Choosing between public and private schools in West Austin comes down to what your family values most: the strength of a top-rated district like Eanes ISD or Lake Travis ISD, or the flexibility and specialization of schools like St. Andrew's Episcopal, Regents School, or St. Gabriel's Catholic. Both paths produce strong outcomes in this part of Austin. West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia works with families making this decision every month and sees how it shapes which neighborhoods they target, which homes they tour, and what they're willing to pay. The school decision and the home decision are the same decision.
West Austin School Data (2025-2026 School Year):
- Eanes ISD: A-rated by TEA, 96%+ graduation rate, average SAT scores above state and national averages
- Lake Travis ISD: A-rated by TEA, 95%+ graduation rate, enrollment growing ~3% annually
- St. Andrew's Episcopal: Pre-K through 12th, ~900 students, tuition ranges from ~$24K (lower school) to ~$32K (upper school)
- Regents School of Austin: Pre-K through 12th, classical Christian curriculum, tuition ranges ~$12K-$22K
- St. Gabriel's Catholic: Pre-K through 8th, ~400 students, tuition ~$10K-$14K
Why Does the School Decision Change Which Home You Buy?
I sat across from a couple relocating from Denver last spring. They had a $2.2M budget and wanted four bedrooms, a pool, and "good schools." That phrase does a lot of heavy lifting. When I asked what "good schools" actually meant to them, the answer took twenty minutes. She wanted a school small enough that teachers knew her son by name. He wanted a district with a competitive lacrosse program. Those two priorities pointed to completely different zip codes.
Sellers say: "We picked this house for the schools."
Translation: They picked the neighborhood for the school, then found a house that worked. The house was second.
That order matters more than most buyers realize. A family committed to Eanes ISD is shopping in Westlake, Rollingwood, Lost Creek, Barton Creek, or Rob Roy. A family committed to St. Andrew's Episcopal has a wider geographic radius because admission isn't tied to an address. The school choice either narrows or widens the search, and getting that wrong at the start wastes months.
What Makes Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD Worth the Property Tax Premium?
Most buyers who relocate to West Austin start with the assumption that public schools here are "fine" and private schools are "better." That assumption doesn't hold in this market.
Eanes ISD consistently ranks among the top 5 public school districts in Texas. Westlake High School sends graduates to UT, Rice, Stanford, and Ivy League programs every year. The district runs on a tax base anchored by $1.5M-$10M+ homes, which funds facilities, technology, and teacher retention that most private schools in the region struggle to match. Class sizes at Eanes elementary campuses average 18-20 students. Bridge Point and Hill Country Galleria elementaries regularly score in the top 1% statewide.
Lake Travis ISD covers Bee Cave, Lakeway, and the Lake Pointe corridor. It is growing faster than Eanes but investing heavily in new campuses and teacher hiring. Bee Cave Elementary and Lake Travis High School both carry TEA A-ratings. For families who want the lake lifestyle without sacrificing school quality, Lake Travis ISD is the answer.
The property tax premium is real. Homes inside Eanes ISD boundaries often carry a $100K-$200K premium over comparable homes just outside the district line. But families who buy inside Eanes rarely regret it at resale. That district premium holds.
When Does a Private School Make More Sense Than Eanes or Lake Travis?
Private school makes sense in West Austin when what your child needs doesn't fit a district template.
St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Southwest Austin is the prestige pick. The campus sits on 36 acres, the student-to-teacher ratio hovers around 8:1, and the upper school offers AP, honors, and independent study tracks that let high-achievers move at their own pace. Families at St. Andrew's tend to be professionals who want a smaller community with a specific academic culture. The tradeoff: tuition runs $24K-$32K per year, and admission is competitive.
Regents School of Austin offers a classical Christian education, heavy on rhetoric, logic, Latin, and original-source texts. It is a fundamentally different educational philosophy, not just a smaller version of public school. Families who choose Regents are usually making a values-driven decision, not a ranking-driven one.
St. Gabriel's Catholic School in Northwest Austin serves Pre-K through 8th grade. Tuition is more accessible ($10K-$14K), class sizes are small, and the school has a strong neighborhood feel. For Catholic families or families who want a faith-integrated environment without the upper-school price tag, St. Gabriel's fills a gap.
I'll be honest: private school in West Austin is not automatically "better" than public school here. In many other cities, yes, there's a clear gap. In West Austin, the public districts are strong enough that families choosing private are usually choosing something different, not something higher-ranked.
