Moving to Austin: School Enrollment & Child Care (2026)

Key Insights

Public school assignment follows the address. In Austin ISD, K–12 residents are guaranteed a seat at their zoned school and enroll through Enroll Austin.^[1]
TEA publishes official A–F ratings for every district and campus on txschools.gov, which also has an address search. The 2026 ratings covered 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses.^[2]
Child care programs are licensed by Texas HHS. Search Texas Child Care shows each operation's permit and five years of inspection and compliance history.^[3]^[4]
Many metro districts serve the area: Austin, Eanes, Lake Travis, Leander, Round Rock, Dripping Springs, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hays, and others. City limits and school district lines often don't match.

Quick Snapshot of the Austin Area

Climate: Summers are long and hot. Public pools, splash pads, and shaded parks get heavy use from May through September. See our Austin splash pads and public pools guide.
Cost of living: Housing costs vary widely between central Austin and surrounding cities. Compare using our Austin cost of living guide and U.S. Census Bureau data.^[5]
Parks: The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department runs parks, pools, trails, and recreation centers.^[6]

Step 1: Find the Zoned Public School for Any Address

Before you make an offer, confirm which campuses serve the address. Don't rely on the listing remarks.

Austin ISD: Enter the address in the AISD School Finder.^[7]
Other districts: Each district has its own boundary lookup: Eanes ISD boundary map/SchoolSearch,^[17] Lake Travis ISD's address tool on its new-student enrollment page,^[18] Leander ISD Attendance Zones,^[19] Round Rock ISD School Boundaries,^[20] and Dripping Springs ISD (attendance-zone map on the district site).^[21] You can also search an address on txschools.gov.^[2]
Watch for changes. Districts redraw boundaries and consolidate campuses. For example, the Austin ISD board voted 7–2 on July 30, 2026 to close Paredes Middle School and reassign its students to Bailey or Mendez middle schools by address, pending TEA approval.^[8]

Step 2: Check Official TEA Ratings

TEA's A–F system is one data point to compare alongside programs, campus visits, and your own priorities.^[9] 2026 district ratings for commonly searched Austin-area districts:

District	2026 TEA rating	Source
Eanes ISD (West Lake Hills area)	A (94)	^[10]
Lake Travis ISD (Lakeway area)	A (91)	^[10]
Round Rock ISD	B (89)	^[11]
Dripping Springs ISD	B (89)	^[12]
Leander ISD (includes much of Cedar Park)	B (87)	^[11]
Austin ISD (includes Circle C and Mueller)	B (81)	^[11]
Pflugerville ISD	B (81)	^[11]
Georgetown ISD	B (80)	^[11]
Hutto ISD	C (75)	^[11]
Manor ISD	D (66)	^[11]
Del Valle ISD	D (66)	^[11]

Some cities are split across school districts. Always check by address.

Explore listings by area: West Lake Hills · Circle C Ranch · Mueller · Cedar Park · Round Rock · Lakeway · Lake Travis · Dripping Springs · Central Austin

Step 3: Enroll: Documents and Timeline

Austin ISD's Enrollment 101 page lists what to gather:^[1]

Student's birth certificate or other proof of identity
Immunization records (Texas school vaccine requirements are published by DSHS)^[13]
Withdrawal form or last report card from the previous school
Parent or guardian photo ID
Proof of guardianship, if applicable
Proof of residency (such as a lease, closing documents, or a utility bill)

Timing: Students re-register every year. For returning students, Austin ISD accepts only a current (within 45 days) electric bill, gas bill, lease, or mortgage statement for the primary residence as proof of residency.^[1] If you're buying, ask the district what it accepts before closing.

Alternatives: Charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling are also options. See homeschool options in Texas.

Step 4: Look Up Licensed Child Care

Use Search Texas Child Care (Texas HHS) to search by address, ZIP, or provider name.^[3]
Each operation's page shows its license type, capacity, and five years of inspection and compliance history. HHS publishes a guide to reading these results.^[4]
Texas Workforce Commission runs child care financial assistance and quality programs (Texas Rising Star).^[14]
Ask each provider about waitlists and start your search early.

Step 5: Parks, Pools, and Recreation

City parks and recreation centers are listed by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.^[6] Surrounding cities run their own parks departments, for example Round Rock Parks and Recreation^[22] and Pflugerville Parks & Recreation.^[23]
Big public parks include Zilker Metropolitan Park, Circle C Metropolitan Park, Mueller Lake Park, Brushy Creek Lake Park (Williamson County), and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.
Water: Our family swimming spots in Austin and Dripping Springs swimming hole guides.
Weekends: Austin farmers markets, downtown coffee shops, and kids' activities in Downtown Austin.
Lake areas: Neighborhoods for lake living.

Step 6: Map Commutes and Routines

Map a real weekday: work, school drop-off and pickup, child care, and activities.
Test those drive times at rush hour. Downtown Austin, North/Northwest Austin tech corridors, and suburban job centers pull traffic in different directions.
Check CapMetro service near the address.^[15] See Austin public transportation.

