If you're considering a move to Dripping Springs, Texas, one question comes up more than almost any other: "How are the schools?"

The short answer: exceptional — and getting better every year.

I recently attended the 2026 DSISD Certified Realtors Luncheon, where district leadership shared a comprehensive update on enrollment trends, academic performance, tax rates, and major construction projects. As a certified DSISD realtor and a Dripping Springs resident myself, I want to share everything I learned — because an informed homebuyer is a happy homebuyer.

Here's what you need to know about Dripping Springs ISD in 2026.

What Is the DSISD Certified Realtor Program?

Dripping Springs ISD offers an official Certified Realtor designation to agents who complete a thorough orientation on the district. Certified Realtors are listed in DSISD's official directory and are equipped with the most accurate, up-to-date information about schools, attendance zones, and district plans.

As a DSISD Certified Realtor, I'm your go-to resource for any school-related questions when buying or selling a home in the Dripping Springs area.

Is Dripping Springs ISD Growing?

Yes - and the data tells a compelling story.

DSISD currently enrolls 8,808 students (2025–26 school year), up from just 5,619 in 2015–16. That's a gain of more than 3,100 students over the past decade, with 1,525 students added in just the last five years - a 21% growth rate that ranks 8th among all districts in the ESC Region 13 area.

The district's own 10-year enrollment forecast projects 12,942 students by 2035–36 in the base scenario, with an accelerated scenario reaching nearly 15,000. This growth is driven by a wave of planned and developing residential communities throughout the DSISD boundary.

Key residential developments fueling growth:

• Double L Ranch — 1,600 projected units (currently developing)
• Penn Ranch — 946 projected units (planned)
• Wild Ridge — 863 projected units (planned)
• Village Grove — 511 projected units (currently developing)
• Caliterra — 419 additional projected units (currently developing)

78% of all projected new housing occupancies over the next decade will be single-family homes — exactly the family-oriented development that drives school enrollment.

What this means for homebuyers: Dripping Springs is not a community that has peaked. Demand to live here continues to grow, which supports long-term home values.

How Does DSISD Perform Academically?

DSISD calls itself a "Destination District" — and the numbers back it up.

STAAR Test Scores (2025)

Dripping Springs ISD outperforms both the Region 13 average and Texas state averages in every tested subject and grade level. Highlights include:

• Reading: 85–95% passing rates across grades 3–8 (vs. 71–78% statewide)
• Math: 79–90% passing rates across grades 3–8 (vs. 69–75% statewide)
• Biology: 97% passing rate (vs. 92% statewide)
• U.S. History: 97% passing rate (vs. 95% statewide)

National Assessments (NWEA MAP — Winter 2026)

DSISD students score in the 70th–75th percentile nationally in both Reading and Math — meaning the typical DSISD student outperforms roughly 3 out of 4 students across the country.

SAT & ACT Results (Spring 2025)

• Mean SAT: 1,125 (vs. 1,029 national average; 971 Texas average)
• ACT Composite: 24.4 (vs. 19.4 national and Texas averages)

These scores aren't just good for a suburban district — they're competitive with high-performing districts anywhere in the country.

Career & Technical Education

DSISD offers 21 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs of Study, including healthcare, engineering, business/entrepreneurship, real estate, audio/visual production, law enforcement, and more. Students can earn college credit through ACC and UT Austin partnerships and participate in work-based learning experiences.

What Are the DSISD School Tax Rates?

One of the most common questions I get from relocating buyers: "What will my school taxes be?"

Current DSISD Total Tax Rate: $1.1052 per $100 of assessed value

This breaks down as:

• Maintenance & Operations (M&O): $0.7552
• Interest & Sinking (I&S, for bond debt): $0.3500

The trend is very favorable. In 2017, the total rate was $1.52. Thanks to rising property values and legislative compression, the rate has dropped by $0.4148 over the past six years — even as the district has dramatically expanded facilities and programming.

Homestead Exemptions (Effective 2025 Tax Year)

• Primary Residence: $140,000 exemption
• Over 65 or Disabled: Additional $140,000 + $60,000 exemption

Important for buyers to know: Depending on where in the DSISD boundary a home is located, there may be additional property tax layers including Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), Emergency Services Districts (ESDs), county taxes, and Special Road Districts. I can help you understand the full tax picture for any specific property.

What Schools Would My Kids Attend?

DSISD attendance zones depend on where you live within the district boundary.

Elementary Schools

• Cypress Springs Elementary — 11091 Darden Hill Rd. (feeds into Sycamore Springs MS)
• Dripping Springs Elementary — 29400 Ranch Road 12 (feeds into Dripping Springs MS)
• Rooster Springs Elementary — 1001 Belterra Dr. (feeds into Sycamore Springs MS)
• Sycamore Springs Elementary — 14451 Sawyer Ranch Rd. (feeds into Sycamore Springs MS)
• Walnut Springs Elementary — 113 Tiger Lane (feeds into Dripping Springs MS)
• Wildwood Springs Elementary — 294 Mira Vista Dr. (feeds into Dripping Springs MS)

Middle Schools

• Dripping Springs Middle School — 111 Tiger Lane
• Sycamore Springs Middle School — 14451 Sawyer Ranch Rd.

High School

• Dripping Springs High School — 940 Highway 290 West

A second high school is currently under construction (more on this below).

