5.4 avg / 10

Best Schools in Abilene, Texas

40 schools · 20 Elementary · 8 Middle · 8 High · 4 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 35

Private: 5

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 5.4/10

Estimated Scores: 8%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Abilene?

Use this page to compare every school in Abilene by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High · Abilene ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Wylie ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Abilene for 2026 are Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science (9.1/10), Wylie West EL (8.5/10), and Wylie East EL (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science

Rates 9.1/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Abilene schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Stafford EL

STAAR proficiency rose +15.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Abilene schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Abilene

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (32 of 40). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science	9.1 / 10	High	+2.8	98th
2	Wylie West EL	8.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	90th
3	Wylie East EL	8.0 / 10	Elementary	+0.8	81th
4	Wylie East J H	7.9 / 10	Middle	+0.5	80th
5	Wylie West J H	7.1 / 10	Middle	-0.4	63th
6	St Johns Episcopal School	7.1 / 10	Elementary	—	74th
7	Wylie West Int	7.0 / 10	Elementary	-0.7	61th
8	Wylie H S	6.8 / 10	High	-1.0	57th
9	Woodson Center for Excellence	6.7 / 10	High	+2.2	57th
10	Kenley School	6.2 / 10	Middle	—	44th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.4/10
Median household income: $67,141
Median home value: $187,640
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27%
Avg commute: 16 min
Owner-occupied homes: 59%

How Abilene compares

Texas rank

#555 of 654

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.9

below Texas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$67k

90% of Texas median

Schools in this city

36

About Schools in Abilene, Texas

Abilene's public school system covers 32 ranked schools with an average score of 6.4 out of 10 — a solid mid-range that masks real variation across the city. Eleven schools, or 34% of the total, score 7 or above, meaning parents who research neighborhoods carefully can find above-average options without leaving city limits. The spread runs from schools near the bottom of the scale up to an 8.8, so where a family lives — or which schools they can access — matters considerably.

The clear standout is Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science, a high school scoring 8.8 out of 10 and the highest-ranked school in the city. Its focused STEM curriculum separates it from traditional comprehensive high schools. On the elementary side, Thomas Elementary scores 8.2 and Wylie West Elementary posts an 8.0, giving families in those attendance zones strong starting points. The Wylie cluster performs consistently — Wylie East Junior High scores 7.9 and Wylie West Intermediate lands at 7.7, making the Wylie feeder pattern one of the most coherent in Abilene from elementary through middle school.

For parents prioritizing academics at the high school level, Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science is the first school to investigate — its score sits well above the city's 6.4 average and reflects real performance outcomes. Families with younger children should look closely at the Wylie cluster and Thomas Elementary before settling on a neighborhood. With 21 of 32 schools scoring below 7.0, the gap between the top tier and the rest is real, and proximity alone does not guarantee quality.

Abilene gives parents meaningful options at every grade band, but the data rewards homework. Start with the 11 schools scoring 7 or above, map them against your target neighborhoods, and confirm enrollment eligibility before assuming a school is accessible. The city's top performers are concentrated — families who plan around them gain a significant advantage over those who rely on default assignments.

Filter by Level: All Levels (40) Elementary (20) Middle (8) High (8)

Filter by Type: All Types (40) Public (35) Private (5)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (40) Academics (32) Growth (28) Diversity (29) Resources (32)

Filter by ZIP: 79605 (10) 79606 (10) 79603 (8) 79602 (7) 79601 (5)

Elementary Schools

20 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Wylie West EL 623 students · Kindergarten–2nd	623	Kindergarten–2nd	8.5
2	Wylie East EL 796 students · Kindergarten–3rd	796	Kindergarten–3rd	8.0
3	Wylie West Int 465 students · 3rd–4th	465	3rd–4th	7.0
4	Wylie East Int 381 students · 4th–5th	381	4th–5th	5.8
5	Austin EL 699 students · Pre-K–5th	699	Pre-K–5th	5.5
6	Ward EL 473 students · Pre-K–5th	473	Pre-K–5th	5.5
7	Thomas EL 389 students · Kindergarten–5th	389	Kindergarten–5th	5.5
8	Stafford EL 458 students · Pre-K–5th	458	Pre-K–5th	5.4
9	Bowie EL 478 students · Pre-K–5th	478	Pre-K–5th	5.3
10	Dyess EL 592 students · Pre-K–5th	592	Pre-K–5th	5.3

