Rutledge vs Davis Elementary: A vs C Across District Lines

Rutledge Is an A in Leander ISD. Davis Is a C in Austin ISD. The School District Line Runs Right Between Them.

Rutledge Elementary in Leander ISD scored a 92 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, good for an A. Davis Elementary in Austin ISD, less than three miles southeast, scored a 77 and earned a C. These two schools sit on opposite sides of the Leander ISD and Austin ISD district boundary in northwest Austin, and the TEA gap between them is 15 points.

This is one of those comparisons that highlights why school district boundaries matter so much in the Austin metro. You can be on one side of a road and be in Leander ISD with an A rated elementary, or cross the street and be in Austin ISD with a C rated campus. The median home prices are not identical (Rutledge zone at $458,900, Davis zone at $575,000), and that price inversion is going to surprise some people. The higher priced zone has the lower performing school.

I have helped buyers navigate this exact district line for years. Lets look at what the numbers say and what each zone actually offers.

Rutledge vs Davis: 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.

Rutledge earned As across Student Achievement, School Progress, and Academic Growth. All three at 92 out of 100. That is remarkably consistent and puts it among the top performing elementary campuses in Leander ISD. The one soft spot is Closing the Gaps at 72 (a C), which keeps the campus from earning TEA distinctions. Davis posted Cs across the top three domains and a D in Closing the Gaps at 62.

Interestingly, Rutledge has a higher percentage of English Learners (29.2% vs 18.4%) but significantly fewer economically disadvantaged students (6.2% vs 30.6%). The campus is managing a large EL population while still posting A level results, which is impressive. Neither school earned distinctions, but for very different reasons.

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

Rutledge Elementary: Leander ISD’s Northwest Austin Standout

Rutledge is a bigger campus at 852 students, and it runs at a consistently high level. The school sits in the part of Leander ISD that bleeds into northwest Austin, drawing from newer subdivisions that have been built along the 183A and Parmer Lane corridors. This is growth country. The neighborhoods are clean, the homes are relatively new, and the community infrastructure keeps expanding.

At a $458,900 median home price, the Rutledge zone offers strong value for an A rated elementary. You are getting Leander ISD’s resources, a proven campus, and a feeder pattern that includes paths to Cedar Park High School and Rouse High School. For buyers who want top tier elementary performance without the million dollar price tag that comes with some A rated Austin ISD zones, Rutledge is worth a hard look.

Davis Elementary: Central Austin Location, Moderate Scores

Davis sits in the part of north central Austin that buyers love for its location. The neighborhoods around Davis are walkable, established, and close to everything. You are near the Crestview neighborhood, the North Loop commercial district, and the kind of mature tree canopy that defines this part of Austin. The $575,000 median reflects that location premium.

But the TEA scores are middling. A C at 77 is not alarming, but it is not what buyers paying half a million dollars for a home typically expect from their local elementary. The D in Closing the Gaps is the number that would concern me most. Davis is a perfectly functional school in a great location, but the academic performance does not match the neighborhood prestige.

The Neighborhoods

This is a cross district comparison, and the neighborhoods reflect that. The Rutledge zone in Leander ISD features newer construction, planned communities, and the suburban infrastructure that comes with a growing district. The Davis zone in Austin ISD features older, established neighborhoods with character, walkability, and that classic central Austin feel. You are choosing between two very different lifestyles, not just two different schools.

The price inversion is real. You pay $116,000 less at the median in the Rutledge zone and get a school that scored 15 points higher on TEA. For school focused buyers, the math is simple. For location focused buyers who need to be in central Austin, the Davis zone delivers something that Leander ISD simply cannot replicate.

Browse all homes zoned to Rutledge Elementary or homes zoned to Davis Elementary.

Which School Fits You?

You might lean toward Rutledge if:

• TEA scores are a top priority and you want an A rated campus
• You prefer newer construction and planned community amenities
• A lower entry point ($458K vs $575K) matters to your budget
• The Leander ISD feeder pattern appeals to you

You might lean toward Davis if:

• Central Austin location is non negotiable for your lifestyle or commute
• You value walkability, mature trees, and established neighborhood character
• The Austin ISD feeder path (Anderson High School area) is important to you

I think Rutledge is the better value play by a wide margin. Better TEA score, lower price. But I also understand that location is everything for some buyers, and the Davis zone neighborhoods have a soul that you just cannot manufacture in a new subdivision. It depends on what you are optimizing for.

Ready to Find Your Home?

The Leander ISD and Austin ISD boundary line in northwest Austin creates some of the most interesting school zone decisions in the metro. I have been helping buyers navigate exactly this choice for over 19 years. Lets figure out which side of the line makes sense for you.

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