Round Rock ISD is one of the most consistently excellent large school districts in Texas, serving 48,000+ students across Round Rock, portions of northwest Austin, Cedar Park, and Hutto with an "A" district rating and national recognition anchored by Westwood High School. If you are evaluating homes anywhere in the 78759 zip code, the McNeil corridor, or south Round Rock, understanding RRISD's structure is non-negotiable before you buy.
Round Rock ISD at a Glance, 2026
Round Rock Independent School District is one of Texas's most respected mid-size school districts, serving more than 48,000 students across a diverse geographic footprint that includes the city of Round Rock, portions of northwest Austin (including most of the 78759 zip code), sections of Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and Hutto. The district operates more than 55 campuses spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Unlike many suburban Texas districts that have seen rapid expansion blur academic quality, RRISD has managed growth while maintaining its flagship reputation, consistently earning a TEA "A" district rating and placing its high schools among the most competitive in the state. The district's budget management, teacher compensation relative to regional peers, and community bond support have allowed it to sustain infrastructure and instructional quality even through the rapid growth pressures of the Austin metro.
District Fast Facts
| Metric | Data Point |
|---|---|
| Total Students (2025–26) | 48,000+ |
| Total Campuses | 55+ |
| Elementary Schools | ~34 |
| Middle Schools | ~10 |
| High Schools | 4 traditional + options |
| TEA District Rating | "A", Exemplary |
| Superintendent | Hafedh Azaiez |
| RRISD Website | roundrockisd.org |
Westwood High School, Texas's Top-Ranked Public School
★ #1–2 in Texas · Top 1% Nationally
No discussion of Round Rock ISD begins anywhere other than Westwood High School. Located at 12400 Mellow Meadow Dr, Austin TX 78750, technically within the City of Austin's northwest reaches, Westwood consistently ranks among the finest public high schools in the United States. U.S. News & World Report has placed it in the top 1% of American high schools for multiple consecutive years, and Niche has similarly awarded it top marks across academic, teacher quality, and college readiness categories.
What Makes Westwood Exceptional
Westwood's academic profile is driven by several reinforcing factors:
- AP Course Catalog: Westwood offers more than 30 Advanced Placement courses, one of the broadest catalogs of any public high school in Texas. Critically, AP participation rates and AP exam pass rates are both significantly above state and national averages. The school does not just offer AP courses; it produces students who pass them.
- National Merit Scholar Production: Westwood produces National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists at a rate that rivals elite independent schools. In a state where National Merit recognition is exceptionally competitive, this distinction is meaningful.
- College Acceptance: Westwood's college counseling operation is sophisticated and produces results. Acceptance rates to selective universities, including UT Austin, Texas A&M, Rice, Vanderbilt, and highly selective out-of-state schools, are among the highest for any Texas public high school outside of specialized magnet programs.
- Teacher Quality and Retention: RRISD's teacher compensation package, combined with Westwood's academic culture, creates unusually strong teacher retention. Many Westwood faculty members hold advanced degrees and have been at the school for a decade or more.
- STEM Emphasis and Facilities: Westwood benefits from strong bond-funded facilities and a STEM emphasis that aligns with northwest Austin's technology-industry employer base. Parents employed at Apple, Dell, Tesla, Amazon, and other major tech employers in the Domain and northwest Austin corridor disproportionately seek Westwood zoning.
Magnet and Communication & Technology Program
Westwood HS hosts a Communication and Technology magnet program, one of RRISD's signature specialized offerings. The program emphasizes digital media, communications technology, broadcast journalism, and technology integration, and admits students from across the district through an application process. This program adds a magnet-school draw to an already exceptional neighborhood campus.
RRISD High Schools, All Four Campuses Compared
While Westwood commands national attention, Round Rock ISD's other three traditional high schools are genuinely strong performers that deserve individual consideration, both for their academic merits and for their role in driving real estate values in their respective attendance zones.
Round Rock High School (RRHS)
The district's original flagship, located at 300 Lake Creek Dr, Round Rock TX 78681. RRHS has a strong AP program, well-regarded fine arts departments, and one of RRISD's more diverse student populations, reflecting south Round Rock's mix of long-term residents and newer arrivals. The school hosts a Communication and Technology magnet program, mirroring the offering at Westwood. Athletics programs, particularly baseball and basketball, have produced UIL state contenders. RRHS graduates are well-prepared for four-year universities, with acceptance rates to selective schools second only to Westwood within RRISD.
