Ed Neuhaus 
Zavala Scored 76. Campbell Scored 69. Here Is What That Means for Buyers.
Zavala Elementary scored 76 out of 100 on the 2025 TEA accountability rating, earning a solid C. Campbell Elementary came in at 69, which puts it in D territory. The numbers tell part of the story, but not all of it.
Both schools are part of Austin ISD, and I have shown homes in both zones for years. The neighborhoods have their own personality, the price points are similar, and the day to day experience at each campus is its own thing. That matters more than most buyers expect when they first start their search.
Below, I will break down the full TEA performance data, walk through the neighborhoods zoned to each campus, and give you my honest take on which school zone fits different types of buyers. If you want the deep dive on either campus individually, check out the Zavala Elementary school page or the Campbell Elementary school page.
Zavala Elementary vs Campbell Elementary: Quick Comparison
| Zavala Elementary | Campbell Elementary | |
|---|---|---|
| TEA Rating | C (76/100) | D (69/100) |
| Enrollment | 229 students | 180 students |
| Grades | EE – 05 | PK – 05 |
| District | Austin ISD | Austin ISD |
| Median Home Price | $494,500 | $525,000 |
| Feeds Into | Kealing MS → Austin HS | Kealing MS → Austin 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 | Zavala Elementary | Campbell Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | C (76/100) | D (69/100) |
| Student Achievement | D (65/100) | D (62/100) |
| School Progress | C (75/100) | D (69/100) |
| Academic Growth | C (75/100) | D (69/100) |
| Closing the Gaps | C (79/100) | C (74/100) |
| Enrollment | 229 students (EE – 05) | 180 students (PK – 05) |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 89.5% | 73.9% |
| English Learners | 22.3% | 16.7% |
| TEA Distinctions | 0 of 7 earned | 0 of 7 earned |
The biggest standout in this comparison is School Progress, where Zavala Elementary scored 75/100 compared to 69/100 at Campbell Elementary. That 6 point gap is significant and speaks to the overall trajectory of the campus relative to similar schools.
For the full TEA breakdown on each campus, including rating history and all distinctions, visit the Zavala Elementary school page or the Campbell Elementary school page.
Zavala Elementary: A Closer Look at This Austin ISD Campus
Zavala Elementary sits at the heart of East Austin, one of the most culturally rich and energetic corners of the city, and the neighborhoods surrounding it reflect everything that makes this part of Austin so compelling. Part of Austin ISD, Zavala is named in honor of Lorenzo de Zavala, the Republic of Texas’s first Vice President, and that sense of history and community pride is woven into the school’s identity.
With a C rating (76/100) from TEA, Zavala Elementary sits in the middle tier of Austin ISD campuses. The scores show a school that is doing solid work, even if there is room to push higher in some areas. The campus has been steady in recent years.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Austin, Grandview Place, Industrial. The surrounding neighborhoods offer a range of housing options at accessible price points.
Students at Zavala Elementary feed into Kealing Middle School and then Austin High School. That feeder path matters to buyers who are thinking long term about their kids’ educational trajectory.
I have spent a good amount of time in this part of town, and Zavala Elementary is one of those campuses where you can feel the community investment the moment you drive through the neighborhood. The neighborhood is evolving and there is real opportunity for buyers who want to get in before prices catch up.
With an enrollment of just 229 students, Zavala Elementary is on the smaller side for Austin ISD. That is actually something a lot of buyers appreciate. Smaller campuses tend to have tighter communities and teachers who know every student by name. It is a different experience than a campus with 800 or 900 kids, and for some people that intimacy is the whole point.
Campbell Elementary: Austin ISD’s Work in Progress
Campbell Elementary School serves one of Austin’s most historically rich and culturally vibrant communities, sitting in the heart of East Austin as part of Austin ISD. The campus draws students from celebrated neighborhoods like Rosewood, McKinley Heights, and Division, areas known for their architectural character, deep community roots, and genuine neighborhood pride.
Campbell Elementary earned a D (69/100) on its 2025 TEA accountability rating. That is below where most buyers would like to see it, and I will not sugarcoat that. But TEA scores are one lens, and the campus has aspects that do not show up in a spreadsheet.
The school draws from neighborhoods including Mckinley Heights, Division, Rosewood. The surrounding neighborhoods offer a range of housing options at accessible price points.
Students at Campbell Elementary feed into Kealing Middle School and then Austin High School. That feeder path matters to buyers who are thinking long term about their kids’ educational trajectory.
Buyers sometimes overlook campuses with lower TEA scores, but there is usually more to the story. If you are looking at homes in this zone, I would recommend visiting the campus and talking to people in the neighborhood before drawing conclusions from a number alone.
The Neighborhoods
Both Zavala Elementary and Campbell Elementary draw from Austin ISD neighborhoods where median home prices are in a similar range. The Zavala zone sits around $494,500 and the Campbell zone around $525,000. At that price point, you are looking at established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and good lot sizes.
One thing I always tell buyers: look at the neighborhood on a Saturday morning, not just a Tuesday at 2pm. You want to see who is walking dogs, who is out running, whether the parks are being used. That tells you more about the community than any listing description ever will. And yes, school zones affect resale value. That is just reality in this market.
Browse all homes zoned to Zavala Elementary or homes zoned to Campbell Elementary.
Which School Fits You?
Every buyer has a different set of priorities. Here is how I would think about it.
You might lean toward Zavala Elementary if:
- TEA scores are a top priority and you want the higher rated campus
- You want to keep your home budget closer to $494,500
- The feeder path to Austin High School is important to you
- You prefer the neighborhood character around the Zavala zone
You might lean toward Campbell Elementary if:
- You want a neighborhood with higher home values and the lifestyle that comes with it
- The Austin High School feeder path matches your long term plans
- You value what the Campbell neighborhood offers in terms of location and community
Both campuses have their strengths, and the right choice depends on your priorities. If I were buying in this area, I would look closely at the feeder pattern, the neighborhood walkability, and what your daily commute looks like from each zone. The TEA scores matter, but they are not the whole story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Your Home?
If you are weighing the Zavala zone against the Campbell zone (or anywhere else in the Austin area), I would love to help you figure it out. I have been doing this for over 19 years and have helped buyers navigate school zone decisions more times than I can count. And honestly, this is one of my favorite conversations to have because it is never just about a school. It is about how you want your mornings to feel, where you will grab coffee, and whether your commute makes you want to scream or not.
Lets grab a coffee, walk through your priorities, and find the neighborhood that actually fits your life. No pressure, no pitch, just honest guidance from someone who knows these neighborhoods inside and out. Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