Relocation Checklist

☐ Confirm the zoned campuses for each address you're considering^[7]
☐ Look up campus and district ratings on txschools.gov^[2]
☐ Gather enrollment documents and immunization records^[1]^[13]
☐ Search licensed child care and read inspection histories^[3]
☐ Decide whether to rent first or buy (rent vs. buy in Austin)
☐ Budget for property taxes (Austin property tax rate)
☐ Tour homes that match your bedroom, yard, and commute needs

FAQs

How do I find which school a house is zoned to? Use the district's address lookup (Austin ISD School Finder) or search the address on txschools.gov.^[7]^[2] Confirm again before closing, because boundaries can change.

When can I enroll if I'm still under contract? Policies vary by district. Austin ISD requires proof of residency (a current utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement for returning students), so call the district's enrollment office to ask what it accepts before closing.^[1]

How do I check a daycare's inspection record? Search the provider on Search Texas Child Care. Each listing shows five years of compliance history.^[3]^[4]

Are there alternatives to traditional public schools? Yes: charter, private, and homeschool options. See homeschool options in Texas.

Is it possible to live car-light in Austin? In some central areas, yes. Walk Scores range widely across the city (citywide 42).^[16] See walkable Austin neighborhoods.

How can a local agent help with a relocation? We can build a home search around your bedroom count, lot size, commute, and the specific schools you've researched, and coordinate tours around your moving timeline. We don't choose neighborhoods for you based on who lives there.

The Bottom Line

A smooth move to Austin comes down to a few checks: the zoned school for each address, its official rating, enrollment paperwork, licensed child care, and a commute you've tested. Do these before you choose a home.

Talk to a Spyglass Agent

Share your timeline, budget, and must-have home features, and we'll help you plan the search. Talk to a Spyglass Agent · Relocation services

Disclaimer: General information only; not legal advice. School boundaries, ratings, and enrollment rules change. Verify with the district and TEA. Spyglass Realty supports the Fair Housing Act and does not steer buyers toward or away from any area based on familial status or any other protected characteristic.

Spyglass Realty and Investment, LLC | TREC License #588051 | Designated Broker: Ryan Rodenbeck, TREC License #528651

Sources

Austin ISD, "Enrollment 101." https://www.austinisd.org/enroll/enrollment-101 ; enrollment hub https://www.austinisd.org/enroll (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas Education Agency, 2026 A–F release (Aug. 14, 2026). https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/newsroom/tea-releases-2026-f-accountability-ratings-txschoolsgov ; https://txschools.gov/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas HHS, Search Texas Child Care. https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/ChildCareSearch (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas HHS, "Understanding Minimum Standards and the Search Texas Child Care Website" (PDF). https://www.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/understanding-minimum-standards-and-search-tx-child-care-website.pdf (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
U.S. Census Bureau, Austin city profile. https://data.census.gov/profile/Austin_city%2C_Texas?g=160XX00US4805000 (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
City of Austin Parks and Recreation. https://www.austintexas.gov/department/parks-and-recreation (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Austin ISD School Finder. https://www.austinisd.org/school-finder (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Community Impact, "Paredes Middle School closes, students split to Bailey, Mendez" (vote July 30, 2026). https://communityimpact.com/east-austin/education/paredes-middle-school-closes-students-split-to-bailey-mendez/ ; KUT/Austin Current, July 31, 2026. https://www.kut.org/education/2026-07-31/austin-isd-trustees-vote-to-close-paredes-middle-school-just-weeks-before-school-starts (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas Education Agency, A–F Accountability. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/a-f-accountability (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Community Impact, "Check out TEA accountability ratings for school districts in Lake Travis, Westlake." https://communityimpact.com/lake-travis-westlake/education/check-out-tea-accountability-ratings-for-school-districts-in-lake-travis-westlake/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
CBS Austin, 2026 A–F school ratings for Central Texas. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-releases-2026-a-f-school-ratings-central-texas-school-districts-see-mixed-results (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
FOX 7 Austin, TEA school ratings breakdown. https://www.fox7austin.com/news/tea-school-ratings-breakdown-central-texas-school-districts (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas DSHS, School and Child Care immunization requirements. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/school (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Texas Workforce Commission, Child Care. https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/child-care (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
CapMetro. https://www.capmetro.org/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Walk Score, Austin. https://www.walkscore.com/TX/Austin (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Eanes ISD, Boundary Map. https://www.eanesisd.net/district/maps (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Lake Travis ISD, New Student Enrollment 2026–2027. https://www.ltisdschools.org/families/enrollment/new-student-enrollment-2026-2027 (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Leander ISD, Attendance Zones. https://www.leanderisd.org/attendancezones/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Round Rock ISD, School Boundaries. https://www.roundrockisd.org/page/school-boundaries-and-maps (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
Dripping Springs ISD. https://www.dsisdtx.us/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
City of Round Rock, Parks and Recreation. https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/ (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).
City of Pflugerville, Parks & Recreation. https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/parks (accessed Sept. 27, 2026).

Moving to Austin: How School Enrollment, Zoned Schools, Child Care Licensing, and Parks Work