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Cedars International Academy

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8
4196th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools
Better than 9% of Texas elementary schools
Summary

Cedars International Academy is a public charter school in Austin, TX, serving 408 students in grades PK-8 as a single-school district, with a high-poverty population where nearly 88% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school presents a unique "tale of two schools" within one building: its elementary grades (3-5) struggle significantly, with reading proficiency rates well below state averages, but its middle school program (grades 7-8) shows remarkable strength, often exceeding state performance. For example, in the most recent data, 8th-grade reading proficiency reached 75% compared to the state average of 58.69%, and 79.17% of students taking Algebra I were proficient, far surpassing the state's 54.03%. This "V-shaped" performance pattern is a critical asset, as nearby PK-5 schools like Hart Elementary and Brown Elementary cannot offer this middle school advantage, which feeds into potentially less effective middle schools.

Despite its middle school success, Cedars has experienced a sustained decade-long decline in overall state ranking, dropping from the 53rd percentile in 2015-2016 to the 9th percentile in the most recent data. This decline is widespread, affecting nearly all student subgroups, with many now ranking in the bottom 10% statewide. However, the school has a notable strength with its African American students, who ranked in the 89th percentile in a recent year, earning a 4-star rating—a stark contrast to other subgroups. The school also operates with a leaner budget, spending $10,002 per student in 2020-2021, which is 25-35% less than nearby Austin Independent School District (Isd) schools like Pickle Elementary ($13,095) and Wooten Elementary ($13,512).

An interesting comparison is with Guerrero Thompson, another high-poverty school in the same neighborhood that has shown a strong upward trend, moving from the 16th to the 53rd percentile in just one year. Guerrero Thompson's 5th-grade reading proficiency (82.35%) dramatically exceeds Cedars' (26.67%), proving that high-poverty schools can achieve strong results. For parents considering Cedars, the key takeaway is that while the elementary years may be challenging, the middle school program offers exceptional outcomes in math and social studies, making it a unique option for families seeking a PK-8 pathway that avoids the typical middle school transition.

408
Students ?
15.3
Student/teacher ratio ?
$13,760
Per pupil spending ?
87.7%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 8416 N Ih-35
       Austin, TX  78753

(512) 419-1551

District: Cedars International Academy

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
84.6%
African American:
6.4%
White:
5.9%
more
 See top rated Texas elementary schools

