Bowie High School (Austin ISD): Ratings, Zone & Homes in 78749
James Bowie High School is a large, highly rated public high school (grades 9-12) in southwest Austin's 78749, part of Austin ISD. It is one of the biggest and most sought-after high schools in the district, with strong academics, a 98% graduation rate, and an attendance zone that covers Circle C Ranch, Oak Hill, and much of southwest Austin. Here's the honest picture: the ratings, the numbers, the schools that feed it, and what being zoned to Bowie means for your home search.
Is Bowie High School a good school?
By the available data, yes, it grades out very well. Bowie earns an A overall on Niche, a notch above Austin ISD as a whole, and its academics are a real strength: reading proficiency runs about 85% and math about 63%, both well above the district averages of 54% and 41%. The graduation rate is 98%, the average SAT is around 1250 and the average ACT is 28, and students average a 3.45 GPA. It is a big school, roughly 2,899 students with a 19:1 student-teacher ratio, and that size brings a wide range of AP courses, athletics, and programs. As with any school the fit depends on your child, but on paper Bowie is one of the main reasons families target this corner of southwest Austin.
Bowie High School by the numbers
| Metric | Bowie | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 85% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 63% | 41% |
| Graduation rate | 98% | 91% |
| Average SAT | 1250 | 1240 |
| Average ACT | 28 | 28 |
| Average GPA | 3.45 | 3.37 |
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | 15:1 |
| Total enrollment | 2,899 | 72,830 |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A- | A |
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 standouts are the proficiency and outcome numbers: 85% reading and 63% math, both far above the Austin ISD averages, plus a 98% graduation rate and college-test scores a step above the district. That academic strength, at a school this size, is what keeps Bowie near the top of relocating families' lists.
What feeds into Bowie
Bowie sits at the end of several southwest Austin attendance paths. Students arrive from a set of well-regarded elementaries through three middle schools:
Which elementary and middle a home feeds through depends on the exact address, and the endpoint most families are buying for is Bowie. Because the zone is large and boundaries can shift, I always confirm the current elementary, middle, and high school for a specific address before you write an offer. For a fuller look at the area, see my living in 78749 guide.
Homes in the Bowie High School zone
Bowie serves a large slice of southwest Austin, including Circle C Ranch, Legend Oaks, Western Oaks, Shady Hollow, Maple Run, and Sendera, spanning parts of 78749, 78748, and the Circle C 78739 area. This is established, family-oriented southwest Austin, and the Bowie zone is one of the reasons homes here tend to hold their value. If you're specifically buying for Bowie, I map the zone street by street, because a house just outside it can land at a different high school. For the full picture of this area, the parks, dining, commute, and current prices, see my living in 78749 guide and the 78748 guide next door.
School zones move prices out here. A home zoned to Bowie can carry a premium over a nearly identical home a short drive away in a different zone, which cuts both ways: it's why these homes hold value, and it's why you want to confirm the zone before you fall for a house. I check the current assignment for every address so you're comparing homes on equal footing, not on an old listing's school data.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Bowie
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 neighborhood you're considering and I'll confirm whether it's in the Bowie zone, pull the current elementary and middle school, and flag anything, like a boundary that's about to change, that affects your decision.
Buying for the Bowie zone?
Tell me the school you're aiming for and I'll build your search around it. Start with the 78749 living guide for the lay of the land, 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.
Bowie High School FAQ
What district is Bowie High School in?+
Is Bowie High School a good school?+
What neighborhoods are zoned to Bowie High School?+
What schools feed into Bowie High School?+
How big is Bowie High School?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Bowie?+
Central Texas is the market I know best. With 175+ closed deals since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I've guided buyers and sellers through every kind of move this side of Austin.
Matching a home to its real school zone, and its real tax picture, is second nature for me. If you're buying for the Bowie zone or any Central Texas school, I'll give you a straight, local read so you can decide with confidence.
Last updated: September 2026. School ratings and boundaries change, so confirm the current figures and assignment for any specific address.
