Gus Almquist, Hutto TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gus Almquist

Gus Almquist is a new middle school serving grades 6 through 8 in Hutto, a rapidly growing Austin suburb on the east side of Williamson County. The school opened in 2024 as part of the district's response to enrollment growth that is projected to nearly double by the early 2030s.

The school sits in a housing market where home values have declined modestly year-over-year, though they remain above the state benchmark. Rental costs in the Hutto zip code have also declined slightly. The area is experiencing substantial residential expansion driven by semiconductor and industrial development along the U.S. 79 corridor and an influx of families seeking more affordable housing than Austin proper. New housing includes large build-to-rent communities and expanding subdivisions across the city.

On state testing administered in 2024-25, Almquist's results show uneven performance across grades and subjects. In English language arts, students in seventh grade performed strongest, with a meaningful share reaching proficiency. Sixth-grade ELA proficiency was moderate, and eighth-grade ELA was also moderate. In math, the picture is more challenging. Sixth-grade math proficiency was low, seventh-grade math proficiency was very low, and only eighth-grade math proficiency reached a more moderate level. Science proficiency in eighth grade was moderate. Social studies proficiency in eighth grade was low. Overall, when averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school's proficiency index sits below the midpoint among Williamson County school districts.

The uneven grade-level performance in math, particularly the very low showing in seventh grade, is notable. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand whether specific interventions are in place and what support exists for students who are not yet meeting grade-level expectations.

Demographic and enrollment data for the school were not available in the records reviewed. Staffing, program breadth, attendance, discipline, or special supports also do not appear in the available information. The school's website, if present, was not included in the data provided.

Almquist is part of Hutto ISD, which has undertaken substantial capital expansion. Voters approved a major bond in 2023 to fund two new elementary schools, conversion of the district's ninth-grade center into a second comprehensive high school called Creekside, campus expansions, technology, and renovation of an academic center. The district stated the bond would not raise the current tax rate, having lowered it in prior years. The opening of Almquist and these other projects reflect the district's deliberate effort to manage rapid growth, a context that shapes both the newness of facilities and the ongoing demand for additional capacity.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 32% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 715%

School 15% · District 15%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 847%

School 47% · District 47%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 52% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 758%

School 58% · District 53% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 62% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Science

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 48%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 29% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolHUTTO ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income35%Higher-income54%19 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income46%Higher-income67%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income46%Higher-income64%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income25%Higher-income38%13 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income10%Higher-income19%9 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income36%Higher-income54%18 pp gap