 Compare Cedars International Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 9th in 2026
Worth a look
!Test scores below the Texas average (41% vs 49% meeting standards)
!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)
!Ranking has slipped — down 44 percentile points since 2016
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school41%
District avg41%
Texas avg49%
Elementary school
4,196th of 4,627
Texas public elementary schools ?
Bottom 9%▼ down 44 pts since 2016
From top 47% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
514th of 2,335
Texas public middle schools ?
Top 22%▲ up 11 pts since 2016
From top 33% (2016) to top 22% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
348th of 951Cedars International Academy among Texas districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202616.94196 of 46279.3%☆☆☆☆☆
202516.74194 of 46519.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202428.23571 of 471024.2%★☆☆☆☆
202324.13761 of 464719.1%★☆☆☆☆
202231.23303 of 458127.9%★☆☆☆☆
202129.73188 of 457830.4%★★☆☆☆
201938.22804 of 447937.4%★★☆☆☆
201835.62827 of 435935.1%★★☆☆☆
201733.42936 of 432932.2%★★☆☆☆
201655.82018 of 428652.9%★★★☆☆
201543.22687 of 432037.8%★★☆☆☆
201455.02044 of 426052.0%★★★☆☆
201342.52721 of 422135.5%★★☆☆☆
201215.93970 of 42065.6%☆☆☆☆☆
201151.12344 of 409542.8%★★☆☆☆
201026.13419 of 393713.2%★☆☆☆☆
20094.83844 of 38841.0%☆☆☆☆☆
200832.13039 of 376819.3%★☆☆☆☆
200713.63550 of 37244.7%☆☆☆☆☆
200635.22670 of 347623.2%★☆☆☆☆
200533.12751 of 347520.8%★☆☆☆☆
200425.73012 of 346513.1%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202579.8211 of 190588.9%★★★★☆
201975.6358 of 251585.8%★★★★☆
201862.5704 of 248371.6%★★★★☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202254.51784 of 446160.0%★★★☆☆
202137.02797 of 433135.4%★★☆☆☆
201957.11508 of 429564.9%★★★☆☆
201856.31549 of 424063.5%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202614.81567 of 16434.6%☆☆☆☆☆
202516.72712 of 29187.1%☆☆☆☆☆
202434.12566 of 366830.0%★★☆☆☆
202337.92368 of 355633.4%★★☆☆☆
202247.01818 of 348747.9%★★☆☆☆
202124.32989 of 344613.3%★☆☆☆☆
201935.22384 of 333328.5%★☆☆☆☆
201844.31795 of 322644.4%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202617.94165 of 45759.0%☆☆☆☆☆
202519.43300 of 374411.9%★☆☆☆☆
202424.53829 of 465817.8%★☆☆☆☆
202327.23590 of 458821.8%★☆☆☆☆
202236.52996 of 456134.3%★★☆☆☆
202134.82875 of 449936.1%★★☆☆☆
201941.42584 of 434840.6%★★☆☆☆
201841.92510 of 430641.7%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202611.84279 of 44133.0%☆☆☆☆☆
202516.13404 of 36446.6%☆☆☆☆☆
202434.23183 of 446528.7%★☆☆☆☆
202329.33412 of 440122.5%★☆☆☆☆
202238.72838 of 437635.1%★★☆☆☆
202137.92710 of 432937.4%★★☆☆☆
201938.12761 of 418834.1%★★☆☆☆
201838.72676 of 416835.8%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202619.84149 of 45208.2%☆☆☆☆☆
202520.13361 of 37059.3%☆☆☆☆☆
202433.63353 of 459427.0%★☆☆☆☆
202331.83407 of 452124.6%★☆☆☆☆
202240.82772 of 447738.1%★★☆☆☆
202137.72878 of 445135.3%★★☆☆☆
201951.11989 of 430953.8%★★★☆☆
201844.52378 of 426444.2%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202619.24089 of 458210.8%★☆☆☆☆
202518.53332 of 373910.9%★☆☆☆☆
202439.22872 of 464738.2%★★☆☆☆
202324.83729 of 458518.7%★☆☆☆☆
202229.83406 of 456325.4%★☆☆☆☆
202129.23240 of 449828.0%★☆☆☆☆
201936.72873 of 435734.1%★★☆☆☆
201833.43021 of 431930.1%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202631.63209 of 430125.4%★☆☆☆☆
202532.92541 of 354928.4%★☆☆☆☆
202438.02721 of 429236.6%★★☆☆☆
202328.03270 of 408620.0%★☆☆☆☆
202239.12338 of 395240.8%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202669.9514 of 233578.0%★★★★☆
202538.81429 of 234439.0%★★☆☆☆
202462.1735 of 237269.0%★★★☆☆
202356.8882 of 233062.1%★★★☆☆
202270.3486 of 225478.4%★★★★☆
202121.51835 of 225218.5%★☆☆☆☆
201929.71615 of 219326.4%★☆☆☆☆
201828.41568 of 208024.6%★☆☆☆☆
201725.31605 of 202720.8%★☆☆☆☆
201666.2655 of 198767.0%★★★☆☆
201540.71326 of 204335.1%★★☆☆☆
201451.41020 of 198748.7%★★☆☆☆
201371.4455 of 197376.9%★★★★☆
201247.61108 of 195143.2%★★☆☆☆
201153.31030 of 189545.6%★★☆☆☆
201034.71431 of 180320.6%★☆☆☆☆
200928.91492 of 176315.4%★☆☆☆☆
200877.9210 of 171887.8%★★★★☆
20075.31644 of 16842.4%☆☆☆☆☆
200623.21348 of 158515.0%★☆☆☆☆
200559.0674 of 158257.4%★★★☆☆
200486.149 of 157396.9%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
201822.31004 of 116714.0%★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202275.2274 of 218287.4%★★★★☆
202136.81347 of 211836.4%★★☆☆☆
201952.7762 of 205863.0%★★★☆☆
