The 2026 TEA ratings across Central Texas are out, covering all 24 school districts serving our communities. Fifteen improved, six held, three slipped — and for buyers and sellers, a district's direction can matter more than its letter.
How we built this. Every rating below was pulled directly from the Texas Education Agency's official record at TXschools.gov — the district "Change Over Time" report card, not an aggregator. The 2025 ratings are final; the 2026 ratings are preliminary and may shift on appeal before the state finalizes them in late fall.
This guide is written for three groups: people relocating to Central Texas who are weighing school districts, homeowners tracking what their district's rating means for their property, and residents who want to know how their district compares to the one down the highway.
The short answer
Across the 24 districts serving Texas Home Talk communities, 15 improved, six held steady, and only three slipped — none by more than two points. Five districts jumped a full letter grade, every one of them upward: Georgetown, Austin, and Pflugerville rose into a B, while Seguin and Judson climbed out of a multi-year D into a C.
Boerne holds the region's only A at 92. Lockhart posted the biggest gain at +6, and Fredericksburg added five to reach an 89. But the number that matters most for a home decision usually isn't the current letter — it's the direction the district is heading.
2026 TEA Ratings: Every Central Texas District Ranked
Twenty-four districts, two years, one table. Grouped by direction, then by 2026 score. A bold 2026 grade marks a full letter-grade change from 2025.
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| School district | 2025 rating | 2026 rating | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockhart ISD | C / 73 | C / 79 | +6 |
| Fredericksburg ISD | B / 84 | B / 89 | +5 |
| Georgetown ISD | C / 76 | B / 80 | +4 |
| Seguin ISD | D / 66 | C / 70 | +4 |
| New Braunfels ISD | B / 81 | B / 84 | +3 |
| Navarro ISD | B / 81 | B / 84 | +3 |
| Marion ISD | B / 80 | B / 83 | +3 |
| Round Rock ISD | B / 87 | B / 89 | +2 |
| Austin ISD | C / 79 | B / 81 | +2 |
| Pflugerville ISD | C / 79 | B / 81 | +2 |
| Judson ISD | D / 69 | C / 71 | +2 |
| Comal ISD | B / 87 | B / 88 | +1 |
| Wimberley ISD | B / 86 | B / 87 | +1 |
| Hays CISD | B / 80 | B / 81 | +1 |
| Bastrop ISD | C / 71 | C / 72 | +1 |
| Boerne ISD | A / 92 | A / 92 | 0 |
| Dripping Springs ISD | B / 89 | B / 89 | 0 |
| Liberty Hill ISD | B / 85 | B / 85 | 0 |
| Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD | B / 81 | B / 81 | 0 |
| San Marcos CISD | C / 76 | C / 76 | 0 |
| Marble Falls ISD | C / 75 | C / 75 | 0 |
| Johnson City ISD | B / 85 | B / 83 | −2 |
| Leander ISD | B / 88 | B / 87 | −1 |
| Hutto ISD | C / 76 | C / 75 | −1 |
Source. Texas Education Agency, 2025 and 2026 A–F accountability ratings, pulled from each district's "Change Over Time" report card at TXschools.gov. 2025 ratings are final; 2026 ratings are preliminary and subject to the state's appeals process, which typically concludes in late fall.
Two things this table is not telling you.
The 2026 column is preliminary. Districts can appeal, and the state finalizes scores after a review window that usually closes in late fall. In the prior cycle, dozens of Texas districts saw a score adjusted on appeal, so a one- or two-point figure here may shift slightly before it is final. The 2025 column is final.
Some of the region-wide rise is the system settling, not just classroom gains. The A–F formula was overhauled in 2023 with tougher benchmarks and a redesigned STAAR test, which pushed many scores down that year. The last two cycles reflect districts adjusting to the new bar as much as raw improvement. Both are real; neither should be over-read from a single point of movement.
Five findings the ratings data surfaces
Read the table across rather than down and a few things stand out that a single letter grade hides.
