Best Schools in San Marcos, Texas
21 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in San Marcos?
Use this page to compare every school in San Marcos 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.
Southwest Texas High School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Rodriguez EL
Elementary · San Marcos CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Blanco Vista EL
Elementary · 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 San Marcos for 2026 are Southwest Texas High School (8.8/10), Rodriguez EL (8.6/10), and Blanco Vista EL (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
21
16 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$271,900
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
21
16 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$271,900
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 75% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 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 San Marcos schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +18.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Marcos schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Marcos
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (19 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Texas High School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Rodriguez EL | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Blanco Vista EL | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | San Marcos Baptist Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Crockett EL | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Miller Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Ki Charter Academy | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Hernandez EL | 6.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Wonderland School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Advent Ridge Academy | 6.2 / 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
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $55,478
- Median home value
- $271,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 35%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 38%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How San Marcos compares
Texas rank
#556 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$55k
75% of Texas median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos, Texas offers families a public school landscape of 15 ranked schools, with an average score of 5.9 out of 10 — a solid mid-range showing that spans meaningful performance differences across the city. Parents will find real options at the top end: 4 schools, or 27% of all ranked schools, score 7 or higher, giving families with school choice access to consistently strong performers.
The highest-rated school in San Marcos is Texas Preparatory School, an elementary program scoring 7.9 out of 10 — the clearest standout in the city. Right behind it are Hernandez Elementary (7.5) and Travis Elementary (7.4), both within a half-point of each other and well above the city average. Texas Preparatory School's Austin Campus rounds out the top tier at 7.1, followed by Blanco Vista Elementary at 6.6. Parents targeting the upper end of the performance range have a cluster of five elementary schools concentrated above the 6.5 mark.
The city average of 5.9 suggests that while strong options exist, performance drops off noticeably below the top quarter of schools. With 11 of 15 ranked schools scoring below 7, the gap between the city's top performers and its typical school is substantial. Families who cannot access school choice programs or are limited by geography should look closely at individual school scores rather than assuming the district average represents their options.
Practically speaking, San Marcos skews heavily toward elementary-level rankings in the top tier — all five of the leading schools are elementary programs. Parents with middle or high school-aged children should examine those school profiles directly, as the top-school data does not reflect upper-grade options. For younger children, proximity to Texas Preparatory School or Hernandez Elementary represents the strongest starting point in the city. The 27% rate of high-scoring schools is competitive for a smaller Texas city, and families willing to prioritize school selection during neighborhood or housing decisions will find the effort worthwhile.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 436 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 718 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 487 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 531 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 5 | 540 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 |
| 6 | 591 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.7 |
| 7 | 577 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.2 |
| 8 | 61 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.1 |
| 9 | 470 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.1 |
| 10 | 37 students · Kindergarten–6th | 2.2 |
Show all 12 elementary schools in San Marcos
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 908 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 867 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,494 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 | ||
| 2 | 28 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| 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 | Southwest Texas High School
Private
101 students · 8th–12th | 8.8 | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 194 students · 2nd–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 410 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.8 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | San Marcos Baptist Academy
Private
296 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | Advent Ridge Academy
Private
47 students · Pre-K–10th | 6.2 | ||
Schools in San Marcos
San Marcos, Texas · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$55,478
Median Home Value
$271,900
Median Rent
$1,294/mo
Population
87,775
College Educated
35%
Homeownership
38%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
23.3%
Community Profile
San Marcos has a median household income of $55,478. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $271,900, with a median rent of $1,294/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 4
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 San Marcos, Texas
How many schools are in San Marcos, Texas?
San Marcos has 21 schools, including 16 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in San Marcos, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in San Marcos 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 San Marcos, Texas?
The top-ranked school in San Marcos on MySchoolScout is Southwest Texas High School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in San Marcos, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in San Marcos on MySchoolScout is Rodriguez EL with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in San Marcos, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in San Marcos on MySchoolScout is Miller Middle with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in San Marcos, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in San Marcos on MySchoolScout is Southwest Texas High School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve San Marcos, Texas?
San Marcos is served by 5 school districts: Hays CISD, Inspire Academies, Texas Preparatory School, Ki Charter, San Marcos CISD.
What is the education level in San Marcos, Texas?
According to Census data, 35% of adults in San Marcos have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in San Marcos, Texas?
The median household income in San Marcos is approximately $55,478 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in San Marcos, Texas?
Yes, San Marcos has 5 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is Southwest Texas High School with a score of 8.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in San Marcos, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in San Marcos is 11.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in San Marcos, 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
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- 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.