Small Middle School (Austin ISD): Oak Hill 78749 Zone
Small Middle School is a public middle school (grades 6-8) in the Oak Hill area of 78749, part of Austin ISD, and it's one of the stronger middle schools on the south side. It serves the Oak Hill, West Oak Hill, and Cedar Valley neighborhoods, draws from the Patton and Oak Hill elementaries, and feeds into Bowie High, so the full path here is one families specifically move for. Here's the picture: the ratings, the numbers, the schools on either side of it, and what being zoned to Small means for your home search.
Is Small Middle School a good school?
Yes. Small grades A- overall on Niche, right with the district, and its proficiency runs above the Austin ISD average: around 71% of students proficient in reading versus the district's 54%, and around 59% in math versus 41%. One number really stands out: roughly 21% of students are in gifted programs, one of the higher shares you'll find at a public middle school. It earns an A teacher grade and is a larger campus of about 1,260 students with an 18:1 ratio, serving a mixed community where about 28% are in the free-lunch program. For a family weighing the middle-school years, Small is a genuine strength of the Oak Hill area, and it sits on a feeder path that stays strong into high school at Bowie.
Small Middle School by the numbers
| Metric | Small Middle | Austin ISD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade (Niche) | A- | A- |
| Reading proficiency | 71% | 54% |
| Math proficiency | 59% | 41% |
| Gifted students | 21% | N/A |
| Teacher grade (Niche) | A | A |
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | 15:1 |
| Students in free lunch program | 28% | 50% |
| Total enrollment | 1,260 | 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 standouts here are the reading proficiency, around 17 points above the district, and that 21% gifted share, which points to a strong set of advanced and honors offerings. Combined with an A teacher grade, that's a big part of why the Oak Hill area holds its appeal with families.
What feeds into Small, and where it goes next
Small sits in the middle of a strong Austin ISD feeder path on the Oak Hill side. Students arrive from a group of well-rated elementaries, and Small then feeds into Bowie High:
Which elementary a home feeds through depends on the exact address, and both Patton and Oak Hill carry solid ratings of their own. Because it feeds a top-rated high school, the full path up to Bowie is one of the reasons the Oak Hill and West Oak Hill area stays in demand. I confirm the current elementary, middle, and high school for any specific address before you write an offer.
Homes in the Small Middle School zone
Small serves the Oak Hill, West Oak Hill, and Cedar Valley area of 78749, the greener, more wooded western side of South Austin, including the Village at Western Oaks, the Meridian neighborhood, and the streets along the Highway 71 and 290 corridor out toward the Hill Country edge. You get more trees and often more lot for the money here than in the Circle C core, with quick access to the Y at Oak Hill, Mopac, and 71. Homes draw steady family demand, and the schools are a big reason why. The thing to know: this is a large western zone and Austin ISD boundaries can shift block to block, so if Small (and the Bowie path behind it) is part of why you're buying, I confirm the zone for the exact address. For the full picture of the area, see my living in 78749 guide.
Oak Hill gives you Hill Country trees and a little more room, with a middle school that carries a genuinely high gifted share and feeds straight to Bowie. It's a big western zone, though, so a home further out can land in a different school. I confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for every address, so you know the full path before you fall for the house.
How to confirm your address is zoned to Small
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 an Oak Hill or West Oak Hill pocket you're considering and I'll confirm whether it's zoned to Small, pull the current elementary and high school on the path, and flag anything that affects your decision.
Buying in the Small Middle zone?
Tell me what matters most and I'll build your search around it. The feeder path runs up to Bowie High, so start there for the high-school picture, use the 78749 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.
Small Middle School FAQ
What district is Small Middle School in?+
Is Small Middle School a good school?+
What high school does Small Middle feed into?+
What elementary schools feed into Small Middle?+
What neighborhoods are zoned to Small Middle School?+
How do I find out if a home is zoned to Small?+
South Austin is home base, and the Oak Hill and West Oak Hill 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 line a home up with the school path they want.
Small feeds straight to Bowie and carries a high gifted share, which matters to a lot of families out here. Matching a home to the right zone is second nature for me. If the middle-school 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.