Finding 1 — The corridor is broadly improving, not stagnant
Fifteen of 24 districts gained points, six held, and only three slipped — none by more than two. Movement at the bottom is the real signal: Seguin and Judson both broke a multi-year D, and Georgetown, Austin, and Pflugerville each crossed from a C into a B. A region-wide lift at the lower and middle of the scale is harder to dismiss as noise than a few top districts nudging higher.
Finding 2 — The biggest movers aren't the highest scorers
Lockhart added the most points in the region at +6, and Fredericksburg added five — yet neither is near the top of the table. Boerne, the region's only A, didn't move at all. For a buyer, a district climbing fast can signal rising demand before prices fully adjust, while a settled A often already carries its premium.
Finding 3 — A "Seguin schools" answer depends on which Seguin
The city of Seguin touches three districts with three different grades: Seguin ISD at C (70), Navarro ISD at B (84), and Marion ISD at B (83). A buyer told "Seguin schools are a C" is getting a third of the picture. The same split applies to New Braunfels, Cedar Park, and Leander — the district serving an address can change street to street.
Finding 4 — Only three districts slipped, and all held their letter
Johnson City (−2), Leander (−1), and Hutto (−1) were the only decliners, and none dropped a full grade — Johnson City and Leander stayed B, Hutto stayed C. In a year where the state tightened its bar, holding a letter while dipping a point or two is a materially different story from a genuine downgrade.
Finding 5 — A district letter is an average, not a campus grade
Every rating here is a system-wide average. A B-rated district can hold an A-rated flagship high school, and a C district can have standout elementary campuses. If schools are a deciding factor, the district letter is a starting point — the specific attendance zone for your address is the number that matters.
Why a rising rating matters for what your home is worth
Here is where this stops being a schools story and becomes a real estate one. Decades of housing research point the same direction: school quality gets priced into homes. The National Association of REALTORS® reports that more than half of buyers with children under 18 call school district quality an important factor in choosing a neighborhood — and because family buyers are such a large share of active demand, their preferences move local prices. Homes in above-average districts also tend to sell faster and draw more interest than comparable homes in lower-rated areas.
But the number that matters most isn't the current letter grade — it's the direction. A district climbing from a C to a B, the way Georgetown, Austin, and Pflugerville just did, is often a better signal than one that has sat at an A for years. Rising ratings tend to precede rising demand, which precedes rising prices. Buyers who move into an improving district early can capture that appreciation instead of paying full freight for a reputation already baked into the list price.
The flip side, said plainly. Don't overpay chasing a letter. Highly-rated districts already carry a price premium — nationally, homes in the very top districts can list well above their surrounding metro — and a single methodology change can move a grade a point or two in either direction. A rating is one input into a home decision, not the decision. Weigh it against price, commute, taxes, and the specific campus your address feeds, not the district average.
Which district serves your community?
The TEA rates districts, not towns — and several Texas Home Talk communities span more than one district, with different grades on each side of a line. Confirm the assignment at your specific address at TXschools.gov before you rely on it.
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Community | School district(s) |
|---|---|
| Bastrop | Bastrop ISD |
| Boerne | Boerne ISD |
| Buda | Hays CISD |
| Bulverde | Comal ISD |
| Canyon Lake | Comal ISD |
| Cedar Park | Leander ISD & Round Rock ISD |
| Cibolo | Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD |
| Converse | Judson ISD |
| Dripping Springs | Dripping Springs ISD |
| Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg ISD |
| Georgetown | Georgetown ISD |
| Hutto | Hutto ISD |
| Johnson City | Johnson City ISD |
| Kyle | Hays CISD |
| Leander | Leander ISD & Liberty Hill ISD |
| Liberty Hill | Liberty Hill ISD |
| Lockhart | Lockhart ISD |
| Marble Falls | Marble Falls ISD |
| New Braunfels | New Braunfels ISD & Comal ISD |
| Pflugerville | Pflugerville ISD |
| Round Rock | Round Rock ISD |
| San Marcos | San Marcos CISD |
| Schertz | Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD |
| Seguin | Seguin ISD, Navarro ISD & Marion ISD |
| Universal City | Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD |
| Wimberley | Wimberley ISD |
Source. District boundaries per the Texas Education Agency and county appraisal district records. Community-to-district mapping compiled by Texas Home Talk; verify the exact attendance zone for any specific address at TXschools.gov.