How Does School Choice Affect Your Home's Resale Value?
You just read four paragraphs comparing school options and you're probably already sorting them against your budget. Here's the part most guides leave out: the school you choose today affects what your home is worth in seven years.
Homes zoned to Eanes ISD resell faster and hold value more consistently than comparable homes in non-rated or lower-rated districts. That's not opinion. Pull the comps in Rollingwood (Eanes ISD) versus a comparable home 2 miles east in 78704 (Austin ISD). The Eanes-zoned home will carry a measurable premium at resale, and it will sell in fewer days on market.
Private school families have more geographic flexibility, but they also don't get the resale boost that comes with a top-rated public district. If you're planning to sell in 5-7 years, the Eanes ISD address pays for itself. If you're planning to stay 15+ years and the school philosophy matters more than resale math, the private path makes sense.
7 Key Facts About Schools in West Austin
- Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD are both TEA A-rated districts, placing them in the top tier statewide
- Westlake High School (Eanes ISD) has a 96%+ graduation rate and sends students to top-25 universities nationally
- Lake Travis ISD enrollment has grown roughly 3% per year over the past five years, with new campuses keeping pace
- St. Andrew's Episcopal is the most selective private school in the West Austin corridor, with an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- Homes zoned to Eanes ISD carry a measurable resale premium over comparable homes outside the district boundary
- Regents School of Austin is the only classical Christian school in the West Austin area, drawing families from across the metro
- St. Gabriel's Catholic School offers the most accessible private school tuition in the West Austin corridor at $10K-$14K per year
Brandon's Take
When my wife and I were evaluating neighborhoods for our own family, the school question came first. Not "which house has the best kitchen" or "which lot has the most trees." Schools first. Everything else followed.
I work with a limited number of families each month, and I'd estimate 80% of them rank school quality as their top-two criteria. The ones who get this right make the decision once and don't look back. The ones who rush past it end up moving again in three years because the commute to the campus they actually wanted doesn't work.
My advice is specific: if you're moving to West Austin and your kids are elementary or middle school age, tour the public campus in person before you tour a single home. Walk the halls during a school day. Talk to parents in the pickup line. If that campus feels right, your home search just got a lot simpler. If it doesn't, then start the private school conversation, because that changes your neighborhood map entirely.
If you're a family weighing this decision and want someone who has walked this road personally, reach out at brandongalia.com/contact. I work with a small number of clients at a time, and this is exactly the kind of conversation I'm built for.
The school is not the backdrop. It's the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best public school district in West Austin?
Eanes ISD is widely considered the top public school district in West Austin, consistently earning TEA A-ratings and ranking among the top five districts statewide. West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia specializes in Eanes ISD neighborhoods including Westlake, Rollingwood, Lost Creek, and Barton Creek.
How much does private school cost in West Austin?
Private school tuition in West Austin ranges from approximately $10,000 per year at St. Gabriel's Catholic School to $32,000 per year for upper school at St. Andrew's Episcopal. Regents School of Austin falls in the middle at $12,000-$22,000 depending on grade level.
Does living in Eanes ISD affect home prices?
Yes. Homes zoned to Eanes ISD carry a consistent premium, often $100,000-$200,000 more than comparable homes just outside the district boundary. West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia with Lujo Realty can pull current comps to show the exact premium in any Eanes ISD neighborhood.
Is Lake Travis ISD as good as Eanes ISD?
Lake Travis ISD is TEA A-rated and ranks among the best districts in Texas. It offers strong academics, growing facilities, and championship athletics. The main differences are geographic (Bee Cave, Lakeway, and Lake Travis corridor) and price point (entry-level homes start lower than Eanes ISD).
What private schools are near Westlake and Barton Creek?
The top private schools near the Westlake and Barton Creek areas include St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Pre-K through 12th), Regents School of Austin (Pre-K through 12th, classical Christian), and St. Gabriel's Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th). West Austin Realtor Brandon Galia can help families evaluate how school choice shapes their home search.
Should I choose my school or my neighborhood first?
Choose the school first. The school decision determines which neighborhoods are on your list. Families committed to Eanes ISD will search in Westlake, Rollingwood, Lost Creek, or Barton Creek. Families choosing private school have a wider geographic range. Getting this order wrong wastes months of house hunting.
