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Northwest Hills Austin neighborhood aerial for school district comparison

Hays CISD vs Dripping Springs ISD

Side-by-side comparison of two of Austin's top school districts. Academics, demographics, live MLS market context, and expert guidance.

Hays CISD

6/10

GreatSchools

89%

Grad Rate

$360K

12M SFR Median Sold

358 SFR sales

Dripping Springs ISD

Luxury

9/10

GreatSchools

98%

Grad Rate

$820K

12M SFR Median Sold

327 SFR sales

Hays CISD and Dripping Springs ISD are two of the most compared school districts in the Austin metro area. Hays CISD serves Kyle, Buda, Wimberley with a 6/10 GreatSchools rating, while Dripping Springs ISD covers Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Austin (78737) at 9/10. Use trailing-12-month single-family median sold price, price bands, active inventory, and recent sales-through to compare the real estate side of each school-zone decision.

“Families ask us about Hays CISD vs Dripping Springs ISDevery week. The answer depends on your priorities - commute time, home budget, campus culture, and extracurricular programs all matter. We walk families through the tradeoffs so there are no surprises after closing.”

- Joe Keenan, Keenan Group at Compass

Live Market Intelligence

Review Each District Guide

Use the full district pages to inspect school rosters, district-specific neighborhoods, and housing options before you decide between Hays CISD and Dripping Springs ISD.

Hays CISD vs Dripping Springs ISD - Side-by-Side

MetricHays CISDDripping Springs ISD
GreatSchools Rating (2025-26)6/109/10
Niche Grade (2025-26)BA+
Graduation Rate (2025-26)89%98%
Total Schools258
Total Students22,0008,517
Student-Teacher Ratio16:115:1
Avg SAT Score10501151
12M Single-Family Median Sold$360K$820K
Cities ServedKyle, Buda, WimberleyDripping Springs, Driftwood, Austin (78737)

Sources: GreatSchools.org, Niche.com, Texas Education Agency. Ratings as of the 2025-2026 school year. Market values use trailing-12-month single-family closed sales zoned to each district from the live MLS district market dataset, refreshed July 4, 2026.

District Intelligence

Compare School Districts

Side-by-side analysis of academics, demographics, and real estate value.

vs

Hays CISD

Kyle, Buda, Wimberley

6/10

GreatSchools

B

Niche

$360K

12M Median Sold

Lake Travis ISD

Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood

Luxury

9/10

GreatSchools

A+

Niche

$859K

12M Median Sold

Head-to-Head Comparison

GreatSchools Rating
6/10
Hays CISD
9/10
Lake Travis ISD
Niche Grade
B
Hays CISD
A+
Lake Travis ISD
Graduation Rate
89%
Hays CISD
98%
Lake Travis ISD
Student-Teacher RatioLower is better
16:1
Hays CISD
16:1
Lake Travis ISD
12M Median Sold
$360K
Hays CISD
$859K
Lake Travis ISD
Total Students
22,000
Hays CISD
11,230
Lake Travis ISD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hays CISD or Dripping Springs ISD better for families?

As of the 2025-2026 school year, Hays CISD has a 6/10 GreatSchools rating with a B Niche grade, while Dripping Springs ISD is rated 9/10 with a A+ Niche grade. Both are strong options; the right choice depends on school fit, budget, commute, lifestyle priorities, and live MLS market behavior.

What are home prices in Hays CISD vs Dripping Springs ISD?

Hays CISD has a live MLS trailing-12-month single-family median sold price of $360K, based on 358 closed sales zoned to Hays CISD, with active inventory currently at 29 listings. Dripping Springs ISD has a live MLS trailing-12-month single-family median sold price of $820K, based on 327 closed sales zoned to Dripping Springs ISD, with active inventory currently at 313 listings. Compare median price, price bands, active inventory, and sales-through rather than relying on a frozen average.

How do graduation rates compare between Hays CISD and Dripping Springs ISD?

As of the 2025-2026 school year, Hays CISD has a 89% graduation rate and Dripping Springs ISD has 98%. The Texas state average is 90.3%. Both districts exceed the state benchmark.

Which district has better schools, Hays CISD or Dripping Springs ISD?

Hays CISD has 25 schools serving 22,000 students, while Dripping Springs ISD has 8 schools serving 8,517 students. Dripping Springs ISD rates higher on GreatSchools (9/10 vs 6/10). Each district has individual campuses that stand out - visit the district pages for school-by-school breakdowns.

School Zone Plan

Move from district comparison to address-level confidence

A district matchup is only the first filter. Turn school, commute, neighborhood, and price tradeoffs into a plan before touring.

School Zone Strategy

Find Your Home in Hays CISD or Dripping Springs ISD

Our team helps families navigate Kyle and Dripping Springs real estate. Let us match your school priorities with the right home.

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Austin Team 2024

$1B+

Career Sales

25+

Years Experience

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Written by the Keenan Group - Joe Keenan and Cara Keenan, Austin's #1 real estate team (Austin Board of Realtors 2024). 25+ years, 1,000+ transactions, $1B+ career sales.

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