Kealing Middle School in Austin | Military Town Advisor

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	8/10	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: May 14, 2026

Kealing does well mostly because the students are super motivated and a lot of parents help their kids a lot. If you want good grades, you usually have to push yourself hard and have parents checking in a lot too, and I personally know some genuinely smart kids that use AI for all of their homework because of how bad it is. Some teachers are really good, but others barely teach and mostly rely on flip lessons and videos, especially in math. Theres a ton of problem sets, busywork, and weekend assignments, but not much actual instruction. Math feels like teaching yourself most of the time. There are also fights and bullying pretty often, but if you stay out of it and dont get involved, youre usually fine. The bigger issue is that the school doesnt always handle student support or bullying very well.

Posted: May 14, 2026

Posted: December 13, 2025

The success on the magnet program is more a consequence of a very motivated student population with involved parents. There are some very strong teachers at Kealing, but there are also teachers who don't teach and rely on videos and cultivate an atmosphere of rigor through an excessive amount of homework rather than truly challenging the students. This is especially true of math where busywork reigns supreme and instruction is at a minimum. Math teachers overuse videos and there are no textbooks but abundant worksheets and weekend deadlines. The school provides little in the way of social emotional support during a time of life when these kids really, really need it. My children have witnessed and experienced bullying from other students and neglect from teachers; in a school with a lesser academic reputation these would be flagged but, given the high test scores, are largely ignored. I would warn parents of sensitive and/or anxious children to look elsewhere.

Posted: December 13, 2025

Posted: July 29, 2024

This school might've been good before, but it has gone severely downhill. They are very short-staffed which means the teachers that they do hire are not good. I had one teacher where she didn't even teach. She just handed us notes and assignments. While she was grading for the final semester, she replaced my friends ungraded assignments with zeros because she didn't want to grade them. Most of the only interesting electives are gone because the teachers left. I remember I was in an elective that was supposed to have an overnight field trip and me and my friends were so hyped up for it but then it turned out that it was too late because they didn't order the charter buses soon enough or something. There are very minimal chances of being with your friend during lunch because we have 4 different lunch periods and even rarer to be in a class with your friend. However, I'm not saying that it's all bad. I had some really good and fun teachers in Kealing which really made it worthwhile but honestly I feel like most of the teachers just don't care.

Posted: July 29, 2024

Posted: December 8, 2023

This is not a safe environment for kids. There are no consequences for students aggressive behaviors in the classrooms towards students/ teachers. Admin does not take action in these situations, making it difficult for students, teachers and parents to feel safe and supported.

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: October 24, 2023

I am an 8th grader at Kealing right now, and it's kind of hard for me to write this review because when I first got here, it was the peak of Covid-19, so it was obviously horrible. Now, since the pandemic is pretty much completely over, it is much better than it was and it seems to be making upward progress, so I would recommend it for for incoming 6th graders as next year it will probably be a really good school. The only things I really have to say about reasons not to go are 1. fights happen all the time between students so it's not the most safe school, and 2. there is a lot more homework than other schools like Lively and Small, so if you want to avoid work as much as possible, this is not the school for you.

Posted: October 24, 2023

Posted: October 6, 2023

I would recommend Kealing for incoming students. Most of the teachers are very nice and good at doing their job. There are some problems with fights at the school, but it is slowly getting better. I personally enjoy Kealing and have had a really good experience.

Posted: October 6, 2023

Posted: May 15, 2023

I am in 8th grade and about to graduate. The teachers are super nice and try their best, but I think that the admin has really let them down these last few years. The fights are really bad and people constantly set off trash fires and fireworks. I can't even walk through the halls without being shoved into a locker by kids that are running through the halls just to skip class. The homework is definitely better than the rumors, but I think that is because of COVID.

Posted: May 15, 2023

Posted: December 30, 2022

My child is in the magnet program and has found the core academic coursework challenging and rewarding. Her teachers are engaging and dedicated. The elective courses are more of a mixed bag - some are worthwhile but others seem more like loosely organized free periods. There do appear to be ongoing behavior issues with some students. I have seen students wandering the hallways during class time and ignoring teacher requests to return to their room. My child tells me these are typically the same students day after day and that they knock on doors and run - leading to interruptions in learning. There is a new principal who I hope can take a hard line with unruly students to preserve the academic standards of this school.