Realtor Tip: Attendance zone boundaries can affect your children's school assignment and can change over time as the district grows. Always verify the current zone for any specific address using DSISD's interactive boundaries map, and ask me to check for any known upcoming changes.

What Is the Out-of-District Transfer Program?

DSISD offers a "Welcome to Drip!" out-of-district transfer program for families who live outside the boundary but want their children to attend DSISD schools.

Key details:

• Open to grades K–6 only
• Annual application with a $150 administrative fee
• Placement based on campus capacity - not preference or proximity
• No district transportation provided
• Students must have strong attendance, academic, and disciplinary records
• Application window opens April 1 each year

This is a popular program, so applying early matters. Acceptance is not guaranteed.

What's Being Built? Major DSISD Construction Projects

The district passed a $223.7 million bond in 2023 and a $406.7 million bond in 2025 to address growth and modernize facilities. Here's where things stand:

High School #2 — Under Construction

This is the biggest story in DSISD right now. A second Dripping Springs high school broke ground in November 2025 and is actively under construction at a site near the US 290 / RM 12 corridor.

• Total budget: $298.8 million
• Capacity: 2,500 students
• Architect: VLK
• Contractor: American Constructors
• The school's name, mascot, and colors are still being determined by a Naming & Branding Committee

Why is a second high school needed? The current Dripping Springs High School is already at 105% capacity with 2,620 students, and is projected to reach 152% utilization by 2035–36 without relief. The new campus is essential infrastructure for the next chapter of this community.

Dripping Springs High School Renovations

The existing DSHS will also receive a major modernization:

• Budget: $51.1 million
• Architect: PBK | Contractor: American Constructors
• Construction begins Summer 2026

Rooster Springs Elementary Renovation

• Budget: $25.8 million
• Architect: Pfluger | Contractor: Braun and Butler
• Construction begins Summer 2026

What Makes DSISD a "Destination District"?

The district uses this phrase intentionally — it refers to a school system that families actively choose to move to, not just happen to be assigned to.

The factors that earn DSISD this designation:

• Academic Excellence: Test scores and national rankings that consistently exceed state and national averages
• Student Programming: 21 CTE programs, dual credit, fine arts, athletics, and extracurriculars at every level
• Community Culture: A deeply engaged parent and community base that volunteers, fundraises, and shows up
• Financial Stewardship: A district with an $100.2 million annual budget, declining tax rates, and transparent bond management
• Future Planning: Data-driven demographic studies, long-range facility planning, and a clear strategic plan (Future Ready 2030)

Dripping Springs Housing Market Context

DSISD's own demographic study reported the following housing market data:

• Median sale price: $749,900
• Year-over-year sales volume: down 8.1% (a normalization after years of hypergrowth)
• Months of inventory: 4.6 (a balanced-to-slight-buyer's-market condition)

The area's population profile is notable: median household income is nearly 40% above the Texas state average, and approximately 60% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These demographics create a high-achieving, civically engaged school community.

What Are the Fastest-Growing Neighborhoods in DSISD?

Based on student population projections through 2035:

• Western DSISD (along RM 12 / Walnut Springs / Wildwood Springs zone): Highest projected growth
• Dripping Springs / Double L Ranch area (US 290 & RM 12 corridor): Major new development coming online
• Belterra / Rooster Springs / Sycamore Springs zone: Established growth area

Neighborhoods like Highpointe, Caliterra, Headwaters, Belterra, and future developments like Double L Ranch, Penn Ranch, and Wild Ridge will significantly shape enrollment patterns over the next decade.

Frequently Asked Questions About DSISD

Q: How do I find out which school my child would attend? A: DSISD has an interactive school boundaries map on their website. You can also ask me — I look this up for clients all the time.

Q: Are DSISD schools overcrowded? A: Some campuses are approaching or exceeding capacity, particularly at the high school and middle school level. The district is actively addressing this through the second high school construction and ongoing facility planning. Elementary schools vary by zone — some have room to grow, others are at higher utilization.

Q: Will the second high school affect property values or attendance zones? A: The second high school will likely require attendance zone adjustments when it opens. No decisions about attendance boundaries or opening plans have been made yet. This is something I track closely for my clients.

Q: What neighborhoods feed into Belterra / Rooster Springs Elementary? A: Rooster Springs Elementary serves the Belterra community and feeds into Sycamore Springs Middle School.

Q: Does DSISD have special programs like gifted/talented or dual enrollment? A: Yes. DSISD has a GT (Gifted & Talented) program, dual credit partnerships with ACC and UT Austin, and 21 CTE programs of study at the high school level.

How I Can Help You

Buying a home in Dripping Springs is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make — and the school district is a huge part of that decision. As a DSISD Certified Realtor, I have:

• Up-to-date knowledge of attendance zones for every neighborhood
• Awareness of planned developments and how they may affect schools near a given property
• Direct access to DSISD resources and the ability to connect you with the right district contacts
• A deep understanding of how school factors affect home values across different neighborhoods

Whether you're relocating from out of state, moving from Austin, or looking to upsize within the Dripping Springs community, I'd love to help you find the right home in the right school zone.

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Contact Bailey Moran - DSISD Certified Realtor | Dripping Springs Real Estate Expert

Sources: 2026 DSISD Certified Realtors Luncheon presentation, March 12, 2026. Data reflects 2025–26 school year figures unless otherwise noted.