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Keenan Group
Northwest Hills Austin neighborhood aerial for school district comparison

Hays CISD vs Lake Travis 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

Lake Travis ISD

Luxury

9/10

GreatSchools

98%

Grad Rate

$859K

12M SFR Median Sold

535 SFR sales

Hays CISD and Lake Travis 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 Lake Travis ISD covers Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood 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 Lake Travis 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 Lake Travis ISD.

Hays CISD vs Lake Travis ISD - Side-by-Side

MetricHays CISDLake Travis ISD
GreatSchools Rating (2025-26)6/109/10
Niche Grade (2025-26)BA+
Graduation Rate (2025-26)89%98%
Total Schools2511
Total Students22,00011,230
Student-Teacher Ratio16:116:1
Avg SAT Score10501154
12M Single-Family Median Sold$360K$859K
Cities ServedKyle, Buda, WimberleyLakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood

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 Lake Travis 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 Lake Travis 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 Lake Travis 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. Lake Travis ISD has a live MLS trailing-12-month single-family median sold price of $859K, based on 535 closed sales zoned to Lake Travis ISD, with active inventory currently at 586 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 Lake Travis ISD?

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

Which district has better schools, Hays CISD or Lake Travis ISD?

Hays CISD has 25 schools serving 22,000 students, while Lake Travis ISD has 11 schools serving 11,230 students. Lake Travis 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 Lake Travis ISD

Our team helps families navigate Kyle and Lakeway 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

Why Choose the #1 Austin Board Team

#1 ABoR Team 20241,000+ Career SalesLuxury Specialist

#1 Austin Board of Realtors Team. Over 1,000 successful transactions with high-end expertise.

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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