Ed Neuhaus 
Both Schools Feed Into North Austin’s Strongest High Schools. The Price Gap Might Surprise You.
Rutledge Elementary scored a 92 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, earning a clear A. Forest North Elementary came in at 89 with a B. Both are solid campuses in the communities north of Austin, but they sit in different districts: Rutledge is in Leander ISD, Forest North is in Round Rock ISD. And the median home prices are surprisingly close, with Rutledge at $459,000 and Forest North at $435,000.
So for roughly the same monthly payment, you can be in an A rated Leander ISD elementary or a B rated Round Rock ISD elementary. Both districts are well regarded. Both schools serve growing communities along the 183 and Parmer corridors. And both feed into high schools that consistently earn A ratings from the state. The question is not which school is bad (neither is) but which combination of school, neighborhood, and long term feeder pattern makes the most sense for your situation.
I see buyers comparing these two zones all the time because the geography overlaps in that transition zone where Cedar Park, Round Rock, and north Austin all blur together. Lets look at what actually separates them.
Rutledge vs Forest North Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Rutledge Elementary | Forest North Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (92/100) | B (89/100) |
| Enrollment | 852 students | 307 students |
| Grades | KG – 05 | KG – 05 |
| District | Leander ISD | Round Rock ISD |
| Median Home Price | $458,900 | $434,950 |
| Feeds Into | Leander ISD MS then HS | Pearson Ranch MS then McNeil / Round Rock 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 | Rutledge Elementary | Forest North Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (92/100) | B (89/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (93/100) | A (91/100) |
| School Progress | A (92/100) | B (86/100) |
| Academic Growth | A (92/100) | B (87/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | A (90/100) | A (90/100) |
| Enrollment | 852 students (KG – 05) | 307 students (KG – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 7.4% | 18.0% |
| English Learners | 4.4% | 15.7% |
| TEA Distinctions | 7 of 7 earned | 7 of 7 earned |
Rutledge is the stronger performer overall, but Forest North holds its own impressively. Both earned all 7 TEA distinctions and both scored a 90 in Closing the Gaps. The real separation comes in School Progress and Academic Growth, where Rutledge’s A grades (92 each) outpace Forest North’s B marks (86 and 87). What makes Forest North’s 89 especially notable is that the school serves a more diverse student population with 18% economically disadvantaged and 15.7% English learners, compared to Rutledge’s 7.4% and 4.4%. Earning 7 of 7 distinctions with that student body is a strong signal.
For the full TEA breakdown, visit the Rutledge Elementary school page or the Forest North Elementary school page.
Rutledge Elementary: Leander ISD’s Quiet Overachiever
Rutledge is a larger campus at 852 students, and it sits in the part of Cedar Park that offers some of the best value in Leander ISD. The neighborhoods zoned here tend to be well maintained suburban communities with homes that hit the $400,000 to $550,000 sweet spot that so many Austin area buyers are targeting. The school earned all 7 TEA distinctions and posted A grades across every domain, which is the kind of consistency that makes parents sleep better at night.
The Leander ISD feeder pattern is a selling point in itself. Depending on your address, Rutledge students move on to strong middle school options within the district and eventually to high schools like Cedar Park, Leander, or Vista Ridge, all of which have earned A ratings.
Forest North Elementary: Small School, Big Results
Forest North is a compact campus with just 307 students, and that size creates a more intimate learning environment. The school sits in the Forest North area along the 183 corridor, where older homes and established neighborhoods give the zone a settled, lived in character. At $435,000 median, this is one of the most accessible entry points into Round Rock ISD.
The feeder path runs through Pearson Ranch Middle School (A rated, 91/100) and then potentially to Round Rock High School, which posted a 95 TEA score. That is a strong pipeline from elementary through high school graduation.
The Neighborhoods
Rutledge’s zone is newer suburban Cedar Park. Clean streets, master planned community features, and the convenience of the Lakeline and 183 commercial corridors. Forest North’s zone is older and more established, with a mix of 1980s and 1990s era homes that have aged well and offer more square footage per dollar than the newer builds in Cedar Park.
Browse all homes zoned to Rutledge Elementary or homes zoned to Forest North Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
You might lean toward Rutledge Elementary if:
- The A rating and all 7 distinctions are important to you
- You prefer newer construction in the Cedar Park area
- You want to stay within Leander ISD’s feeder pattern
You might lean toward Forest North Elementary if:
- A smaller campus with a more intimate feel appeals to your situation
- You want the Round Rock High School feeder path through Pearson Ranch Middle
- Older homes with more space at a slightly lower price point work for your budget
Both are excellent schools and both neighborhoods offer genuine value for north Austin buyers. Rutledge has the edge on the scorecard, but Forest North’s combination of all 7 distinctions, a B rating at 89, and a strong feeder into Round Rock High makes it a serious contender, especially at that slightly lower price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
Finding the right school zone along the 183 corridor takes some local knowledge, and I have plenty of it after 19 years in this market. Lets connect and figure out which neighborhood checks all your boxes. Get in touch and we will make it happen.
