Best Schools in Buda, Texas
14 schools · 7 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Buda?
Use this page to compare every school in Buda by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Elm Grove EL
Elementary · Hays CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Carpenter Hill EL
Elementary · Hays CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
R C Barton Middle
Middle · Hays CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Buda for 2026 are Elm Grove EL (8.6/10), Carpenter Hill EL (8.4/10), and R C Barton Middle (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 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.
Schools
14
in this city
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$379,300
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
14
in this city
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$379,300
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 52% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Buda schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Buda schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Buda
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elm Grove EL | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Carpenter Hill EL | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | R C Barton Middle | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Eric Dahlstrom Middle | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Ralph Pfluger EL | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Jack C Hays H S | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Buda EL | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Tom Green EL | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Moe and Gene Johnson H S | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Alter Impact Ctr | 4.7 / 10 |
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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $110,417
- Median home value
- $379,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 42%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 80%
54% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Buda compares
Texas rank
#290 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$110k
149% of Texas median
Schools in this city
13
About Schools in Buda, Texas
Buda, Texas is home to 14 schools, including 14 public schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.7 out of 10, schools in Buda show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Buda is Elm Grove EL with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Buda is served by 3 school districts: HAYS CISD, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, DORAL ACADEMY OF TEXAS. These districts collectively serve 24,168 students.
Buda's community shows 42% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $110,417. The poverty rate in the area is 5.7%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 703 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 597 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 3 | 751 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 4 | 346 students · Pre-K–7th | 7.4 |
| 5 | 589 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 793 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 7 | 594 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 841 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 873 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 22 students · 3rd–8th | — |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,191 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 2,802 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 194 students · 9th–12th | 2.4 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79 students · 4th–12th | 4.7 |
Schools in Buda
Buda, Texas · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$110,417
Median Home Value
$379,300
Median Rent
$1,736/mo
Population
46,685
College Educated
42%
Homeownership
80%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Community Profile
Buda has a median household income of $110,417. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $379,300, with a median rent of $1,736/month. The local poverty rate of 5.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
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 rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Buda, Texas
How many schools are in Buda, Texas?
Buda has 14 schools, including 14 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Buda, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Buda is 6.7 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 Buda, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Buda on MySchoolScout is Elm Grove EL with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Buda, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Buda on MySchoolScout is Elm Grove EL with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Buda, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Buda on MySchoolScout is R C Barton Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Buda, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Buda on MySchoolScout is Jack C Hays H S with a composite score of 7.0/10.
How many school districts serve Buda, Texas?
Buda is served by 3 school districts: Hays CISD, University of Texas University Charter School, Doral Academy of Texas.
What is the education level in Buda, Texas?
According to Census data, 42% of adults in Buda have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Buda, Texas?
The median household income in Buda is approximately $110,417 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Buda, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Buda is 14.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Buda, 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.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.