Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in the 78726 zip code of Austin, Texas, serving grades PK-5 across three different districts: Harmony Public Schools - Central Texas, Leander Independent School District (Isd), and Round Rock Independent School District (Isd).
Canyon Creek Elementary is the standout school in the area, achieving a perfect 100th percentile state ranking for three consecutive years and placing among the top 12 elementary schools in Texas. Its STAAR test scores are exceptionally high, with many subjects reaching 90-100% proficiency. In contrast, Grandview Hills Elementary is the lowest-performing school in the zip code, with state rankings in the 32nd-49th percentile and test scores consistently below district and state averages. Harmony Science Academy - Cedar Park is a strong performer, consistently earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 92nd-96th percentile, significantly outperforming its district averages.
A key finding is the spending vs. performance paradox: Grandview Hills has the highest per-student spending ($11,034) and lowest student-teacher ratio (10:1) yet the lowest performance, while Harmony Science Academy has the lowest spending ($7,589) and highest ratio (19:1) but achieves top-tier results. This suggests factors like curriculum and school culture matter more than resources alone. Another notable insight is that science is a major weakness at Grandview Hills, where only 11.67% of 5th graders were proficient in 2024-2025, compared to 77.78% at Canyon Creek and 62.64% at Harmony Science Academy. Overall, families in 78726 have a clear choice between the consistently excellent Canyon Creek, the efficient and high-performing Harmony Science Academy, and the struggling Grandview Hills, which may benefit from targeted interventions.
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