Is Dripping Springs ISD a Good School District?
Yes, Dripping Springs ISD is a highly regarded district with strong academics, a large extracurricular program, and a community that has invested heavily in new school capacity. It is also a district experiencing rapid growth, which means zoning, construction, and capacity are important parts of the conversation.
If you are a young family thinking about moving to Dripping Springs, the school district is probably one of the first things you Googled.
Schools are a big part of choosing where you live, especially when you're thinking five, ten, or fifteen years ahead.
So here is the honest, local answer.
For 2026, Niche ranks Dripping Springs ISD #3 among school districts in the Austin area and #24 in Texas, with an overall A grade. Niche's current profile lists 8,808 students.
The state's own accountability system tells a slightly different story. The Texas Education Agency gave DSISD a B rating with a score of 89 in the 2025 accountability ratings.
Both pieces of information matter.
Niche is one outside ranking system based on a collection of academic and other data. TEA is the state's official accountability system.
And then there is the piece you cannot fully capture in a ranking:
Dripping Springs is growing fast.
The district opened its sixth elementary school, Wildwood Springs Elementary, in 2025 and is now building its second comprehensive high school, Driftwood Springs High School, which is scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year.
Let's get into what that actually means for families.
The Numbers
How Good Is Dripping Springs ISD Academically?
Here is where the numbers stand as of 2026.
Niche's 2026 rankings place DSISD at #3 in the Austin area and #24 in Texas, with an overall grade of A. Niche's current district profile also gives DSISD an A+ in academics and an A in college prep.
The state's accountability system provides a different lens.
In the most recent TEA accountability ratings, released in 2025, Dripping Springs ISD received an 89 out of 100, or a B rating. The district's Student Achievement score was 89, while its Closing the Gaps score was 88.
That distinction is worth understanding.
If you are researching Dripping Springs schools, you will see people describe the district as an "A-rated" district because of Niche's overall A grade.
That is accurate when referring to Niche.
It is not the current TEA district rating.
On the state's 2025 system, DSISD is a B-rated district.
That is the kind of distinction I think families deserve to know.
What About Graduation Rates?
Dripping Springs High School has historically posted a graduation rate around the high 90s. The 2025 TEA accountability data also incorporates graduation-related measures into the high school's accountability calculation.
Rather than relying on an older standalone graduation statistic, I prefer to point families toward the current TEA accountability reports when comparing schools.
The numbers change.
The methodology changes.
And your decision deserves current information.
The Campuses
What Schools Are in Dripping Springs ISD?
As of the 2026-27 school year, DSISD operates nine campuses:
Elementary Schools
- Cypress Springs Elementary
- Dripping Springs Elementary
- Rooster Springs Elementary
- Sycamore Springs Elementary
- Walnut Springs Elementary
- Wildwood Springs Elementary
Wildwood Springs is the newest elementary school. It opened in August 2025 in the Headwaters neighborhood and serves more than 500 students.
Middle Schools
Sycamore Springs Middle School has been expanded to a capacity of approximately 1,200 students as part of the district's response to growth.
High School
And soon:
The new high school will become the district's tenth campus when it opens for the 2028-29 school year. It is planned for a capacity of 2,500 students.
One Important Thing for Buyers
Does My Neighborhood Determine Which School My Kids Attend?
Yes.
And this is one of the most important things to understand if you're buying a home in Dripping Springs.
Your address determines your attendance zone.
That means two homes that look very similar on a map can potentially feed different schools.
The current elementary feeder structure includes:
Dripping Springs Middle School
- Dripping Springs Elementary
- Walnut Springs Elementary
- Wildwood Springs Elementary
Sycamore Springs Middle School
- Cypress Springs Elementary
- Rooster Springs Elementary
- Sycamore Springs Elementary
The district maintains an official attendance-zone page and interactive boundary map.
This matters particularly in neighborhoods such as Big Sky Ranch, Caliterra, Headwaters, and Belterra.
Attendance boundaries can also change.
The district changed elementary and middle-school attendance zones in advance of Wildwood Springs opening in 2025, and the district has already acknowledged that future boundary decisions will be part of planning for the second high school.
Always verify the current zoning for a specific address before writing an offer.
This is something I check with buyers because I do not want anyone assuming a school assignment based on the name of a neighborhood alone.
Beyond the Classroom
What Does DSISD Offer Beyond Academics?
This is one of the things that stands out when you start digging into the district.
Dripping Springs High School has a large extracurricular program spanning athletics, fine arts, academics, clubs, and other activities.
The Tiger Band's National Finish
In November 2025, the Dripping Springs High School Tiger Band finished ninth nationally at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis.