What the A–F grade actually measures
The TEA's rating blends three domains: Student Achievement (STAAR performance and, for high schools, college, career, and military readiness), School Progress (year-over-year growth and performance versus similar campuses), and Closing the Gaps (how well a district serves every student group). A single letter is a useful starting point — not a verdict on any individual campus. If you are weighing a move around schools, look past the district letter to the campuses your address feeds, and to the trend line over the last few years.
Researching a move around schools?
Start with the community that fits your life, then verify the district at your exact address. Our community guides break down neighborhoods, commutes, and what it's really like to live there.
Browse the communities mapFrequently asked questions
Which Central Texas school districts improved the most in 2026?
Lockhart ISD posted the largest gain among districts serving Texas Home Talk communities, adding six points to reach a 79. Fredericksburg ISD added five to reach 89. Five districts jumped a full letter grade — Georgetown, Austin, and Pflugerville rose from a C to a B, while Seguin and Judson climbed out of a multi-year D into a C.
Do school district ratings affect home values?
Yes. Decades of housing research show school quality gets priced into homes. The National Association of REALTORS® reports more than half of buyers with children under 18 name school district quality an important factor in choosing a neighborhood, and homes in above-average districts tend to sell faster. Just as important is the district's direction — a district improving from a C to a B can signal rising demand before prices fully adjust, while a top-rated district often already carries a premium.
Are the 2026 TEA ratings final?
No. The 2026 ratings released in August are preliminary. Districts can appeal, and the state finalizes scores after a review window that typically closes in late fall. In the prior cycle, dozens of Texas districts had a score adjusted on appeal, so figures can shift slightly. The 2025 ratings used for comparison here are final.
Why does one community show more than one school district?
The TEA rates school districts, not cities, and several Central Texas communities span more than one district. Seguin, for example, touches Seguin ISD, Navarro ISD, and Marion ISD — each with a different rating. New Braunfels, Cedar Park, and Leander are also split. Because school assignment can change street to street, always verify the district at your specific address at TXschools.gov before making an offer.
Which district serves my community?
Most Texas Home Talk communities map to a single district — for example, Boerne to Boerne ISD, Buda and Kyle to Hays CISD, and Cibolo, Schertz, and Universal City to Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. Split communities include New Braunfels (New Braunfels and Comal ISDs), Cedar Park (Leander and Round Rock ISDs), Leander (Leander and Liberty Hill ISDs), and Seguin (Seguin, Navarro, and Marion ISDs). Confirm at the address at TXschools.gov.
Local professionals serving these communities
Texas Home Talk features a limited number of vetted local real estate professionals in each community.
2026 TEA Ratings in Central Texas: The Short Version
The 2026 TEA ratings in Central Texas point in one direction: up. Across the 24 districts serving Texas Home Talk communities, 15 gained points, six held flat, and three slipped by a point or two. Among the 2026 TEA ratings Central Texas families are watching most, five districts jumped a full letter grade — Georgetown, Austin, and Pflugerville into B, and Seguin and Judson out of a multi-year D into C.
Because school ratings get priced into homes, these Central Texas school ratings 2026 matter for buyers and sellers, not just parents. A district's trajectory often signals more than its current letter: rising ratings tend to precede rising demand and prices, so an improving district can be a better value than one already carrying a top-tier premium. Just don't overpay chasing a grade — ratings are one input among price, taxes, and commute.
Because the TEA accountability ratings grade districts rather than towns, several communities — New Braunfels, Cedar Park, Leander, and Seguin — span multiple Central Texas school districts with different grades, so verify school assignment at the address before you rely on any single number.
Compare nearby communities and dig deeper with these Texas Home Talk guides: Living in New Braunfels, Texas, Living in Georgetown, Texas, and Living in Seguin, Texas. You can also browse every market we cover on the Texas Home Talk communities map.
For the official source data, see the TEA TXschools.gov ratings portal and the TEA 2026 ratings release.