The 9 Largest Schools In Austin Are Massive

Austin, Texas is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. According to the City's website, Austin was first settled in the early 1830s when it was still part of Mexico. By 1839, the city changed its name from Waterloo to Austin after Stephen F. Austin who is known as the “Father of Texas.”

Not only is this city known for its delicious eats and music scene (hence its nickname of the Live Music Capital of the World), but it's also home to several highly populated and large schools. Additionally, Austin is unique as the city lives at the intersection of three different counties: Travis, Hays, and Williamson. Most of the local schools are a part of the Austin Independent School District, but the Round Rock Independent School District is also home to many large and quality school options.

While the Austin school district may seem significant by the numbers and land it covers, the schools in the area also have an immense amount of opportunities they can offer to their students. Here's everything you need to know about the largest schools in Austin, Texas.

University of Texas at Austin

Main Building: 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78705

While many colleges exist in the Austin area, the University of Texas at Austin has the highest enrollment by far. According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the enrollment hovers around 50,000 students each year. Known as the Longhorns, UT Austin is ranked as the number one public university in Texas as well as a top 40 world university. Additionally, the college has a rich history as it was founded in 1883 and currently offers over 170 fields of study and 18 different colleges and schools. If you're looking for diversity and options in your child's college journey, UT Austin is a great place to visit.

UT Austin in the News!

The university ecosystem in Texas has had its ups, downs, and even sideways times and events. UT Austin is no different. Both good and bad, this university has made several headlines at the time of writing in 2023. Check out some recent stories surrounding UT Austin.

UT Austin Creates a Writers’ Retreat at Former John Steinbeck's Home on the East Coast (July 25th, 2023)

Researchers at UT Austin found genes that determine bone shape in humans (July 20th, 2023)

Researchers dive into the role social media played in the 2020 governmental elections (July 27th, 2023)

Austin Community College

6101 Highland Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78752

Austin Community College is the number one transfer college in the state of Texas. With low tuition costs and a plethora of online classes available to students, this college is known for its commitment to higher education and technical opportunities. Additionally, according to their website, the total annual enrollment is about 70,000 students each year spread out over 11 campuses with 100 programs of study. With these numbers, it's obvious the “Riverboats” are focused on helping students earn a degree, advance their careers, or learn a new skill! ACC is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Bowie High School

4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749

With a campus spread over 60 acres in southwest Travis County, Bowie High School is the largest high school in the Austin Independent School District. The school employs over 200 faculty and staff members and stretches across 160 classrooms and labs. Because of Bowie's large size, the school can offer an abundance of options. Aside from college prep classes, the school also offers foreign languages, Air Force JROTC, and career programs including culinary arts and hotel/resort management. Additionally, the school offers 50 advanced honors programs and an overall campus score of an “A.”

Lake Travis High School

3324 Ranch Road 620 South, Austin, TX 78738

Lake Travis High School enrolls roughly 3,500 students in grades 9-12. Its massive size allows the school to offer over 50 different student clubs and organizations. The Cavaliers are known for their strong athletic program with over 17 competitive sports. Additionally, LTHS offers 210 various courses with 26 of them being Advanced Placement along with various other career, technical, and life skills courses. Lake Travis is also the only high school in the Lake Travis Independent School District and is located about 20 miles west of Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

Westwood High School

12400 Mellow Meadow, Austin Texas 78750

With enrollment reaching 2,815 in grades 9-12, Westwood High School is the largest high school in the Round Rock Independent School District. The school is also ranked #7 in the Best High Schools in Austin by U.S. News and World Report. Westwood has an IB Diploma Programme that focuses on preparing students for higher education. The school also focuses on offering a variety of clubs and programs that meet students' individual needs. Additionally, the school has been open since 1981 and shares its school testing results on its website.

Canyon Vista Middle School

8455 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin, Texas, 78759

Canyon Vista Middle School is one of the largest middle schools in the Round Rock Independent School District according to publicschoolreview.com. It also receives excellent rankings and has a massive amount of opportunities for students. According to their website, the school opened its doors in 1984 and currently enrolls 1,382 students in grades 6-8. Canyon Vista is one of 11 middle schools in the Round Rock ISD. More about their STARR passing rates, demographics, and student enrollment programs can be found online as well. Additionally, the school's current accountability rating is an A.

Cedar Valley Middle School

8139 Racine Trail, Austin, Texas, 78717

Canyon Vista isn't the only large middle school in the Round Rock Independent School District. Cedar Valley Middle School is also in the district and enrolls 1,296 students. Like Canyon Vista, their test scores, enrollment specifics, and demographics can also be found on their website. This school is a little bit newer, however, having opened its doors in 1993. Cedar Valley's vision is to “foster an inclusive community of lifelong learners” and their school mascot is the Jaguars. If you're looking for a middle school in the Round Rock ISD, both of these middle schools have lots to offer their students.

Patsy Sommer Elementary

16200 Avery Ranch Blvd., Austin Texas 78717

Patsy Sommer Elementary School (otherwise simply known as Sommer Elementary) is also located within the Round Rock Independent School District. The school is relatively new, having opened its doors in 2008 after a bond for more school facilities passed in 2006. The school received its name from Patsy Sommer, a well-known Round Rock ISD educator and administrator. Sommer Elementary enrolls just shy of 1,000 students each year in grades K-5, and their mascot is the Stallions. Like the other schools in Round Rock ISD, Sommer Elementary's STARR passing rates, demographics, and program enrollment information is all posted on their website.

Regents School of Austin

3230 Travis Country Circle, Austin TX 78735

As one of the largest private schools in Austin, Regents School of Austin enrolls around 1,000 K-12 students each year on its whopping 82-acre campus. The Regents School is known for its classical Christian community. The doors opened in 1992 at Park Hills Baptist Church with just 18 students. The school is broken down into three different grade levels. Grammar school serves grades kindergarten through sixth, grades seven and eight are a part of the school of logic, and grades nine through twelve are enrolled in the school of rhetoric.

Finding the Right School for Your Child

Are you looking to find a school in the bustling and historic city of Austin, Texas? From cutting-edge academic programs to a vibrant extracurricular scene, the largest schools in this city focus on growth, learning, and personal development. While the Round Rock Independent School District and the Austin Independent School District both serve a large number of students, this merely scratches the surface of the various opportunities that Austin's educational institutions offer to their students. In other words, one of these schools may be the best fit for you and your child!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com.