rated school, and in the case of Canyon Creek that holds up. But River Place’s C rating at 79 tells a different story. The school is not bad by any stretch, but for the price point, buyers in this corridor expect more. And the fact that these two schools sit in different districts (Leander ISD vs Round Rock ISD) means the entire secondary pathway is different too.
I have sold homes in both of these neighborhoods many times over the last 19 years. The River Place area has some of the most stunning views and terrain in the Austin metro. Canyon Creek has the quiet, established feel of a neighborhood that has been thriving for decades. Lets look at the numbers and see which one makes sense for you.
River Place vs Canyon Creek: Quick Comparison
| River Place Elementary | Canyon Creek Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (79/100) | A (92/100) |
| Enrollment | 587 students | 373 students |
| Grades | KG through 5 | EE through 6 |
| District | Leander ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Median Home Price | $1,113,500 | $1,000,000 |
| Feeds Into | Canyon Ridge/Four Points MS, Vandegrift HS | Noel Grisham MS, Westwood 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 | River Place Elementary | Canyon Creek Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (79/100) | A (92/100) |
| Student Achievement | B (80/100) | A (93/100) |
| School Progress | C (79/100) | B (87/100) |
| Academic Growth | C (79/100) | B (87/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (77/100) | B (89/100) |
| Enrollment | 587 students (KG through 5) | 373 students (EE through 6) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 30.0% | 8.0% |
| English Learners | 8.3% | 7.2% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 6 of 7 earned |
Canyon Creek’s 93 in Student Achievement is the standout number here. That is a 13 point advantage over River Place in the domain that measures raw test performance. The Closing the Gaps spread is even wider at 12 points (89 vs 77), which suggests Canyon Creek is doing a better job reaching all student groups. River Place’s B in Student Achievement (80) is solid, but the C ratings in School Progress and Academic Growth indicate the school is not gaining ground the way you would expect for a campus at this price point.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the River Place Elementary school page or the Canyon Creek Elementary school page.
River Place: Hill Country Views and the Vandegrift Pathway
River Place is one of the most visually stunning neighborhoods in the Austin area. The terrain is hilly, the lots are large, and many homes have views of the Hill Country that are hard to match anywhere else in the metro. The elementary school sits within Leander ISD and feeds into Canyon Ridge or Four Points Middle School and then Vandegrift High School, which has an excellent reputation and consistently strong TEA scores of its own.
The campus has 587 students and serves kindergarten through 5th grade. At 30% economically disadvantaged, River Place has a more mixed student body than you might expect for a school zone with a $1.1 million median. That is partly because the zone boundaries extend beyond the gated sections of River Place into some surrounding areas with more affordable housing. The parent community is active and well resourced, and the school benefits from strong PTA fundraising and volunteer support.
One thing I always tell buyers about River Place: the secondary pathway through Vandegrift HS is genuinely excellent. So even though the elementary school sits at a C right now, the middle and high school options are strong. That matters for your long term thinking.
Canyon Creek: Small, Quiet, and Academically Strong
Canyon Creek is a compact campus with just 373 students in Round Rock ISD. It goes through 6th grade (which gives residents an extra year before the middle school jump), and it feeds into Noel Grisham Middle School and then Westwood High School. Westwood is one of the most competitive academic high schools in the Austin area, with strong AP programs and a national reputation. So the full K through 12 pathway here is hard to beat.
The neighborhoods around Canyon Creek are established, tree lined, and have that mature suburban feel that some buyers love. The homes tend to be larger, the lots more generous, and the community has been here long enough to have deep roots.
The Neighborhoods
River Place is a master planned community with gated sections, a golf course (well, what used to be a golf course), and direct access to the 2222/620 corridor. The median home price of $1,113,500 reflects the premium terrain, larger homes, and the Leander ISD address. Traffic on 620 is the trade off, and if you have driven that corridor during rush hour you know exactly what I mean.
Canyon Creek sits in the Four Points area near 620 and 2222, close to the Lake Austin shoreline. The median of $1,000,000 is about $113,000 less than River Place, and you get a Round Rock ISD address with the Westwood HS pathway. The neighborhoods here are established 1980s and 1990s construction with updates, mature landscaping, and a quieter feel than the newer developments nearby.
Browse all homes zoned to River Place Elementary or homes zoned to Canyon Creek Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
At this price point, both options are premium. The difference is in the details.
You might lean toward River Place if:
- Hill Country views and terrain are a priority for your home purchase
- The Vandegrift High School pathway (strong TEA scores, newer campus) appeals to you
- You want a larger campus with 587 students
You might lean toward Canyon Creek if:
- TEA performance at the elementary level is a top priority (92 vs 79)
- The Westwood High School pathway and its academic reputation are important
- A small, intimate campus with 373 students fits your preference
- You want to save roughly $113,000 on the median home price
If someone asked me which is the stronger overall school pathway from K through 12, I would say Canyon Creek has the edge right now because of the combination of a 92 at elementary and Westwood at high school. But River Place’s neighborhood is genuinely special, and Vandegrift HS is no slouch. This is the kind of decision that really comes down to what you want your daily life to look like, not just what the TEA scorecard says.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
At the million dollar price point, every detail matters. District lines, feeder patterns, resale potential, and neighborhood character all factor into the decision. I have spent 19 years navigating these school zones in the 620 corridor. Lets talk about what you are looking for and I will show you what is on the market in both zones.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
