schools with high achievers
19 Austin elementary and middle schools rank among Texas' best for 2025
Congratulations are in order for the Bats.
Several Austin elementary and middle schools are at the top of the class when it comes to educating and preparing the next generation for a successful life and career, according to U.S. News & World Report's just-released list of 2025 Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings.
One such school – Basis Austin – is the No. 1 best middle school in Texas for 2025.
U.S. News ranked more than 79,000 public schools on the state and district level using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were analyzed based on their students' proficiencies in mathematics and reading/language arts on state assessments, and tie-breakers were decided based on student-teacher ratios.
Texas' best middle schools for 2025
Basis Texas Charter School's Austin campus has a total enrollment of 273 students, 19 full-time teachers, and a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, according to U.S. News. A majority of students at this charter school – 89 percent – scored "at or above the proficient level" in mathematics, and 92 percent showed at or above proficiency in reading.
"Basis Austin did better in math and better in reading in this [test score] metric compared with students across the state," U.S. News said in the school's profile. "In Texas, 51 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 41 percent tested at or above that level for math."
Basis Austin also ranked No. 16 in the statewide rankings for the best elementary schools for 2025.
Eight other Austin-area middle schools earned spots in Texas' top 100, including:
- No. 31 – Canyon Vista Middle School, Round Rock ISD
- No. 40 – Chaparral Star Academy
- No. 47 – Hill Country Middle School, Eanes ISD
- No. 64 – Cedar Valley Middle School, Round Rock ISD
- No. 81 – West Ridge Middle School, Eanes ISD
- No. 85 – Pearson Ranch Middle School, Round Rock, Round Rock ISD
- No. 91 – James Garland Walsh Middle School, Round Rock, Round Rock ISD
- No. 100 – Florence Stiles Middle School, Leander, Leander ISD
Jesus A. Kawas Elementary school in Laredo was crowned the No. 1 elementary school in Texas for 2025, while three Austin-area schools were among the top 25.
U.S. News says student success at Cactus Ranch is significantly higher than the rest of Round Rock ISD.
"In Round Rock Independent School District, 64 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 52 percent tested at or above that level for math," U.S. News said in the school's profile. "Cactus Ranch Elementary did better in math and better in reading in this metric compared with students across the state."
Following one spot behind Cactus Ranch in the statewide ranking is Austin's Canyon Creek Elementary in Round Rock ISD, coming in at No. 19. Canyon Creek has a student population of 369 with 27 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. The school's student-teacher ratio is 14:1, and 90 percent of students are proficient in math, and 88 percent in reading.
- No. 22 – Patsy Sommer Elementary, Round Rock ISD
- No. 31 – River Ridge Elementary, Leander ISD
- No. 42 – Elsa England Elementary, Round Rock ISD
- No. 53 – Laurel Mountain Elementary, Round Rock ISD
- No. 81 – Laura Welch Bush Elementary, Leander ISD
- No. 88 – Mills Elementary, Austin ISD
- No. 94 – Clayton Elementary, Austin ISD
- No. 100 – Cedar Creek Elementary, Eanes ISD
"The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success," said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor for Education at U.S. News. "The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond."
