Rough Hollow Elementary vs West Cypress Hills Elementary: Spicewood Schools Side by Side

Two Great Spicewood Schools, One Big Decision

So you’ve narrowed your search to the Spicewood side of Lake Travis ISD. Good move. But now you’re staring at two elementary schools that both look fantastic on paper. Rough Hollow Elementary and West Cypress Hills Elementary sit just a few miles apart, yet they feel like completely different worlds. One is a brand-new lakefront campus with a STEM focus. The other is an established Hill Country school with a reputation for math that keeps parents talking.

Which one is the better fit for your kid? That depends on what you value most. I’ve spent over 15 years helping families sort through exactly this kind of decision, and I can tell you that both schools deliver. But they deliver in different ways. Let me walk you through what actually matters so you can figure out which campus lines up with your family.

Rough Hollow Elementary vs West Cypress Hills Elementary: Quick Comparison

Numbers tell part of the story. But the real differences show up when you look at how each school operates day to day.

Rough Hollow Elementary: The Newest Campus in LTISD

Rough Hollow Elementary opened in 2020, making it the newest elementary school in the entire Lake Travis ISD system. And you can feel it the moment you walk through the doors. Everything was designed with modern learning in mind. The building itself was built for collaboration, flexible spaces, and hands-on STEM instruction from day one.

Principal Angela Page brings 25 years of education experience to the role. That matters more than people realize. Starting a brand-new school from scratch is a completely different challenge than running an established campus. You need someone who can build culture, hire the right team, and create traditions while simultaneously managing the logistics of a growing student body. Page has done exactly that.

With 751 students, Rough Hollow Elementary is already one of the larger elementary campuses in the district. But don’t let that number worry you. The school was designed to handle that capacity, and the newer facility means you’re not dealing with the portable buildings and crowding issues that older campuses sometimes face.

The STEM focus is real, not just a buzzword on the website. Students get consistent exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math concepts woven into everyday instruction. If your kid is the type who wants to take things apart, build things, or ask “why” about everything, this environment is going to feel like home.

And here’s something parents don’t always think about. A newer school means newer everything. Updated HVAC systems, modern safety features, current technology infrastructure. Those details matter when your child is spending seven hours a day in a building.

West Cypress Hills Elementary: Quiet Strength in the Hill Country

West Cypress Hills Elementary offers something you can’t manufacture overnight. It has roots. This is an established campus with a track record, and the community around it reflects that stability. Teachers have been here for years. Families know each other. There’s a rhythm to this school that newer campuses are still working to build.

Principal Russ brings 22 years of education experience to the table. You’ll hear parents talk about the consistent leadership and the way the school maintains high expectations without the pressure-cooker atmosphere that can creep into high-performing campuses. That balance is harder to achieve than it sounds.

At 602 students, West Cypress Hills runs a bit smaller than Rough Hollow Elementary. For some families, that size difference is a selling point. A smaller enrollment can mean your child is less likely to get lost in the shuffle. Teachers and staff recognize faces faster. The front office knows who belongs to whom.

The math program is what really sets this campus apart. West Cypress Hills has built a reputation for strong math instruction, and that shows up in how students perform as they move into middle school. If your child thrives on problem-solving and you want a school that treats math as a core strength rather than an afterthought, this is the campus to watch.

And then there’s the setting. West Cypress Hills sits in the quieter, more rural stretch of Spicewood. The Hill Country surrounds you. There’s less traffic, less density, and a pace that feels intentionally slower. Some parents actively seek that out. They want their kids growing up with open space and a small-town feel, even though they’re still within reach of Austin and everything Lake Travis has to offer.

The Neighborhoods: Lakefront Luxury vs Hill Country Living

This is where the decision gets personal, because choosing a school often means choosing a neighborhood. And these two schools serve very different communities.

Rough Hollow Elementary Neighborhoods

Rough Hollow is one of the premier master-planned communities in the Lakeway area. You’re talking about a full-amenity lakefront lifestyle. The Rough Hollow Yacht Club, multiple pools, trails, parks, and direct access to Lake Travis. Homes here range from custom builds on large lots to newer construction in Sweetwater, which also feeds into Rough Hollow Elementary.

The vibe is active and social. Families here tend to be involved in school events, neighborhood activities, and the broader Lakeway community. If you want a neighborhood where your kids can walk to a friend’s house and you can kayak on the weekend, this is the spot.

West Cypress Hills Elementary Neighborhoods

The areas feeding into West Cypress Hills Elementary lean more toward acreage properties, custom homes on larger lots, and that classic Hill Country aesthetic. You’ll find more space between houses out here. More trees. More sky. The trade-off is that you’re a bit farther from the commercial centers along 620, but many families consider that a feature, not a bug.

If your vision of raising kids involves room to roam, maybe some animals, and neighbors who wave from their trucks, the West Cypress Hills zone is going to speak to you.

Which School Fits Your Family?

So how do you actually decide? Here are the questions I walk families through when they’re weighing Rough Hollow Elementary against West Cypress Hills Elementary.

Does your child light up around technology and hands-on projects? Rough Hollow Elementary’s STEM emphasis might be the better match. The campus was literally built to support that kind of learning.

Is math your child’s strongest subject, or the one you want to strengthen? West Cypress Hills Elementary’s math reputation is well-earned. A strong math foundation in elementary school pays dividends for years.

Do you want a brand-new facility with all the modern upgrades? Rough Hollow Elementary opened in 2020. You won’t find a newer public elementary campus in the district.

Do you value a smaller, more established school community? West Cypress Hills has the track record and the tighter enrollment. That combination creates a different kind of experience.

What lifestyle do you want outside of school hours? This might be the most important question. Lakefront amenity living and rural Hill Country living are both fantastic. But they’re not the same thing. Your family’s daily life will feel very different depending on which direction you go.

And here’s what I always tell people. You are not choosing between a good school and a bad school. You’re choosing between two strong campuses that happen to serve different communities. There is no wrong answer here. There’s only the answer that fits your family better.

Get the Full Picture Before You Decide

If you’re comparing schools across Lake Travis ISD, I’d encourage you to read my full comparison of Lake Travis ISD elementary schools. It’ll give you broader context for how Rough Hollow Elementary and West Cypress Hills Elementary stack up against the other campuses in the district.

I also want to mention LTISD SEPAC. If your child has any learning differences or you want to understand the special education resources available at either campus, SEPAC is an incredible parent-led resource. I’ve been involved with this group for years, and the work they do to support families navigating IEPs and 504 plans is outstanding. Both Rough Hollow Elementary and West Cypress Hills Elementary benefit from the district-wide support that SEPAC helps coordinate.

Let’s Find the Right Neighborhood for Your Family

Choosing a school is really choosing a lifestyle. And the best way to figure out which Spicewood-area community fits is to see them in person. I’ve helped hundreds of families find their spot in the Lake Travis area over the past 15-plus years, and I’d love to help you do the same.

Reach out to me directly and let’s talk about what you’re looking for. Whether you’re leaning toward the lakefront energy of Rough Hollow or the peaceful Hill Country setting near West Cypress Hills, I’ll make sure you have the information you need to make a confident decision.