Posted: March 24, 2022

My kid is having a great time at school, learning a lot and making new friends from across the city. She likes all her teachers too. Looking forward to having my other kid go here as well. So many fun options for electives.

Posted: March 24, 2022

Posted: May 26, 2021

Great school! Great teachers that care and push students with patience! Great student community! My kid really enjoys it!

Posted: May 26, 2021

Posted: May 9, 2021

Amazing middle school several people trying to buy to send their kids to this middle school.

Posted: May 9, 2021

Posted: April 28, 2021

This school seems beyond repair. Magnet systems should never be allowed to have disproportionate programs. The idea that the majority of a school is considered elite or academically better implies that the other group is inadequate. Having any percent other than 50% allows for bias to exist; whether it be conscious or not. This is evident in the treatment of students, teachers, and classified staff.

Whats done behind closed doors is not portrayed accurately to the public. If you are a teacher passionate about equity, this is a career killer. If you are a parent of a child with disabilities, language issues or low literacy, or even of color... Please do not let your child anywhere near this school.

Kealing is the epitome of sincere ignorance.

Posted: April 28, 2021

Posted: January 17, 2021

I am in the magnet program. I think that it is appropriately challenging but there is a lot of work some times. I would recommend this school if you like crying. Also people in the academy program are kinda cray cray though.

Posted: January 17, 2021

Posted: August 11, 2019

I really enjoy it and my first year has been my best year in my schooling, Kealing is great and it helped me improve a lot.

Posted: August 11, 2019

We don't have bullying problems here and I haven't seen any of that.

Posted: November 30, 2018

Math teacher gavevmy son a ZERO in the whole class semester but Never once called, emailed me back or followed his IEP

Posted: November 30, 2018

Mr. rost is amazing the rest are complicit to bullying

Posted: November 30, 2018

None of the bullying gets addresses or observed or looked into

Posted: November 30, 2018

Lawsuit forming child has been physically and verbally abused for two years despite my son following their reporting procedures

Posted: November 30, 2018

Awful like broke my son. If your child is in the magnet program which all these scores are based on then great! If your child is here in the academy or regular school be prepared for teachers who dont care, dont teach and definitely allow children to behave like aggressive rude children

Posted: October 8, 2018

Great experience so far at the Kealing Magnet Program. My son finally feels challenged and LOVES going to school every day.

Posted: May 29, 2017

The Kealing magnet program is a great program and has taught me a lot. There are some kids in the academy program who can be a little harsh, but overall Kealing is awesome!

Posted: May 29, 2017

Posted: April 27, 2017

Tried to meet with someone from the school for a quick tour, after 3 weeks of calling, leaving messages, being placed on hold for 10 minutes, I gave up.

I hear it's a good school though.

Posted: November 3, 2016

As of the 12th of November, my son will have been going to Kealing for a month. In this time he has endured vulgar and racial slurs from other students, has been slapped in the face on the bus, has had a photo taken of him while exposed during a restroom break and today was thrown down in the hallway between classes. I have been made aware that no other student has received any consequences for their actions (assaults) due to the fact that staff members apparently cannot seem to figure out which students are doing is things. My child's experience at this time has been entirely negative. As parents, we want to have a sense of security regarding our children when they go out that door each morning. At this time, I DO NOT feel that my son is in a safe environment at Kealing Middle School.

Posted: April 6, 2014

My son recently completed Kealing and loved this school. He learned skills to study and work at a high level. The teachers are amazing and go out of their way for the students. They create interesting material and challenging projects for their classes. Although it is not a good fit for everyone. The homework amount and level of intensity was a bit much at times. Daily and weekends. Good fit for the academically minded student who likes challenges and loves to study and learn. Our other child chose to go to Fulmore Magnet, a more well-rounded experience (not just academics), which has also been a good experience.