Westwood High School
12400 Mellow Meadow Dr, Austin TX 78750. Nationally ranked. See full profile above. Attendance zone covers McNeil neighborhood (78759 and adjacent 78750), Westwood Estates, and surrounding northwest Austin subdivisions. The primary driver of real estate premiums in the 78759 zip code.
McNeil High School
5720 McNeil Dr, Austin TX 78729. McNeil HS is frequently confused with the McNeil neighborhood, the school is its own campus, not named for the neighborhood but for a historic landowner in the area. McNeil HS has a consistently strong academic record, competitive UIL athletics programs, and a dedicated parent base. It serves a large portion of the 78729 zip code and draws from established northwest Austin subdivisions. McNeil's proximity to the Westwood zone creates an interesting real estate dynamic: some homes are borderline Westwood/McNeil, and buyers should verify carefully. McNeil graduates perform well in college admissions, with acceptance rates at flagship universities comparable to RRHS.
Cedar Ridge High School
2801 Gattis School Rd, Round Rock TX 78664. The newest of RRISD's four traditional high schools, Cedar Ridge serves the rapidly growing northeast Round Rock and Pflugerville-adjacent communities. The school has made significant academic gains since opening in 2007 and has expanded its AP catalog substantially. Athletics programs have produced multiple district championships. Cedar Ridge serves one of RRISD's most economically diverse attendance zones and has been recognized for its college access and dual enrollment programming. As northeast Round Rock has grown with master-planned communities, Cedar Ridge has attracted a larger and more engaged parent base.
Elementary Feeder Patterns & the Path to Westwood
Round Rock ISD's elementary schools feed into middle schools, which feed into the district's four high schools. For families targeting Westwood HS, understanding the feeder pattern is essential, especially if you are purchasing a home while children are still in elementary school and want to ensure a clear K–12 pathway to Westwood.
Westwood HS Feeder Pattern
The primary middle school feeders into Westwood HS are Canyon Vista Middle School (one of RRISD's strongest middle campuses) and Noel Grisham Middle School. Elementary schools that feed into Canyon Vista and ultimately Westwood include:
- Forest North Elementary
- Pond Springs Elementary
- Live Oak Elementary
- Anderson Mill Elementary
- Forest Creek Elementary
These campuses are all located within the 78750, 78759, and adjacent northwest Austin zip codes. They share the academic culture that flows into Westwood, and parent engagement at these elementaries is among the highest in RRISD.
Round Rock HS Feeder Pattern
Round Rock HS draws from several strong middle schools including CD Fulkes Middle School and Chisholm Trail Middle School. The elementary schools feeding this pathway are concentrated in south Round Rock and the Brushy Creek area, communities with strong neighborhood associations and active PTAs.
Homes Zoned to Westwood HS, The Real Estate Reality
The McNeil neighborhood (centered around McNeil Drive and bounded roughly by US-183 to the south, Parmer Lane to the north, and Loop 360 to the west) is the heart of Westwood HS zoning within Travis County. This area, primarily the 78759 zip code, is one of northwest Austin's most established and stable residential communities, with housing stock ranging from 1980s-era single-family homes to newer infill townhomes.
Median Price Premium, Westwood Zone vs. Non-Westwood RRISD
Based on WCAD (wcad.org) appraisal data and MLS transaction analysis, homes in the Westwood HS zone in Travis County (primarily 78759 and 78750) have consistently traded at a 4–10% premium over otherwise-comparable homes in the McNeil HS zone or the RRISD portions of 78729. The premium is most pronounced in the $500,000–$900,000 price range, where buyers are most sensitive to school zone as a differentiating factor.
At the luxury end ($1M+), the Westwood premium narrows somewhat, buyers at that price point have more flexibility and often weigh private school alternatives, but the zone still provides a meaningful floor of demand that protects resale value.
Cedar Park vs. Round Rock, School Boundary Effects
A meaningful slice of the RRISD service area falls within the City of Cedar Park's municipal boundaries, particularly along the southern and eastern edges of Cedar Park where RRISD's boundary intersects with Leander ISD's territory. Buyers in Cedar Park often face the question of which district serves their potential home. The answer depends entirely on the specific parcel.
For home buyers comparing Cedar Park vs. Round Rock locations: homes in Cedar Park that are zoned to RRISD (particularly those feeding into the RRHS or McNeil HS pathways) may trade at a slight discount versus comparable Round Rock addresses, simply because the "Cedar Park address / Round Rock ISD" combination is less intuitive to buyers and creates confusion that dampens demand marginally. This creates a buying opportunity for informed buyers who understand that school quality is equivalent regardless of the city address.
