Clayton Elementary (Austin ISD): Circle C 78739 Ratings
Clayton Elementary is a public PK-5 school on the golf-course side of Circle C in 78739, part of Austin ISD, and it's one of the top-rated elementary schools in the district. It grades A overall, with some of the highest reading and math proficiency anywhere in Austin ISD, and it sits on the Clayton to Gorzycki Middle to Bowie High path, strong at every step. For families, Clayton is one of the real reasons the Circle C golf neighborhoods stay in demand. Here's the picture: the ratings, the numbers, the path it feeds, and what being zoned to Clayton means for your home search.
Is Clayton Elementary a good school?
Yes, it's one of the strongest in Austin ISD. Clayton grades A overall on Niche, and the proficiency numbers are the headline: around 86% of students proficient in reading versus the district's 54%, and around 80% in math versus 41%. Those math scores are among the very highest on the south side. It earns an A academic grade and an A teacher grade, roughly 14% of students are in gifted programs, and it's a smaller PK-5 campus of about 675 students with a 14:1 ratio. The free-lunch share, around 6%, reflects the Circle C golf community it serves. For a family focused on the elementary years, Clayton is a genuine draw, and it starts a feeder path that stays top-rated through middle and high school.
Clayton Elementary by the numbers
| Metric | Clayton Elementary | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 86% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 80% | 41% |
| Academic grade (Niche) | A | A- |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A | A |
| Gifted students | 14% | N/A |
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | 15:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 6% | 50% |
| Total enrollment | 675 | 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 is the math number: at around 80% proficient, Clayton nearly doubles the district average, and its 86% in reading is just as strong. Scores like that, with a low 14:1 ratio and A grades across academics and teaching, are a big part of why the Circle C golf neighborhoods hold their value.
What Clayton feeds into
Clayton starts a top-rated Austin ISD feeder path in Circle C. From Clayton, students continue to Gorzycki Middle and then to Bowie High, with strong ratings at every step:
That full path, elementary to middle to Bowie, is one of the most consistently strong in South Austin, and it's a big reason the Circle C golf estates stay in demand. 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 Clayton Elementary zone
Clayton serves the golf-course side of Circle C in 78739, including Circle C Golf West Estates, Golf Club Estates, The Hielscher, and the Alta Mira and La Crosse area. These are some of the larger-lot, premium streets in Circle C, wrapped around the golf course and greenbelt, with quick access to Mopac and the 45 toll. Homes here command a premium, and the schools are a central reason why. The thing to know: Circle C spans more than one ZIP and attendance zones can shift block to block, so if Clayton (and the Gorzycki and Bowie path behind it) is part of why you're buying, I confirm the zone for the exact address.
The Circle C golf estates are some of the most sought-after streets on the south side, and Clayton is a big part of the draw. It comes with a premium, so you want to be sure the house you love actually feeds Clayton, not just that it's "in Circle C." Zones here cross ZIP lines and shift block to block. I confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for every address, so you know the full path before you pay for it.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Clayton
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 premium zone like Clayton's the listing claim is worth verifying.
Or ask me. Send me an address or a Circle C golf pocket you're considering and I'll confirm whether it's truly zoned to Clayton, pull the current middle and high school on the path, and flag anything that affects your decision.
Buying in the Clayton 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 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.
Clayton Elementary FAQ
What district is Clayton Elementary in?+
Is Clayton Elementary a good school?+
What schools does Clayton Elementary feed into?+
What neighborhoods are zoned to Clayton Elementary?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Clayton?+
South Austin is home base, and the Circle C golf neighborhoods 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 land a home in the exact school zone they were after.
Clayton into Gorzycki into Bowie is one of the most requested paths on the south side, and it carries a premium. I make sure the home you love actually feeds the schools you want, 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.