201844.71013 of 200849.6%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202680.2126 of 139090.9%★★★★★
202543.7741 of 142848.1%★★☆☆☆
202470.0325 of 177081.6%★★★★☆
202370.4305 of 172082.3%★★★★☆
202276.2198 of 164387.9%★★★★☆
202124.51417 of 159211.0%★☆☆☆☆
201922.01323 of 14458.4%☆☆☆☆☆
201844.6618 of 137655.1%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202670.3478 of 224078.7%★★★★☆
202547.1892 of 182551.1%★★★☆☆
202453.1913 of 224259.3%★★★☆☆
202362.3682 of 224169.6%★★★☆☆
202267.1536 of 222175.9%★★★★☆
20213.52151 of 21510.0%☆☆☆☆☆
201939.91232 of 204739.8%★★☆☆☆
201830.81498 of 200825.4%★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
201838.21068 of 143025.3%★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202666.9496 of 214176.8%★★★★☆
202543.0954 of 173144.9%★★☆☆☆
202462.7585 of 211972.4%★★★★☆
202361.4634 of 211670.0%★★★★☆
202273.5344 of 207783.4%★★★★☆
202129.91521 of 204325.6%★☆☆☆☆
201932.11417 of 193526.8%★☆☆☆☆
201835.01267 of 189533.1%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202676.4289 of 225387.2%★★★★☆
202539.11109 of 182039.1%★★☆☆☆
202468.2445 of 223580.1%★★★★☆
202363.0629 of 225172.1%★★★★☆
202281.7198 of 222091.1%★★★★★
202135.01478 of 217232.0%★★☆☆☆
201941.81219 of 207341.2%★★☆☆☆
201837.61334 of 203934.6%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202668.6522 of 225376.8%★★★★☆
202524.71480 of 181818.6%★☆☆☆☆
202461.4693 of 224669.1%★★★☆☆
202354.7903 of 224559.8%★★★☆☆
202271.0470 of 222878.9%★★★★☆
202135.71375 of 216836.6%★★☆☆☆
201924.31698 of 206917.9%★☆☆☆☆
201824.01683 of 203017.1%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202665.9352 of 195682.0%★★★★☆
202420.11729 of 18918.6%☆☆☆☆☆
202356.6502 of 181572.3%★★★★☆
202263.7342 of 175780.5%★★★★☆
201919.81517 of 16266.7%☆☆☆☆☆
201821.21527 of 15974.4%☆☆☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
African American (2025)89th percentile+79 vs school
At Risk (2022)60th percentile+32 vs school
Special Education (2026)25th percentile+16 vs school
Male (2026)11th percentile~ school
Female (2026)9th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)8th percentile~ school
English Language Learner (2026)5th percentile-5 vs school
Hispanic (2026)3rd percentile-6 vs school
Middle school
English Language Learner (2026)91st percentile+13 vs school
At Risk (2022)87th percentile+9 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)87th percentile+9 vs school
Special Education (2026)82nd percentile+4 vs school
Female (2026)79th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2026)77th percentile~ school
Male (2026)77th percentile~ school
Gifted and Talented (2018)25th percentile~ school
African American (2018)14th percentile-11 vs school
By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?
Algebra I79%+25 vs state
Social Studies75%+43 vs state
Reading41%-14 vs state
Mathematics32%-14 vs state

5.0
1 rating · 1 written review
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What people are saying
by a parent
Saturday, February 22, 2020

Open Quote Cedars is a diamond in the rough! My child is doing so well there.
Things we love about Cedars: small class sizes, strong social emotional learning, hands on learning, all children regardless of economic status receive free breakfast and lunch, top-notch art, music, and Spanish classes, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and a butterfly garden.
The kindergarten program is particularly amazing. The children travel around the world learning geography in context. All students are in school houses (like in Harry Potter). It helps all students feels connected. Cedars feels like a family where everyone is someone. It’s like a private school, but free. 5 stars from our family. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Cedars International Academy

Students at Cedars International Academy are 85% Hispanic, 6% African American, 6% White, 3% Two or more races.

Cedars International Academy ranks in the bottom 9.3% of Texas elementary schools.

In the 2024-25 school year, 408 students attended Cedars International Academy.


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Latest Texas data All new data »
2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026
2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026
2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025
2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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