Dual Language Programs in Round Rock ISD
Round Rock ISD operates a well-developed dual language (Spanish-English) immersion program at the elementary level, with continuation pathways at select middle school campuses. The program follows a 50/50 two-way immersion model at most campuses, meaning that native English speakers and native Spanish speakers are taught together, with instruction divided equally between the two languages. Research consistently shows that two-way immersion students outperform both native English-only and Spanish-only peers on standardized assessments by fourth grade, as the bilingual cognitive load strengthens overall academic processing.
RRISD Dual Language Elementary Campuses
- Cactus Ranch Elementary
- Deep Wood Elementary
- Herrington Elementary
- Neysa Callison Elementary
Middle school continuation is available at Walsh Middle School for students completing the dual language elementary pathway. RRISD has invested in expanding the program in response to strong parent demand, particularly among Austin metro families relocating from international or bilingual professional backgrounds.
How to Look Up RRISD Boundaries by Address
Round Rock ISD's attendance zone boundaries are publicly available and searchable by address. The process is straightforward but must be done carefully, a single block can make the difference between Westwood and McNeil zoning in northwest Austin.
- RRISD School Finder: Visit roundrockisd.org and navigate to "Schools" then "Find My School." Enter any Texas street address within the RRISD service area and the tool returns the assigned elementary, middle, and high school campus.
- Williamson County Appraisal District: wcad.org property records include school district assignment for Williamson County parcels. For Travis County parcels zoned to RRISD (primarily the McNeil/Westwood area), use TCAD at traviscad.org.
- GreatSchools: greatschools.org provides boundary maps and campus ratings. Use it for qualitative context alongside the official RRISD tool.
- Texas A&M Real Estate Center: recenter.tamu.edu provides broader market research data that contextualizes school zone premiums within the Austin metro housing market.
- Call RRISD: For ambiguous addresses or mid-year enrollment questions, call RRISD's enrollment office at (512) 464-5000.
RRISD Teacher Pay & Retention
Teacher quality is the single most important factor in school effectiveness, more impactful than facilities, class size, or budget per pupil, according to the preponderance of education research. Round Rock ISD has consistently prioritized teacher compensation relative to its regional peers, and the results are visible in unusually strong retention rates, particularly at flagship campuses like Westwood and Canyon Vista.
Compensation Structure
RRISD's teacher pay scale starts at approximately $54,000 for beginning teachers (as of the 2025–26 school year) and scales to $75,000+ for veteran teachers at the top of the experience schedule. The district supplements state funding with local tax revenue to maintain above-average salaries, and bond measures have included provisions for technology and facility upgrades that reduce the non-compensation burdens teachers face in under-resourced districts.
The practical outcome: Westwood HS teachers have average tenures that exceed the state average significantly. Experienced, credentialed instructors in subjects like mathematics, physics, and AP Computer Science are far more likely to stay at Westwood than to migrate to competing districts or private schools, because RRISD's combination of pay, culture, and academic environment is difficult to match.
Athletics vs. Academics, Balance Across RRISD
A common concern among families relocating from outside Texas is whether the celebrated Texas high school football culture crowds out academic rigor. In Round Rock ISD, the evidence suggests that the two coexist effectively at most campuses, with some campus-specific variation.
Westwood HS
Westwood's academic profile is dominant. Athletics programs exist and compete at the 6A level, but the school's identity is fundamentally academic. The football program has had competitive seasons without reaching the UIL state championship level, and the school community does not seem to view this as a gap. Student time and energy flow heavily toward academic competitions, robotics, debate, and AP/college prep pursuits.
Round Rock HS
RRHS has a more balanced athletics-academics profile. The school competes vigorously in 6A athletics across multiple sports, including baseball (historically one of the district's strongest programs) and basketball. The fine arts program is also genuinely strong, the RRHS orchestra and choir have placed at state level. Academic performance remains strong, and the school does not subordinate college prep to athletics.
McNeil HS
McNeil has historically been a stronger athletics school relative to its academic profile compared to Westwood, though the academic program is still solid and produces competitive college applicants. The school's football program in particular draws strong community support. For families where varsity athletics participation is a priority for their student-athlete, McNeil's larger athletic department and competitive programs can be an advantage.
Cedar Ridge HS
Cedar Ridge has built competitive athletics programs across multiple sports as the school and its surrounding community have matured. The school's growing fine arts program and expanding AP catalog reflect a deliberate effort to match academic rigor with athletic success.
