Canyon Vista Middle School in Austin

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) data from Texas Education Agency.
Student Growth	10/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Percentage of students meeting growth target data from Texas Education Agency.

Posted: August 6, 2026

im an incoming 8th grader, and heres some pros and cons of this school

pros:

* really good academically! there are students taking algebra in 6th grade but those students are from basis so
* there are friend groups for pretty much every interest so i wouldnt worry too much about making friends
* lots of fun people and most of the teachers are nice
* the clubs and electives are really fun!
* there are a lot of fun events throughout the year like socials and field day
i cant think of any more right now but there are more

cons:

* i dont want to say too much because i dont want people recognizing me, but i had a really bad experience with one teacher that made me quit something
* there are a LOT of students. the 16:1 ratio doesnt really feel accurate because some of my classes were completely full like 32 students
* bullying definitely happens. there were a few tiktok ship accounts that had videos targeting one girl before she moved but she dated like half the school too
* theres a lot of drama and gossip so id recommend staying out of it
* most of the guys in my grade are pretty chill, but some of the guys in the grade above were kinda weird like there were people who vaped and ive heard of a few doing drugs too, so just avoid people like that. but youre bound to have atleast a few people who vape in your grade except 6 grade

overall, i personally like this school. it really depends on how you make the most of it. just stay out of drama and youre good!

Posted: August 6, 2026

Posted: January 16, 2026

The school was great. But one thing that really bothered me are some of the teachers. Some of them wouldnt teach and some of them had clear favorites. But most of the teachers were awesome and respected us. Fortunately, everyone was nice to each other and from my perspective there was no bullying.

Posted: January 16, 2026

Posted: May 22, 2025

Good academic reviews if this school are based on student population not a reflection of the teaching or policies of the school. The student population is a very highly motivated academic population and would do well in any setting. Teachers that are actually engaged and care bout student learning are few and far between and policies at this school are not well thought out.

Posted: May 22, 2025

Posted: October 19, 2024

Canyon Vista has really gone down over the years. Student's (especially in 8th grade, such as myself) are made to feel like a burden to uninterested teachers, who complain about other students (anonymously, thank god) non-stop. They teach unenthusiastically for the most part, and make the material uninteresting, while expecting students to learn without any effort on their part. They also make you feel like a traitor if you ask you're parents for help about stuff going on in school, and about 1/6 of the kids here are either racist, abelist, transphobic, homophobic, or sexist. While a lot more are stuck-up. This school only cares about test, STAAR, and PSAT scores, while completely disregarding students mental health.

To expand on that, the stress and high competition of this school is making students feel depressed, anxious, and unwanted, leading to **serious** mental health problems for an estimated 1/4 of the school population.

The homework load is insane and irrational, to the point where you must plan weeks in advance if you want to do anything you find fun, even on the weekends.

If you aren't in advanced, TAG, or special athletic classes you are seen as less than, and told you "won't make it" at Westwood, and to "do better". On top of this, the councilors and most of the leadership (except Mr. Smith) are terrible. I do not recommend CVMS if you're child isn't **very** academically gifted, as the environment is not for the weak.

Keep in mind, this is all coming from a student with currently all A's.

On a more positive note however, the variety of clubs is nice, aswell as most 6th grade teachers. The athletics department is also good for people interested in sports and extracurricular activities. The school also has (at the time of writing) a few officers on campus. Band, orchestra, theater, and art classes are well staffed and generally good.

In conclusion, I think this school is way too competitive, and uninterested in the students. The negatives greatly outweigh the positives, and I would not recommend this school, especially for 7th and 8th graders.

Posted: October 19, 2024

Posted: November 3, 2023

You'll not find a better middle school than Canyon Vista! It has everything and it's the best!

Posted: November 3, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

I tried posting a review onto google reviews but I guess the school administration or wtv didn't approve it, I am an 8th grader so this is my second to last day here.

It's better than most schools I'm aware of, you just need good teachers that can actually help you memorize stuff and are forgiving.

The social life here is meh, I hear racist and ablest jokes sometimes, they're literally the same recycled joke used for years. People give you weird looks if you're alternative (I dress alternative out of spite, and do exaggerated makeup out of spite,) but it's not bad because you'll find people like you.
Really, just find some friends and you'll survive.

