Bailey Middle School (Austin ISD): Circle C Ratings & Zone
Bailey Middle School is a public middle school (grades 6-8) in the Circle C area of 78739, part of Austin ISD, and it's one of the stronger middle schools on the south side. It serves the Circle C, Shady Hollow, and Meridian neighborhoods, and it feeds into Bowie High, so the full path here (elementary to Bailey to Bowie) is one families specifically move for. Here's the picture: the ratings, the numbers, the schools on either side of it, and what being zoned to Bailey means for your home search.
Is Bailey Middle School a good school?
Yes, and the numbers back it up. Bailey grades B+ overall on Niche, and both of its proficiency scores run above the Austin ISD average: around 59% in reading versus the district's 54%, and around 43% in math versus 41%. It earns an A teacher grade, roughly 14% of students are in gifted programs, and it's a mid-sized, stable campus of about 785 students with a 15:1 ratio. The free-lunch share, around 35%, reflects the Circle C and Shady Hollow community it serves. For a family weighing the middle-school years, Bailey is a genuine strength of this part of South Austin, and it sits on a feeder path that stays strong into high school.
Bailey Middle School by the numbers
| Metric | Bailey Middle | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | B+ | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 59% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 43% | 41% |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A | A |
| Gifted students | 14% | N/A |
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | 15:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 35% | 50% |
| Total enrollment | 785 | 72,830 |
Source: Niche via RPR (Realtors Property Resource), 2026. Niche compiles the letter grades from U.S. Dept. of Education data, community reviews, and other sources, and updates quarterly. Figures change, so I confirm the current numbers when they matter to your decision.
The standout here is that Bailey beats the district on both reading and math proficiency while carrying an A teacher grade, a combination you don't always find at the middle-school level. That strength is a big part of why the Circle C and Shady Hollow area holds its value the way it does.
What feeds into Bailey, and where it goes next
Bailey sits in the middle of a strong Austin ISD feeder path on the south side. Students arrive from a group of well-rated Circle C and Shady Hollow elementaries, and Bailey then feeds into Bowie High:
Which elementary a home feeds through depends on the exact address, and the elementaries on this path (Baranoff and Cowan among them) carry strong ratings of their own. Because it feeds a top-rated high school, the full Bailey to Bowie path is one of the reasons Circle C stays in demand. I confirm the current elementary, middle, and high school for any specific address before you write an offer.
Homes in the Bailey Middle School zone
Bailey serves Circle C, Shady Hollow, and the Meridian area of far-south Austin's 78739, some of the most sought-after family neighborhoods on the south side. Think master-planned Circle C with its amenity centers and greenbelt access, the established tree-lined streets of Shady Hollow, and quick access to Mopac and the 45 toll. Homes here tend to hold value well, and the schools are a big reason why. The thing to know: the Circle C area spans more than one ZIP and the Austin ISD zones can shift block to block, so if Bailey (and the Bowie path behind it) is part of why you're buying, I confirm the zone for the exact address.
In Circle C and Shady Hollow, the school path is a real part of the value. Bailey into Bowie is one of the strongest feeder combinations on the south side, and families pay attention to it. But zones here cross ZIP lines, and a home a few streets over can feed a different school. I confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for every address, so you know the full path before you fall for the house.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Bailey
Use Austin ISD's official boundary lookup. The district publishes a find-my-school tool where you enter an address and it returns the assigned elementary, middle, and high school. That's the source of truth, not the real estate listing, which can carry outdated school data.
Or ask me. Send me an address or a Circle C or Shady Hollow pocket you're considering and I'll confirm whether it's zoned to Bailey, pull the current elementary and high school on the path, and flag anything that affects your decision.
Buying in the Bailey Middle zone?
Tell me what matters most and I'll build your search around it. The feeder path runs up to Bowie High, so start there for the high-school picture, use the Central Texas school districts guide for how the zones fit together, and the South Austin relocation guide if you're moving to the area. When you're ready to look at homes, here's how buying in South Austin works.
Bailey Middle School FAQ
What district is Bailey Middle School in?+
Is Bailey Middle School a good school?+
What high school does Bailey Middle feed into?+
What neighborhoods are zoned to Bailey Middle School?+
What elementary schools feed into Bailey Middle?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Bailey?+
South Austin is home base, and Circle C and Shady Hollow are neighborhoods I know well. With 175+ closed deals since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I've helped plenty of families line a home up with the school path they want.
The Bailey-to-Bowie feeder is one of the real draws of this area, and matching a home to the right zone is second nature for me. If the middle-school years are on your mind, I'll give you a straight, local read.
Last updated: September 2026. School ratings and boundaries change, so confirm the current figures and assignment for any specific address.