The band competed against 107 bands from across the country and reached the finals for the first time in program history.
That is a pretty remarkable accomplishment for a relatively young program.
Athletics
Dripping Springs High School competes in UIL Class 6A.
The district also highlights a long list of athletic accomplishments across its programs, and the school has continued to add state-level achievements as enrollment and competition have grown.
For families who care about athletics, this is an area worth researching individually because the experience can vary considerably by sport and by campus.
Fine Arts
The same goes for fine arts.
Band.
Dance.
Theater.
Speech and debate.
Visual arts.
Music.
There are a lot of opportunities for students to find something they care about outside the classroom.
The Tiger Band's 2025 national finish is one of the clearest recent examples of the level of competition the district's programs are reaching.
The Community
What Makes the Dripping Springs School Community Different?
You can find good test scores and high-performing schools in a lot of places.
One thing that is harder to quantify is how central the schools are to the identity of the community.
Friday night football.
Youth sports.
Band competitions.
Fine arts performances.
School fundraisers.
Community events.
Families run into one another everywhere.
That matters to some people more than a ranking.
And it is one reason I think families should spend some time in Dripping Springs before deciding where they want to live.
Visit the neighborhoods.
Drive the roads.
Go to a football game.
Eat dinner locally.
Talk to parents.
Get a feel for the community.
My Dripping Springs local guide is a good starting point if you are still getting familiar with the area.
The Growth
Is Dripping Springs ISD Growing Too Fast?
This is where the conversation gets more complicated.
Yes, the district is growing quickly.
The current Niche profile lists 8,808 students, while the district has added a sixth elementary school and is constructing its second high school to accommodate continued enrollment growth.
The district has also passed major bond packages to address capacity and facility needs.
In May 2025, voters approved a $402.3 million bond referendum, with more than 70% voting in favor of both propositions. The package includes construction of the second comprehensive high school along with improvements and renovations at existing campuses and other district needs.
That does not mean growth is without challenges.
More students means more traffic.
More construction.
More boundary discussions.
More pressure on existing facilities.
And more decisions about how to preserve what families already like about the district while continuing to grow.
That is simply part of buying into a rapidly growing community.
The Big News
What Is Driftwood Springs High School?
This is the biggest school project in Dripping Springs right now.
Driftwood Springs High School will be DSISD's second comprehensive high school.
The district broke ground on the project in April 2026, and it is scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year. The campus will be located off Darden Hill Road in Driftwood and will have a planned capacity of 2,500 students.
The main building is planned to be approximately 506,000 square feet.
The campus will include:
- Baseball and softball fields
- Tennis courts
- Two practice fields
- Band practice facilities
- An agriculture barn
- A sub-varsity competition stadium
- An auditorium
- Additional academic and extracurricular facilities
The district's 2025 bond package specifically included construction of the second high school.
The name was officially approved by the DSISD Board of Trustees in May 2026 after a community naming process.
The school will be the district's second campus in Driftwood.
And for families with young children today, the timing is important.
Your elementary-school student today could potentially be entering high school right as the new campus opens.
For Growing Families
Why Does the New High School Matter?
There are several reasons.
1. More High School Capacity
Dripping Springs High School is a large and growing campus.
The second high school gives the district another 2,500-student campus and provides additional capacity as enrollment continues to grow.
2. More Facilities
The new campus is being designed from the beginning with athletics, fine arts, agriculture, and other extracurricular uses in mind.
That creates additional physical space for programs that already exist across the district.
3. A New School Means a New School Community
This part is harder to measure.
Students who attend Driftwood Springs High School when it opens will be among the first classes to establish the school's traditions, culture, activities, and identity.
For some families, that will be exciting.
For others, the established history of Dripping Springs High School may be part of what they want.
There is no universally right answer.
It is simply something worth considering if schools are a major factor in your home search.
4. Attendance Boundaries Will Matter
This may be the most important real estate consideration.
The exact future attendance boundaries for Driftwood Springs High School are something families should watch closely.
If you are buying a home in Dripping Springs before 2028, do not assume the current high school assignment will remain unchanged simply because the home is currently zoned to Dripping Springs High School.
The district's official attendance-zone resources are the place to verify current assignments.
The Honest Take
Is Dripping Springs ISD a Good School District?
If schools are one of your biggest priorities, DSISD is absolutely a district worth researching when you're considering a move to the Dripping Springs area.
The reasons are pretty straightforward.
Niche currently gives the district an overall A and ranks it #3 in the Austin area and #24 in Texas.
The district has strong academic performance and a broad range of extracurricular opportunities.
