Donald Lewis Hisle

Donald Lewis Hisle is a highly-rated elementary school (PK–5) in Leander, TX, serving 530 students within the Leander Independent School District (Isd) and earning a 4-star rating that places it in the 84th percentile statewide.

This school stands out for its exceptional reading performance, particularly in 5th grade, where 88.71% of students were proficient—a remarkable 30 points above the state average and the highest score among all nearby schools, including Tarvin Elementary (76.67%). Hisle also demonstrated impressive improvement in math, with 4th and 5th-grade proficiency jumping over 22 points from the previous year, now exceeding district averages. This turnaround suggests effective leadership and targeted interventions. However, 5th-grade science remains a weak point, with only 22.22% proficient, significantly below Bar W Elementary (51.85%) and the district average. The school serves a relatively affluent population, with only 15.09% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

Compared to nearby schools, Hisle sits in the top tier alongside Tarvin Elementary (88th percentile) and Bar W Elementary (87th percentile), while schools like North Elementary and Jim Plain Elementary (both 45th percentile) and Christine Camacho Elementary (13th percentile) are significantly lower-performing. Notably, Hisle serves its male, female, Asian, and multi-racial students exceptionally well (all earning 4 stars), but its largest demographic group and economically disadvantaged students are not achieving at the same high level, pointing to an equity gap that warrants attention.