Westlake High School

Westlake High School in Austin, TX, is a large, top-performing public high school serving 2,854 students in grades 9-12 within the highly-ranked Eanes Independent School District (Isd). The school boasts a near-perfect graduation rate of 98.1%, a dropout rate of effectively 0%, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14:1, all contributing to its consistent 5-star rating and ranking in the top 6% of Texas high schools.

Westlake’s academic performance dramatically outpaces nearby schools in the Austin Independent School District (Isd). For example, in Biology, 95.35% of Westlake students are proficient, compared to just 35.61% at Travis Early College High School and 56.16% at Crockett Early College High School. Even Austin High School, the highest-performing comprehensive AISD school nearby, trails significantly. Interestingly, the only school with a comparable state ranking is the Richards School For Young Women Leaders, a selective magnet school just 3 miles away, showing that top-tier outcomes can be achieved through different educational models.

While Westlake excels overall, a few unique data points stand out. The school’s Algebra I proficiency rate (45.82%) is surprisingly below the state average, likely because most advanced students take the exam in middle school. Additionally, while the school serves its Special Education and Hispanic students exceptionally well (ranking in the top 6% statewide), performance for African American and low-income students has declined in recent years, suggesting a widening achievement gap. Similarly, the school’s Gifted and Talented program has seen a drop in its state ranking, which may warrant a closer look at program rigor.