Cowan Elementary (Austin ISD): 78748 Ratings & Zone
Cowan Elementary is a public PK-5 school in the Cherry Creek and Maple Run area of 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: this pocket of 78748 feeds Cowan to Bailey Middle to Bowie High, not Akins. Cowan grades A- overall with proficiency above the district. Here's the picture.
Is Cowan Elementary a good school?
Yes. Cowan grades A- overall on Niche, right with the district, and both of its proficiency scores run above the Austin ISD average: around 66% in reading versus the district's 54%, and around 50% in math versus 41%. It earns an A teacher grade, and it's a smaller PK-5 campus of about 546 students with a low 13:1 ratio, serving the Cherry Creek and Maple Run community where about 34% are in the free-lunch program. For a family focused on the elementary years, Cowan is a genuine draw, and the path behind it feeds all the way to Bowie.
Cowan Elementary by the numbers
| Metric | Cowan Elementary | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A- | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 66% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 50% | 41% |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A | A |
| Gifted students | 6% | N/A |
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | 15:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 34% | 50% |
| Total enrollment | 546 | 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 that Cowan clears the district on both reading and math while carrying an A teacher grade, uncommon for this part of 78748. Strong numbers like these, plus the Bowie path behind the school, are part of why the Cherry Creek area holds its appeal.
What Cowan feeds into
Cowan starts a feeder path that runs up into the Bowie zone. From Cowan, students continue to Bailey Middle and then to Bowie High:
This is the detail worth catching: Cowan sits in 78748, but it feeds Bowie through Bailey, while much of 78748 feeds Akins. Which exact schools a home feeds depends on the address, so I confirm the current path for any property before you write an offer.
Homes in the Cowan Elementary zone
Cowan serves the Cherry Creek, Maple Run, and Grand Oaks area of 78748, established, tree-lined South Austin neighborhoods with mature lots, parks, and quick access to Brodie Lane, Mopac, and the 45 toll. 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 and Cowan's strong ratings are part of why you're buying, I confirm the zone for the exact address.
Cherry Creek is one of the pockets of 78748 that feeds Bowie, not Akins, through Cowan and Bailey, and Cowan is a genuinely strong elementary on top of that. That combination moves buyers, and it's easy to get wrong from the ZIP. I confirm the exact path for every address, before you fall for the house.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Cowan
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 Cherry Creek or Maple Run 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 Cowan 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 in. When you're ready to look at homes, here's how buying in South Austin works.
Cowan Elementary FAQ
What district is Cowan Elementary in?+
Does Cherry Creek (78748) feed Bowie or Akins?+
Is Cowan Elementary a good school?+
What schools does Cowan Elementary feed into?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Cowan?+
South Austin is home base, and Cherry Creek 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 the Bowie-versus-Akins question this ZIP raises.
Cowan into Bailey into Bowie is the path this pocket feeds, with strong elementary numbers to match, 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, let's talk.
Last updated: September 2026. School ratings and boundaries change, so confirm the current figures and assignment for any specific address.
