Summary:
This analysis examines four middle schools in the 78613 zip code of Cedar Park, Texas, serving grades 6-8 (with one serving through grade 10), offering a mix of traditional public schools within the Leander Independent School District (Isd) and a high-performing public charter school from the Basis Texas network.
Basis Cedar Park stands out as an academic powerhouse, ranking in the top 1% of Texas middle schools with test scores often double or triple state averages—for example, achieving 94.74% proficiency in 7th Grade Math versus the state's 29.41%. Among the Leander ISD schools, Cedar Park Middle leads with strong upward trends and high Algebra I proficiency (90.76%), while Artie L Henry Middle performs solidly across subjects. Running Brushy Middle has the most room for growth, ranking in the 80th percentile and facing challenges in 7th Grade Math (11.11% proficiency). A key paradox emerges: Running Brushy has the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.6) and highest per-student spending ($9,675) among the traditional schools, yet the lowest test scores, while Cedar Park Middle has the highest ratio (15.7) and lowest spending ($8,571) but the best traditional school performance.
A concerning trend is the universal 7th Grade Math "dip" across all three Leander ISD schools, with proficiency rates dropping dramatically—Cedar Park Middle fell from 52.91% to 16.67% in one year. Basis Cedar Park avoids this entirely, also offering advanced high school courses like Biology and English I with 100% proficiency. Socioeconomic factors correlate with performance: Cedar Park Middle has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (12.53%) and highest traditional school scores, while Running Brushy has the highest rate (21.88%) and lowest scores. For parents, Basis Cedar Park offers unmatched academic rigor, while Cedar Park Middle provides the strongest traditional public school option with consistent district outperformance.
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