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: May 20, 2023

As a current 7th grader here, I do enjoy this school. Most teachers really care about the students and are passionate about what theyre teaching (with a few exceptions.) There is a bit of bullying and social hierarchy, though. If youre not athletic or on a sports team, you can be kind of unnoticed. I was on the volleyball team, and it was very fun, but many teachers were not at all understanding that we didnt always have enough time to balance the large workload they gave us. I do accelerated math and TAG language arts, and they do make it a bit more challenging than the on level classes, which keeps me more interested. So far, getting good grades has been decently easy, and the actual academic part of the school seems to be fine for most people. Ive found it easy to make friends, but i know a lot of people who are more quiet and cant really make friends that easily. There is a TON of drama, but its avoidable, just dont talk to the wrong people. Some white boys when mock the Indian Accent and its really rude. People make fun of nerds, but usually not to their faces. People will make fun of your outfit if its very expressive. Many people have Snapchat and BeReal, and I do think they can be great ways to connect but people also make fun of other people on there.

This being said, CVMS is still a great school, and i really love going there.

Posted: May 20, 2023

Posted: November 29, 2022

This school is amazing, they have so many opportunities and support a lot of different clubs, LGBTQ+ related things and religions. There is some problems with bullying and slight homework issues but overall pretty great. most of the teachers i have met so far are kind and actually care about their students. though i have seen some favoritsm among a few of them.

Posted: November 29, 2022

Posted: November 13, 2022

Really great school, great teachers and custodians

Posted: November 13, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Over all, it's a nice school but some things could be improved.

Posted: May 8, 2020

I would rate great at this school because some students respects teacher and some students bully each other.

Posted: May 8, 2020

Posted: April 1, 2019

Band is exceptional. There are some great teachers. Other teachers choose that school so their test scores are high (genetics of student population) and they don't have to do much. Lazy, and play favorites.

Posted: April 1, 2019

The children barely have enough time to each lunch and then they are in advisory. Advisory is a giant waste of time, unless the student uses it to get their homework completed, but why not teach the children basic life skills. Also, there is a HUGE cheating ring among a certain group of students who are afraid to bring home bad grades to their parents. These students are not inclusive at all, steal from classmates, bully other students and suck up to teachers.

Posted: April 1, 2019

There are some GREAT teachers and others who are lucky due to the genetic population of the school they teach at, as playing movies in Texas History countless times isn't teaching. It's child care.

Posted: April 1, 2019

See above. The school only cares about test scores, the TAG classes, athletics and anything else that makes them look good. The school is zoned in an area where their genetic pool is high, so don't let their high scores fool you. The leadership of the school isn't doing anything special. I'm not jealous, I have dual masters degrees myself. This is just the ugly truth everyone is scared to talk about.
EXCEPTION: Band - Amazing instructors.

Posted: April 1, 2019

Nothing special. No special programs. Entire days spent for a pep rally for sports students. If your student isn't part of an athletic team or in their TAG program, then they are invisible and told that they won't "make it" at WestWood." Leaders of the school award students who are undeserving and suck-ups, while they are they biggest bullies. As my child says, students arrive by the 747 full, unable to speak any English as Apple ships their parents in and they live in motels. The diversity of the students is horrific -- cheating, sneaking, and payback if a student speaks up. Stay away.

Posted: April 1, 2019

They make you feel like your child is a burden. Not enough resources. Climate culture of the school makes them feel that they should not show up because they are told they will amount to nothing in life.

Posted: December 10, 2018

Principals don t return email, espec Ms. H. If parent request a meeting, wait 2 weeks at least. This school is terrible, even if your kid is a very good students. teachers don t teach but expect parents to tutor and teach their kids before giving them long reflective projects. This is ridiculous.

Posted: December 10, 2018

Too much, 2-3hr every night in 6th gr?? 1 hr of math for Accel, when leave school at 4.30, after Club, plus project after long projects

Posted: September 5, 2017

I have a AA daughter that goes to this school for the last two years. The school is great for diversity and allows for other cultures to be experienced in their courses. Odd that some of the reviews are low.. I believe as long as my daughter is thriving and happy this school will get a A++++
In all, CVMS is a good school and allows them to really start thinking about world events as well.

Posted: March 15, 2017

The kids are doing very well and they are hard working.

Posted: March 15, 2017

They have great clubs. I like the helping hand club. Keep up the great work.

Posted: September 7, 2016

As a parent of a TAG (Talented and Gifted) student, I am disappointed with the level of instruction and lack of attention to detail provided at this school. This school is highly rated simply because of the hard work put in by the students and their parents as most of them are academically inclined. There is nothing special about the school and its staff are mostly average. Handing out large homework packets does not make up for poor instruction in class. There are many other schools in Austin which have excellent, dedicated staff but unfortunately are not rated high as they do not have the ideal set of students.