Show all 20 elementary schools in Abilene

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Bassetti EL Martinez EL Bonham EL Alcorta EL Taylor EL Purcell EL Ortiz EL St Johns Episcopal School Private Cornerstone Christian School Private Abilene Junior Academy Private

Middle Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Wylie East J H 552 students · 6th–8th	552	6th–8th	7.9
2	Wylie West J H 989 students · 5th–8th	989	5th–8th	7.1
3	Craig Middle 757 students · 6th–8th	757	6th–8th	4.1
4	Clack Middle 740 students · 6th–8th	740	6th–8th	3.9
5	Madison Middle 778 students · 6th–8th	778	6th–8th	3.8
6	Mann Middle 759 students · 6th–8th	759	6th–8th	3.6
7	Taylor County Learning Center 8 students · 5th–11th	8	5th–11th	—
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Kenley School Private 39 students · 1st–8th	39	1st–8th	6.2

High Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science 386 students · 9th–12th	386	9th–12th	9.1
2	Wylie H S 1,517 students · 9th–12th	1,517	9th–12th	6.8
3	Woodson Center for Excellence 149 students · 7th–12th	149	7th–12th	6.7
4	Abilene H S 1,903 students · 9th–12th	1,903	9th–12th	5.3
5	Cooper H S 1,596 students · 9th–12th	1,596	9th–12th	5.1
6	Daep 96 students · 6th–12th	96	6th–12th	3.2
7	Juvenile Detention Center 14 students · 7th–12th	14	7th–12th	—
8	Oceans Behavioral Health 7 students · 7th–12th	7	7th–12th	—

Other Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Wylie West Early Childhood Center 184 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	184	Pre-K–Pre-K	4.3
2	Long Early Learning Center 751 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	751	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.7
3	Crockett Early Headstart 132 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	132	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.3
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Abilene Christian Schools Private 380 students · Pre-K–12th	380	Pre-K–12th	4.0

Schools in Abilene

Abilene, Texas · 40 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes

Median Income

$67,141

Median Home Value

$187,640

Median Rent

$1,075/mo

Population

135,066

College Educated

27%

Homeownership

59%

Avg Commute

16 min

Poverty Rate

14.9%

Community Profile

Abilene has a median household income of $67,141. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $187,640, with a median rent of $1,075/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.9%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 16 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Texas
Elementary: 20
Middle: 8
High: 8
Other: 4

Resources

🔍 Google "Abilene schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Abilene 📊 Niche Abilene Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

ABILENE ISD

28 schools · 14,652 students

WYLIE ISD

8 schools · 5,507 students

Nearby Cities

Lewisville (1 school)

1 mi

San Angelo (1 school)

Other Major Cities in Texas

Top metros statewide by school count.

Houston 899 schools San Antonio 616 schools Dallas 480 schools Austin 339 schools Fort Worth 288 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Abilene, Texas

How many schools are in Abilene, Texas?

Abilene has 40 schools, including 35 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Abilene, Texas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Abilene is 5.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Abilene, Texas?

The top-ranked school in Abilene on MySchoolScout is Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Abilene, Texas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Abilene on MySchoolScout is Wylie West EL with a composite score of 8.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Abilene, Texas?

The top-ranked middle school in Abilene on MySchoolScout is Wylie East J H with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best high school in Abilene, Texas?

The top-ranked high school in Abilene on MySchoolScout is Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science with a composite score of 9.1/10.

How many school districts serve Abilene, Texas?

Abilene is served by 2 school districts: Abilene ISD, Wylie ISD.

What is the education level in Abilene, Texas?

According to Census data, 27% of adults in Abilene have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Abilene, Texas?

The median household income in Abilene is approximately $67,141 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Abilene, Texas?

Yes, Abilene has 5 private schools alongside 35 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Johns Episcopal School with a score of 7.1/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Abilene, Texas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Abilene is 14.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Abilene, Texas?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.