Hays Consolidated Independent School District
B+Official accountability rating: B (Texas Education Agency A–F rating, 2024-25 school year).
TEA released the 2024 and 2025 A–F accountability ratings on August 15, 2025, the most recent official ratings after a two-year pause from litigation. The letter grades shown elsewhere on this page are indicative composite grades compiled from public data, not the state’s official rating; confirm any district or campus rating at txschools.gov.
Hays CISD serves approximately 22,000 students across a large swath of Hays County south and southwest of Austin, including the rapidly growing communities of Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley. The district has experienced explosive enrollment growth driven by the affordability of housing along the I-35 South corridor compared to central Austin. Hays CISD offers a solid education with a B+ rating, and the district has invested significantly in new campus construction to keep up with demand. While not as highly rated as neighboring Dripping Springs ISD, Hays CISD provides a practical option for families seeking affordable housing with access to Austin's job market and a growing suburban community with improving schools.
Top Schools
Negley Elementary
elementary SchoolDahlstrom Middle School
middle SchoolJohnson High School
high SchoolNeighborhoods in This District
Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is housing in the Hays CISD attendance zone?
Hays CISD covers some of the most affordable housing in the greater Austin area. The cities of Kyle and Buda along the I-35 South corridor offer single-family homes starting in the mid-$200,000s to low $300,000s, which is significantly less than homes in central Austin or the western Hill Country districts. This affordability has driven massive population growth in the area, particularly among young families and first-time homebuyers who want access to Austin's economy without the premium price tag.
Is Hays CISD improving its academic ratings?
Hays CISD has been working to improve academic outcomes across its campuses as the district grows. The district has invested in new instructional programs, teacher recruitment and retention initiatives, and technology infrastructure. Several campuses have seen rating improvements in recent years, and the addition of newer schools built to modern standards has helped raise the district's overall performance. However, the pace of enrollment growth presents ongoing challenges in maintaining small class sizes and consistent quality across all campuses.
What is the commute from Kyle or Buda to Austin for work?
The commute from Kyle or Buda to downtown Austin or the south Austin business corridors typically ranges from 25 to 45 minutes via I-35, though heavy traffic during peak hours can extend this to over an hour. The I-35 South corridor is one of the most congested stretches of highway in Central Texas due to rapid population growth in the area. Many employers in south Austin and along the I-35 corridor are within a more reasonable 15 to 30 minute drive. The planned expansion of I-35 and future commuter rail options may eventually improve commute times.