Gifted Services in Round Rock ISD
Round Rock ISD provides gifted and talented (GT) services under the Texas Education Code Chapter 29 mandate. The district's GT identification process involves teacher referrals, parent nomination, standardized assessment, and a review committee, similar to the process in most large Texas districts.
Elementary GT Services
At the elementary level, RRISD offers both pull-out enrichment and accelerated instruction within regular classrooms for GT-identified students. Canyon Creek Elementary, Forest North Elementary, and Pond Springs Elementary, all within the Westwood feeder pattern, have reputations for robust GT enrichment, supported by active parent communities and above-average PTA funding for supplemental programming.
Middle School GT Pathways
Canyon Vista Middle School, which feeds directly into Westwood HS, has one of RRISD's strongest Pre-AP and honors track programs at the middle level. GT-identified students entering Canyon Vista are typically placed in an accelerated math sequence that positions them for AP Calculus by junior year at Westwood, the standard pathway for nationally competitive students.
High School GT and AP
By high school in RRISD, GT services effectively merge into the AP and dual enrollment ecosystem. Westwood's extensive AP catalog, combined with the district's dual enrollment partnerships with Austin Community College, provides a genuinely college-level academic experience for motivated students before they graduate high school.
STEM Emphasis in Round Rock ISD
Round Rock ISD has made STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education a district-wide priority, reflecting both the academic strengths of its flagship campuses and the economic reality of the communities it serves. Northwest Austin, the heart of the Westwood zone, is home to major technology employers including Apple's Austin campus, Dell Technologies' headquarters, and numerous semiconductor and software firms. The parents of many Westwood students work in engineering, software development, data science, and technology management roles, and they bring high expectations for STEM rigor to their engagement with the district.
Westwood's STEM Pipeline
Westwood's AP Computer Science, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, and AP Statistics programs consistently produce students who enter engineering and computer science programs at top universities. The school's robotics program competes at the national level, and the mathematics department runs an accelerated track that produces students ready for UT Austin's demanding engineering curriculum on day one of college.
RRISD has also partnered with Austin Community College for dual credit STEM courses, allowing Westwood students to earn college credit in mathematics and sciences during their junior and senior years, reducing both the cost and the transition difficulty of entering a four-year STEM program.
Frequently Asked Questions, Round Rock ISD 2026
Is Westwood High School really one of the best in Texas?
Yes. Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD has ranked #1 or #2 in Texas by multiple national publications for several consecutive years, including U.S. News & World Report and Niche. It consistently places in the top 1% nationally for AP participation, AP pass rates, college acceptance rates, and National Merit Scholar production. Homes zoned to Westwood HS, primarily in the McNeil area of northwest Austin (78759) and parts of Round Rock, trade at a measurable premium as a direct result of this designation.
What zip codes are zoned to Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD?
Westwood HS primarily serves the 78759 zip code (northwest Austin / McNeil area) and portions of the 78750 and 78681 zip codes. The McNeil neighborhood in Travis County, despite having an Austin address, is within Round Rock ISD and is the primary Westwood feeder community. Boundaries have shifted with redistricting in recent years. Always verify your specific address at roundrockisd.org before placing an offer on any property.
How does Round Rock ISD compare to other Austin-area school districts?
Round Rock ISD has earned a TEA "A" district rating and is widely regarded as one of the two or three strongest large districts in the greater Austin metropolitan area. Its combination of nationally ranked high schools (especially Westwood HS), strong teacher compensation relative to peers, disciplined fiscal management, and high college-readiness metrics place it consistently at or near the top of regional district comparisons. Information available at tea.texas.gov and greatschools.org.
Which Round Rock ISD high school has the best AP and college acceptance stats?
Westwood High School leads RRISD on AP participation, AP pass rates, National Merit recognition, and college acceptance metrics at selective universities. Round Rock High School and McNeil High School are both strong performers with competitive college acceptance rates exceeding 93% to four-year universities. Cedar Ridge HS has made notable gains in AP offerings and college readiness in recent years. All four RRISD high schools significantly outperform the Texas state average on college readiness metrics.
Do homes zoned to Westwood HS cost more than homes zoned to other RRISD high schools?
Yes. Homes zoned to Westwood HS, particularly in the McNeil neighborhood (78759) and Westwood Estates, typically trade at a 4–10% premium over otherwise-comparable homes zoned to other RRISD high schools. The Westwood premium is most pronounced in the $500K–$900K price range, where buyers are most sensitive to school zone as a differentiating factor. This premium has been persistent across multiple market cycles. Verify current boundaries at roundrockisd.org; parcel data available at wcad.org and traviscad.org.
