Original Research by School Decision on Hendrickson H S
Hendrickson High School is a mid-sized secondary school in Pflugerville, north of Austin, serving grades nine through twelve. The school draws a diverse student body with substantial representation across racial and ethnic groups, and roughly a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a mixed-income enrollment.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, the school's performance varies by subject. In English language arts and science, the school shows solid proficiency, with strong results in science particularly. Mathematics proficiency is lower, with fewer students reaching the highest proficiency tier. Social studies performance falls between these areas. The data available covers only one year, so trend direction cannot be assessed. Comparison data positioning this school against other districts in Travis County was not available, making it difficult to situate its results within the regional context.
The school has well-balanced class sizes across grades nine through twelve, with each cohort at similar enrollment levels. This even distribution means teachers and support staff can expect relatively consistent demand across all four grades rather than bottlenecks in particular years.
Pflugerville ISD, the parent district, is currently navigating substantial change. The district board approved the closure of four elementary schools beginning with the 2027-28 school year to address budget pressures from declining overall enrollment. While Hendrickson High School itself is not among the schools scheduled for closure, this district-wide optimization signals enrollment headwinds that families considering the Pflugerville area should understand. The district also remains in the midst of capacity realignment at the middle school level, with additional consolidations under consideration.
On the positive side, the district recently completed voter approval for a substantial bond package in 2022, which is funding school renovations, technology upgrades, transportation improvements, and a new district-wide career and technology education center. This infrastructure investment is now underway. Additionally, the district has lowered its overall property tax rate to its lowest level in decades and held it flat in the most recent budget cycle, a direct benefit to homeowners. In 2025-26, the district introduced a new required middle school elective focused on career exploration in growing fields such as artificial intelligence and clean energy, which feeds into high school pathways.
The housing market in the Pflugerville 78660 zip code, where the school is located, reflects moderate values for the greater Austin area. Median home values are mid-range for Travis County, and rental costs are similarly moderate. Affordability relative to median household income is reasonable, though mortgage rates remain elevated and down payment requirements substantial.
A parent considering Hendrickson should weigh the school's demonstrated performance in science and English against its lower mathematics proficiency, and may want to look into further detail with the school about how it supports mathematics instruction and whether there are acceleration or intervention options available. The broader district context of enrollment decline and school consolidations is also worth understanding, both for how it may affect the school's resources and community composition going forward, and for how it shapes the elementary pipeline feeding into the secondary grades.
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