Four of the metro's major public school systems, representing 54% of area enrollment, are included in Expansion Management magazine's latest annual education quality ratings of nearly 2,800 school districts nationwide. Two districts—Eanes and Round Rock—are rated "gold medal", the highest of the magazine's cost-performance categories. The Austin Independent School District, the largest in the region, as well as San Marcos, were awarded the “Green Light” rating, the middle performance category. Past ratings from the magazine have included Lake Travis as “Gold Medal” and Georgetown, Leander and Pflugerville as “Blue Ribbon” districts, and Bastrop as a "Green Light" district.

Fifteen regional schools made Newsweek’s “Top of the Class” list in June 2007. The schools were ranked according to percentage of advanced placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests compared with the number of students enrolled. Selected schools represented seven districts in the area including Austin, Dripping Springs, Eanes, Lake Travis, Leander, Pflugerville and Round Rock.