Dripping Springs High School has produced significant accomplishments in athletics and fine arts, including the Tiger Band's ninth-place national finish in 2025.
And the district is investing heavily in new capacity, including a second comprehensive high school scheduled to open in 2028-29.
But I would not tell a family to look at the rankings and stop there.
The more important question is:
Which part of Dripping Springs makes sense for your family?
Because the answer can change depending on your children's ages, your preferred school, your commute, your budget, the neighborhood, and how you feel about living through a period of continued growth.
That is why I think school research and home research need to happen together.
What Parents Moving Here Should Know
Five Things I Would Research Before Buying
1. Your Exact School Zone
Do not rely on a neighborhood name.
Check the specific address.
2. The Future School Zone
If your children are young, think beyond the elementary school they will attend next year.
The high school landscape is changing.
3. Your Child's Interests
Look beyond test scores.
If your child cares about band, athletics, theater, agriculture, robotics, dance, or another activity, research the actual programs.
4. The Commute
A school can look close on a map and feel very different during the morning and afternoon rush.
Spend some time driving the route.
5. The Neighborhood
Schools are one piece of the decision.
Think about where your family will spend the rest of its time.
Parks.
Restaurants.
Sports.
Church.
Friends.
Commute.
Groceries.
Outdoor activities.
Your neighborhood becomes the backdrop for all of it.
That is why I built a Dripping Springs neighborhood guide that goes beyond just listing subdivisions.
What Does This Mean for Home Buyers?
How Should Schools Affect My Dripping Springs Home Search?
If you're moving here with kids, I would start with the school requirements before we start looking at houses.
Tell me what matters.
Maybe you want a particular elementary school.
Maybe you want to be close to the new high school.
Maybe you care more about commute time.
Maybe you want a neighborhood with lots of young families.
Maybe you want acreage.
Maybe you're specifically looking for new construction in Dripping Springs.
Those priorities can completely change which homes make sense.
And that is where local knowledge becomes useful.
A home is not just a house.
It is a school zone.
A commute.
A neighborhood.
A set of roads you drive every day.
A place where your kids make friends.
A community you become part of.
If you're considering the move, my 2026 Dripping Springs relocation guide is a good place to start.
Quick Answers
Frequently Asked Questions About Dripping Springs ISD
Is Dripping Springs ISD an A-rated school district?
Niche gives DSISD an overall A grade for 2026 and ranks it #3 in the Austin area and #24 in Texas. The Texas Education Agency's latest official accountability rating, released in 2025, gives the district a B with a score of 89. Those are two different rating systems and should not be confused.
How many students attend Dripping Springs ISD?
Niche's current district profile lists 8,808 students. The district currently operates nine campuses: six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.
When does Driftwood Springs High School open?
The district projects the second comprehensive high school will open for the 2028-29 school year. It is planned for a capacity of 2,500 students.
Where will Driftwood Springs High School be located?
The new high school is being built off Darden Hill Road in Driftwood.
Will my neighborhood be rezoned to the new high school?
Future attendance boundaries will determine which students attend Driftwood Springs High School and which remain at Dripping Springs High School. Because those boundaries can change, verify the current assignment for any specific address before purchasing.
What are the current Dripping Springs ISD schools?
The district currently operates Cypress Springs Elementary, Dripping Springs Elementary, Rooster Springs Elementary, Sycamore Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary, Wildwood Springs Elementary, Dripping Springs Middle School, Sycamore Springs Middle School, and Dripping Springs High School. Driftwood Springs High School will become the district's tenth campus when it opens.
What makes Wildwood Springs Elementary different?
Wildwood Springs opened in August 2025 in the Headwaters neighborhood as DSISD's sixth elementary school. It was built as part of the district's response to continued growth.
What happened with the 2025 DSISD bond?
Voters approved the district's $402.3 million 2025 bond referendum, with more than 70% voting in favor of both propositions. The package includes the second high school and additional improvements across the district.
If You're Moving Here
Start With the Schools, Then Find the Neighborhood
If you're moving to Dripping Springs with kids, I would not start with the house.
Start with the bigger picture.
Which schools matter to you?
How old are your kids?
Where will you commute?
Do you want established or new construction?
Do you want a neighborhood with amenities or more land?
How important is being close to downtown Dripping Springs?
How do you feel about living in a community that is still growing?
Once you answer those questions, the home search gets a lot easier.
If you're still getting familiar with the area, start with my complete Dripping Springs local guide, then explore the Dripping Springs neighborhoods.
And if you're ready to see what is actually available, you can browse current Dripping Springs properties.
If you are thinking about making the move, I'd be happy to help you get oriented.
