Carpenter Hill Elementary (Hays CISD): Buda 78610
Carpenter Hill Elementary is a well-rated public PK-5 school in Buda (78610), part of Hays CISD, feeding the Eric Dahlstrom Middle and Johnson High path. It grades A- overall with reading and math well above the district and an A academic grade. Here's the full picture: the ratings, the numbers, the path it feeds, and what being zoned to Carpenter Hill means for your home search.
Is Carpenter Hill Elementary a good school?
Yes, it's one of the stronger elementaries in Buda. Carpenter Hill grades A- overall on Niche, above the Hays CISD B+, with an A academic grade and both proficiency scores well above the district: around 65% in math versus 42%, and around 76% in reading versus 52%. It earns a B- teacher grade, carries a 7% gifted share, and is a PK-5 campus of about 597 students with a 15:1 ratio in a lower-need community (about 21% in the free-lunch program). For a family focused on the elementary years in Buda, Carpenter Hill is a genuine strength of the area.
Carpenter Hill Elementary by the numbers
| Metric | Carpenter Hill El | Hays CISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A- | B+ |
| Reading proficiency | 76% | 52% |
| Math proficiency | 65% | 42% |
| Academic grade (Niche) | A | B+ |
| Gifted students | 7% | N/A |
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | 16:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 21% | 49% |
| Total enrollment | 597 | 23,313 |
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 is an A- overall with an A academic grade and both proficiency scores more than 20 points above the district. For Hays CISD, these are among the better elementary numbers you'll find.
What Carpenter Hill feeds into
Carpenter Hill starts one of the Johnson-side feeder paths. From here, students continue to Eric Dahlstrom Middle and then to Johnson High:
This part of Buda runs Carpenter Hill to Dahlstrom to Johnson High. Buda is split between Johnson and Jack C. Hays, so the high-school endpoint depends on the exact address. I confirm the current elementary, middle, and high school for any specific address before you write an offer.
Homes in the Carpenter Hill zone
Carpenter Hill serves the master-planned side of Buda off Ranch Road 967, including communities like Whispering Hollow and the fast-growing west-Buda corridor, with newer homes, trails, and quick access to I-35 and the 45 toll. It's one of the most active family-home markets in Hays County, often at a friendlier price than comparable Austin ZIPs. The thing to know: Buda splits between Johnson and Jack C. Hays, and many communities sit in a MUD or PID that changes the tax bill, so I confirm both the zone and the tax picture for the address.
Carpenter Hill is one of the schools that draws families to west Buda, A- with proficiency well above the district. But Buda splits between Johnson and Jack C. Hays, and the tax district can change your monthly number as much as the price does. I map the zone and the MUD or PID for every address, before you're under contract.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Carpenter Hill
Use Hays CISD'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, especially in a district growing as fast as Hays.
Or ask me. Send me an address or a west Buda or Whispering Hollow pocket you're considering and I'll confirm the zone, pull the current middle and high school on the path, and flag anything that affects your decision.
Buying in the Carpenter Hill zone?
Tell me what matters most and I'll build your search around it. The path runs up to Johnson High, so start there for the high-school picture, use the Central Texas school districts guide for how the zones fit together, and the Buda relocation guide if you're moving in. When you're ready to look at homes, reach out and I'll map the zone to the right neighborhoods.
Carpenter Hill Elementary FAQ
What district is Carpenter Hill Elementary in?+
Is Carpenter Hill Elementary a good school?+
What schools does Carpenter Hill feed into?+
Does my Buda home feed Johnson or Jack C. Hays High?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Carpenter Hill?+
Buda and Kyle are core markets for me, and the Hays CISD school map is something I know street by street. With 175+ closed deals since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I help families match a home to the right zone and the right tax district.
Carpenter Hill feeds Dahlstrom and Johnson, but Buda splits between two high schools and many homes sit in a MUD or PID. I confirm the real zone and the tax picture for every address. If the elementary years are on your mind, let's talk.
Last updated: September 2026. School ratings and boundaries change, so confirm the current figures and assignment for any specific address.
