Ed Neuhaus 
Buying in North Austin ISD? One of These Elementaries Scored a 92. The Other Scored a 69.
Summitt Elementary posted a 92 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, earning straight A grades across every domain. McBee Elementary, about three miles away in the same district, scored a 69 and landed a D. Both are Austin ISD campuses. Both sit in the northern part of the district. And the median home price gap between them is only about $145,000. That 23 point TEA spread at a relatively similar price point is something buyers in this part of Austin need to understand before making an offer.
I bring this up because north Austin is a part of town where the school zones can change dramatically from one neighborhood to the next. You can be looking at a house on one side of a street and be zoned to Summitt (92), then cross the road and be zoned to McBee (69). That is not hyperbole. It actually happens in this corridor. And most buyers do not realize it until they are already under contract. So lets walk through the numbers.
Summitt vs McBee: Quick Comparison
| Summitt Elementary | McBee Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | A (92/100) | D (69/100) |
| Enrollment | 763 students | 344 students |
| Grades | EE through 5 | EE through 5 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $545,000 | $400,000 |
| Feeds Into | Burnet/Murchison MS, Anderson HS | Burnet/Lamar MS, Navarro 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 | Summitt Elementary | McBee Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A (92/100) | D (69/100) |
| Student Achievement | A (92/100) | F (51/100) |
| School Progress | A (92/100) | C (73/100) |
| Academic Growth | A (92/100) | C (73/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | A (91/100) | D (67/100) |
| Enrollment | 763 students (EE through 5) | 344 students (EE through 5) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 26.5% | 94.5% |
| English Learners | 29.0% | 80.8% |
| TEA Distinctions | 6 of 7 earned | 6 of 7 earned |
The Student Achievement gap is the starkest number on this table. Summitt scored a 92 (A) and McBee scored a 51 (F). That is a 41 point difference in raw test performance within the same school district. McBee does earn some credit in the School Progress and Academic Growth domains with C ratings (73), which means the school is making gains even though it is starting from a much lower baseline. But 94.5% economically disadvantaged and 80.8% English Learners is a fundamentally different challenge than what Summitt faces with its 26.5% and 29.0% numbers.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Summitt Elementary school page or the McBee Elementary school page.
Summitt: A Hidden Gem in North Central Austin
Summitt is one of those Austin ISD elementaries that consistently performs at a high level without getting the attention that schools in the Westlake or Eanes corridor receive. A 92 overall with straight A ratings in every domain is outstanding. The campus has 763 students and sits near the intersection of Burnet Road and Anderson Lane, which puts it in one of the more active commercial corridors in north central Austin (great for errands, not always great for the commute, but that is Austin for you).
What makes Summitt particularly impressive is the 29% English Learner population. Posting a 92 with that level of language diversity tells you the instructional program is strong and the campus leadership knows what they are doing. The school feeds into Murchison Middle School and then Anderson High School, which is one of Austin ISD’s better secondary pathways. Anderson itself has a solid academic reputation and an enrollment of over 2,000 students.
The parent community at Summitt is engaged, and the school has a reputation for strong arts and science programming alongside its core academics. It is not flashy, but it delivers.
McBee: A Small Campus Facing Big Challenges
McBee is a small school with just 344 students, and it serves one of the most challenging populations in Austin ISD. Nearly 95% of students are economically disadvantaged and over 80% are English Learners. A D rating of 69 is not great, but the School Progress score of 73 (C) suggests the school is making measurable improvement even if the overall results are not where anyone wants them to be yet.
The school feeds into Burnet Middle School and then Navarro Early College High School, which actually has strong outcomes for students who complete the early college program. So the long term pathway is worth considering.
The Neighborhoods
Summitt draws from neighborhoods along the Burnet Road and Anderson Lane corridor, stretching into the established residential areas east of MoPac. The median home price of $545,000 gets you into a mix of 1960s and 1970s ranch homes, some renovated, some waiting for updates. This part of Austin has been gentrifying steadily for the last decade, and the proximity to the Domain and North Burnet corridor continues to drive demand.
McBee’s zone covers the Rundberg Lane area and parts of north central Austin that are more affordable but have historically underperformed on school metrics. The median of $400,000 is $145,000 less than Summitt, which makes it accessible for buyers who are priced out of some of the tighter school zones. The neighborhoods here have a mix of older apartments, small lot homes, and some newer infill construction.
Browse all homes zoned to Summitt Elementary or homes zoned to McBee Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
This one is less of a coin flip and more of a priority check.
You might lean toward Summitt if:
- TEA performance is a top priority and you want A ratings across the board
- The Anderson HS feeder pathway matters to your long term planning
- You want a larger campus with 763 students and strong arts and science programming
- Proximity to the Burnet Road corridor and the Domain appeals to you
You might lean toward McBee if:
- Budget is the primary driver and $400,000 median fits your range better
- You are interested in the Navarro Early College High School pathway
- A smaller campus with 344 students feels right for your situation
I am not going to sugarcoat it. A 23 point TEA gap is significant. But I also know that school ratings are one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and McBee’s improvement trends in School Progress and Academic Growth deserve a fair look. The reality is that for many buyers in this price range, McBee’s zone is where the budget works, and understanding the full picture helps you make an informed decision rather than a panicked one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
School zone boundaries in north Austin can be confusing, and a single block can change your entire school pathway. I have been helping buyers navigate these decisions for 19 years. Lets connect and I will walk you through what is available in both zones so you can find the right fit for your budget and priorities.
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