Best Schools in Killeen, Texas
45 schools · 24 Elementary · 8 Middle · 8 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Killeen?
Use this page to compare every school in Killeen 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.
Maude Moore Wood EL
Elementary · Killeen ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pat Carney EL
Elementary · Killeen ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Clifton Park EL
Elementary · Killeen ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Killeen for 2026 are Maude Moore Wood EL (8.8/10), Pat Carney EL (8.7/10), and Clifton Park EL (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 36 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
45
39 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$183,200
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
45
39 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$183,200
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.3 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 Killeen schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Killeen schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Killeen
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (36 of 45). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maude Moore Wood EL | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Pat Carney EL | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Clifton Park EL | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Memorial Christian Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Pershing Park EL | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Killeen EL | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Cedar Valley EL | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Dr Joseph a Fowler EL | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Ira Cross JR EL | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Alice W Douse EL | 6.9 / 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
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $57,631
- Median home value
- $183,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Killeen compares
Texas rank
#536 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$58k
78% of Texas median
Schools in this city
38
About Schools in Killeen, Texas
Killeen, Texas offers parents 35 ranked public schools spread across a mid-range performance band. The city's average score sits at 5.8 out of 10 — a useful baseline that tells parents to look carefully at individual schools rather than assuming neighborhood assignments will land their child in a high performer.
The top tier is small but real. Only 5 schools — 14% of the ranked total — score 7 or above, making them meaningful standouts in a city this size. Cedar Valley Elementary leads the district at 7.7, followed closely by Iduma Elementary at 7.5 and Brookhaven Elementary at 7.4. Willow Springs Elementary (7.3) and Ira Cross Jr. Elementary (7.1) round out the top five. All five are elementary schools, which signals that Killeen's strongest academic environment tends to be at the earliest grade levels — a pattern parents of younger children can work to their advantage.
The concentration of top performers at the elementary level also raises a practical question: what happens after fifth or sixth grade? Parents who prioritize school quality should map out the feeder patterns from Cedar Valley and Iduma through to their middle and high school assignments. A strong start matters less if the transition drops students into schools well below the city average.
For military families — and Killeen's proximity to Fort Cavazos means there are many — the school landscape here is shaped by high mobility and the challenges that come with it. That context helps explain the 5.8 average, and it's worth factoring into school selection. Stability and teacher experience at a given campus carry extra weight when the student population turns over frequently.
Practically speaking, parents relocating to Killeen should filter school searches to the 7-plus tier first, check feeder patterns for continuity, and verify current enrollment availability — top elementary schools in cities with mobile populations can shift wait lists quickly. The gap between Killeen's best and its average is real: Cedar Valley scores 33% above the city mean, giving families who prioritize academics a clear target.
Elementary Schools
24 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 696 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 714 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 990 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 1,003 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 5 | 1,088 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 6 | 594 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 7 | 783 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 8 | 647 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 9 | 929 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 10 | 658 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
Show all 24 elementary schools in Killeen
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 1,280 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 683 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
| 4 | 1,022 students · 6th–8th | 4.1 |
| 5 | 716 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 6 | 687 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
| 7 | 759 students · 6th–8th | 2.8 |
| 8 | 627 students · 6th–8th | 2.4 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 353 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 2 | 34 students · 6th–12th | 5.2 |
| 3 | 97 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 4 | 2,258 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 |
| 5 | 1,687 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 |
| 6 | 2,166 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 |
| 7 | 122 students · 9th–12th | 3.3 |
| 8 | 1,953 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 students · 10th–10th | — | ||
| 2 | 12 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Memorial Christian Academy
Private
180 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | St Joseph Catholic Academy
Private
198 students · Pre-K–9th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | Killeen Adventist Junior Academy
Private
64 students · Kindergarten–10th | 6.3 | ||
Schools in Killeen
Killeen, Texas · 45 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$57,631
Median Home Value
$183,200
Median Rent
$1,044/mo
Population
163,651
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Community Profile
Killeen has a median household income of $57,631. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $183,200, with a median rent of $1,044/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 24
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 8
- Other
- 5
Resources
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 Killeen, Texas
How many schools are in Killeen, Texas?
Killeen has 45 schools, including 39 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Killeen, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Killeen is 5.5 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 Killeen, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Killeen on MySchoolScout is Maude Moore Wood EL with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Killeen, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Killeen on MySchoolScout is Maude Moore Wood EL with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Killeen, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Killeen on MySchoolScout is Roy J Smith Middle with a composite score of 6.5/10.
What is the best high school in Killeen, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Killeen on MySchoolScout is Pathways Academic Campus with a composite score of 5.3/10.
How many school districts serve Killeen, Texas?
Killeen is served by 4 school districts: Inspire Academies, Richard Milburn Alter High School (killeen), Belton ISD, Killeen ISD.
What is the education level in Killeen, Texas?
According to Census data, 21% of adults in Killeen have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Killeen, Texas?
The median household income in Killeen is approximately $57,631 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Killeen, Texas?
Yes, Killeen has 6 private schools alongside 39 public schools. The top-rated private school is Memorial Christian Academy with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Killeen, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Killeen 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 Killeen, 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
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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.