The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on C C Mason El
C C Mason Elementary serves a family-centered suburb northwest of Austin where growth is rapid and housing patterns are reshaping school boundaries. The school draws about six hundred students across prekindergarten through fifth grade, nearly all of them in traditional grade clusters. Enrollment mirrors Cedar Park itself: a majority-white student body, with a meaningful Asian student population and a smaller Hispanic share. About one in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a relatively affluent zone.
On academic measures, the school sits above the midpoint for proficiency across districts in Williamson County. The most recent data shows a pattern: English language arts is solid. In grades three through five, between about two-thirds of third graders and three-fifths of fourth and fifth graders achieved proficiency or above. Reading in third grade was the strongest showing. Mathematics, by contrast, is a soft spot. Proficiency rates drop to four out of ten in fourth grade and roughly four in ten in fifth grade, with third grade at about five in ten. Science is notably weaker still; in fifth grade, only a small share of students demonstrated proficiency. The school has data only for the current year, so whether these results signal recent declines or stable patterns cannot be determined from what is available. A parent may want to ask the school directly about math supports and any instructional changes underway, especially in grades four and five where nearly half of students are not yet proficient.
Reading development appears to be a relative strength. Across the tested grades, most students meet or exceed proficiency benchmarks in English language arts, and a meaningful share earn the highest mastery level. The gap between reading and math is worth noting: it suggests the school has cultivated literacy instruction but may need to sharpen approaches in numeracy and problem-solving.
Cedar Park itself is transforming from a car-dependent residential suburb into a mixed-use community. The new public library anchors a walkable downtown district with parks and mixed-use residential space. Beyond that core, the community remains largely suburban: shopping corridors, the H-E-B Center entertainment venue, and master-planned residential neighborhoods with established homeowners. Home values in the Cedar Park zip code fall in the mid-to-high range for the region, and median rents are moderate to upper-middle-income. The school's low free-and-reduced-lunch rate aligns with this: families here tend to be college-educated and financially secure.
Leander ISD, the district that operates the school, has been managing sharp enrollment growth. The district passed a large bond in 2023 to fund new elementary schools, modernization of high schools, and classroom technology including interactive flat panels. Boundary rezoning has been repeated and will continue; the district rezoned secondary schools for 2024-25 and rezoned elementary schools to open a new elementary campus. Families considering the area should know that further rezoning is planned for 2026-27. School assignments are not static here. The district also approved a tax rate increase in 2022 to address budget pressures and preserve teacher staffing and programs.
Cedar Park's growth is deliberate and mixed-use rather than sprawling. New housing includes both master-planned single-family neighborhoods (such as Toll Brothers' luxury homes) and multifamily developments in the downtown district. The city has positioned itself as an economic hub with major employers in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and proximity to the Austin tech corridor. This is a place where family life is anchored in good schools, parks, trails, and commercial vibrancy, rather than isolated subdivisions.
Mason Elementary fits this context: a school serving an affluent, growing suburban community where English language arts is taught well and mathematics instruction appears to need attention. The school is part of a district that is investing heavily in facilities and classroom technology but is also managing ongoing enrollment and boundary changes. For families weighing whether this is the right school, the core question is whether the gap between strong reading and weaker math instruction is something the school is actively addressing, and whether repeated boundary rezoning aligns with how long a family plans to stay in the area.
See more original research from School Decision →