Posted: June 20, 2014

My kid attended grade 6 here and it was extremely disappointing. this school is not deserving of the 10 or 5 stars I see on the internet. My kid was BORED the entire time in 5th grade part 2. CVMS and RRISD policy is to ignore grades, test scores, and recommendations from other districts - even highly rated districts within Texas. If your kid is high achieving &/ gifted stay out of RRISD and far away from canyon vista. Your intelligent kid will be lumped with the on level or below kids. Canyon vista's only concern for students is perfect attendance and STAAR test results. The TAG counselor told me that the only goal for CVMS is to teach the students how to get through Westwood. It wasn't to teach the students on how to learn or how to be successful. The only positive thing I can say is that my kid felt safe at this school. There isn't any risk of gangs or drugs. Probably because the administration belittles the students to have then believe they are still in elementary school. I really regret sending my kid here and feel duped by all the glitters of the rewards this school flaunts. This school isn't gold.

Posted: June 10, 2014

I really enjoy going to Canyon Vista and the teachers really care about the students, but the only flaw that I personally see is that if you really want to perform well, then there is always going to be a lot of competition , which is a good thing really, but leaves kids frustrated and they perform "lower" than they might in a different school. Which as I said before is a good thing but I guess makes kids more rigid and in the desire to defeat others. But really, this school has increased my standards and has taught me many important lessons and there is a lot of academic opportunity.

Posted: May 9, 2014

We have now put four children through three different highly respected middle schools, and none of them compare to Canyon Vista. You can't put a price on this level of educational quality or scholastic experience. Top core academics, top extracurricular programs, and a great community.

Posted: April 17, 2014

This is an excellent school.My daughter loves all of her teachers,they are extremely nice,outstanding,supportive and give specific comments for each student !The staffs help the students exceed in their talents!

Posted: November 9, 2013

really good school. Teacher is nice, band and orchestra are good too!! Great school for children!!

Posted: November 7, 2013

I have been involved with this school since 2006. The staff is exceptional. They love what they do and really ace about the kids. The whole office support staff are the same way from the principal down. Middle school is a tough time and I cannot imagine sending my children anywhere else

Posted: May 1, 2011

As a parent with children currently attending this school, and as a teacher myself (but not at this school), I congratulate the teachers at Canyon Vista for always holding students accountable for their own learning, for keeping expectations high, and for going the extra mile to help students whenever they need it. I also appreciate the administration for instituting the sixth grade "Mustang Discovery" elective, which requires sixth graders to learn study/organizational skills, leadership skills, and technology skills. Anyone who knows anything about the challenges that public educators face should be highly impressed the quality of this school. In addition, CVMS receives annual excellent ratings along with one of its feeder schools, Laurel Mountain, and the area high school, Westwood. Their latest kudos come from the nonprofit Children at Risk, which ranks thousands of schools statewide based on standardized test and college entrance exam performance, attendance rates and graduation rates, among other factors. All three of these schools topped this organization's rankings. My children all currently attend these schools, and I could not be more pleased with their educations.

Posted: January 5, 2011

Canyon Vista is the perfect middle school if your child is a tag (talented & gifted) student. If your child has a learning disability it is a hostile environment. Teachers and admin band together to cover-up mistakes and provide as little accomodation to the special needs students. Teachers are impatient and aggressive with slower paced students. I actually had the 504 coordinator, Julie Engelmann, tell me my child with adhd just needs to try harder to pay attention in class. The exceptions have been the Art and Orchestra classes and teachers. They have been patient, caring and above average.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Anderson Mill	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Austin	TX	1.9 mi
2	Midtown Commons at Crestview Station	Apartment Complex	Austin	TX	7.2 mi
3	Mill creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Salado	TX	39.5 mi
4	Evergreen Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	43.4 mi
5	Spanish Oaks	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	43.5 mi
6	Skipcha Mountain Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	43.7 mi
7	White Rock Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	43.8 mi
8	Timber Ridge Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	43.8 mi
9	Knights Ridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Harker Heights	TX	44.2 mi
10	Savannah Heights	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	44.6 mi
11	Glenwood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Killeen	TX	44.8 mi
12	Copperas Cove	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Copperas Cove	TX	47.6 mi
13	Oak View	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Belton	TX	49.3 mi
14	Skyline Flats	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Copperas Cove	TX	49.4 mi
15	Heartwood Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Copperas Cove	TX	49.8 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Main street	Salado	TX	38.7 mi
2	Harker Heights	Harker Heights	TX	44.8 mi
3	Elms street	Killeen	TX	45.8 mi
4	East Rancier Road	Killeen	TX	48.5 mi

Base	Distance
Camp Mabry	8.1 mi.
Fort Hood	49 mi.

Canyon Vista Middle School

Austin, TX 78759

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Canyon Vista Middle School

Austin, TX 78759

School Ratings

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