Baranoff Elementary (Austin ISD): Shady Hollow 78748 Zone
Baranoff Elementary is a public PK-5 school in Shady Hollow's 78748, part of Austin ISD, and it's a well-rated campus that feeds the Bowie High path. Here's the part that surprises some buyers: Shady Hollow and the north side of 78748 feed Baranoff to Bailey Middle to Bowie High, not Akins, even though much of 78748 is Akins territory. Baranoff grades A- overall with proficiency above the district. Here's the picture: the ratings, the numbers, the path it feeds, and what being zoned to Baranoff means for your home search.
Is Baranoff Elementary a good school?
Yes. Baranoff grades A- overall on Niche, right with the district, and its proficiency runs above the Austin ISD average: around 72% of students proficient in reading versus the district's 54%, and around 54% in math versus 41%. It earns an A teacher grade, roughly 9% of students are in gifted programs, and it's a solid PK-5 campus of about 834 students with a 15:1 ratio. The free-lunch share, around 14%, reflects the Shady Hollow community it serves. For a family focused on the elementary years, Baranoff is a strong option, and it sits on a feeder path that stays well-rated into middle and high school through Bailey and Bowie.
Baranoff Elementary by the numbers
| Metric | Baranoff Elementary | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A- | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 72% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 54% | 41% |
| Academic grade (Niche) | A- | A- |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A | A |
| Gifted students | 9% | N/A |
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | 15:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 14% | 50% |
| Total enrollment | 834 | 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.
Baranoff clears the district on both reading and math, around 18 points higher in reading, while carrying an A teacher grade. Solid, steady numbers like these are part of why Shady Hollow holds its appeal with families.
What Baranoff feeds into
Baranoff starts an Austin ISD feeder path that runs up into the Bowie zone. From Baranoff, students continue to Bailey Middle and then to Bowie High:
This is the detail worth catching: Shady Hollow sits in 78748, but it feeds Bowie through Baranoff and Bailey, while other parts of 78748 feed Akins. Which exact schools a home feeds depends on the address, so I confirm the current elementary, middle, and high school for any specific property before you write an offer.
Homes in the Baranoff Elementary zone
Baranoff serves Shady Hollow and the surrounding 78748, including South Brodie, Bauerle Ranch, Southland Oaks, Olympic Heights, and the Bridges of Bear Creek area. Shady Hollow is one of the established, tree-lined family neighborhoods of south Austin, with mature lots, parks, and quick access to Mopac and the 45 toll, often at a friendlier price than the Circle C ZIPs just west. The thing to know: because 78748 splits between the Bowie and Akins zones, two nearby homes can feed very different high schools. If the Bowie path is part of why you are buying in Shady Hollow, I confirm the zone for the exact address. For the full picture of the area, see my living in 78748 guide.
Shady Hollow is the classic "wait, is this Bowie or Akins?" pocket. A lot of 78748 feeds Akins, but Shady Hollow and the north end feed Baranoff to Bailey to Bowie, and that distinction moves buyers. Don't assume it from the ZIP. I confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for every address, so you know the real path before you fall for the house.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Baranoff
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, and in a split ZIP like 78748 the listing is wrong more often than you'd think.
Or ask me. Send me an address or a Shady Hollow pocket you're considering and I'll confirm whether it's zoned to Baranoff and the Bowie path, pull the current middle and high school, and flag anything that affects your decision.
Buying in the Baranoff Elementary zone?
Tell me what matters most and I'll build your search around it. The path runs up to Bowie High, so start there for the high-school picture, use the 78748 living guide for the area, the Central Texas school districts guide for how the zones fit together, and the South Austin relocation guide if you're moving in. When you're ready to look at homes, here's how buying in South Austin works.
Baranoff Elementary FAQ
What district is Baranoff Elementary in?+
Is Baranoff Elementary a good school?+
Does Shady Hollow (78748) feed Bowie or Akins?+
What schools does Baranoff Elementary feed into?+
What neighborhoods are zoned to Baranoff Elementary?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Baranoff?+
South Austin is home base, and Shady Hollow and 78748 are a market 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 sort out exactly the Bowie-versus-Akins question this ZIP raises.
Baranoff into Bailey into Bowie is the path Shady Hollow buyers ask about, and it's easy to get wrong from the ZIP alone. I confirm the real zone for every address, no guessing. If the elementary 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.