Posted: December 21, 2013

I agree with the 8th grade blond girl, 5 hour HW is a tale. For my 6th grade son, Social study (World culture) has the most HWs, then Algebra, both are interesting and both teachers are great. My son does the homework slower after school since he was checking youtube, pokemen, games...... So he spent average of 3 hours in stead of 2 hours if he can focus.

Posted: November 12, 2013

I currently go to Kealing and I love it. With a little organization and focus, you can basically get anywhere in this school. If you love a challenge and if you love learning, you will definitely love this school.

Posted: May 6, 2013

I am a Kealing graduate, went to LBJ Science Academy, then UT-Austin for engineering, then Harvard/MIT for a MD/PhD. I can only say that Kealing started it all for me. I was challenged, disciplined, and engaged to learn more and do better. Kealing prepared me for LBJ by allowing me to take advanced math classes and the science electives to this day were some of my favourites. I think the academic rigor and creative classes really set apart and self-designed a curriculum that excited me. Also, something that is very important and not to be overlooked... At the time, the neighborhood was pretty rough, (gang-related?) fights everyday and we had to wear our backpacks in front of us during lunch so our graphing calculators wouldn't get stolen. Some parents may think that this is a dangerous situation that they would never want their kids to encounter. It was an invaluable part of growing up and helped me learn the so called "street smarts" and a good dose of reality. And as a physician, people from multiple diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic levels have said that they can relate to me more since I understand their background. Thank you Kealing + LBJ. A winning combination.

Posted: May 5, 2013

Kealing was definitely the right choice for me. I never had a challenge back in elementary school, and going into Kealing was just what I needed for my level. There's always a challenge waiting around the corner to get you, and only you can decide whether or not you will fight back and conquer the beast. If you feel like school is too easy for you, then come to Kealing if you're willing to fight back.

Posted: April 24, 2013

A lot can change in the 20 or so years since I was a student at Kealing but it sounds like the work load and academic standards have not. As a 34 year old graduate of an Ivy league university, law school and MBA school, and Kealing, I can honestly say Kealing was the hardest, most challenging and stressful academic experience of my life. I would agree that the work load was probably "developmentally inappropriate" as I clearly remember working 5-7 hours a night, and these two years being among the most stressful of my life. However, in highschool honors classes there was a huge difference between students who went to Kealing vs Murchison and others. Also, the discipline and study skills I learned at Kealing carried me through highschool and ultimately the rest of my life. I never again want to work that hard consistently, but when the need emerges, I know how to turn on the focus needed for this kind of endurance. Ultimately this experience shaped who I am for the better, though it definitely came at a price. I know my success later in life started at Kealing.

Posted: April 15, 2013

I work at Kealing MS in the Magnet Program. Our program is worthwhile for most students and families who join, since it really is a microcosm of life-in-general, with a few added supports and a few unique hurdles of its own. The pros? Students prone to "check out" in normal public school because they feel they're way ahead of the game almost certainly won't do so in this program. Between the accelerated curriculum, the robust extracurricular clubs/sports, and the wide variety of elective opportunities, a kid has no room to be bored. In addition, teachers have enough autonomy to create/modify curriculum to the accelerated needs of the students. Students create poetry, plant gardens, build musical instruments, study the stars, and much more. The cons? Sometimes the curriculum is heaped too high for the child's/family's time to manage. Sometimes the teacher doesn't fully understand the student's unique needs or family situation. Sometimes a student feels overwhelmed or misunderstood. But the best part? IT'S JUST MIDDLE SCHOOL. All its absurdities and stressors perfectly foreshadow those found in later life, but in a safer environment with some more room for mistakes. And learning.

Posted: April 10, 2013

I am a current 7th grader, and I know that this school is tough. The academics are rigorous and the amount of homework I have can be a lot. But I feel like I'm learning so much more than I did at my normal public school. The courses are absolutely amazing! The math and science courses offered are really advanced and I'm learning more than I ever thought I would in middle school. I really do love Kealing Middle School. I would recommend it to anyone that wants more of a challenge than a regular public school can offer.

Posted: December 21, 2012

Alrighty hate to be this one person, but Kealing is one of the best schools ever. Current Student in eighth grade so I've been through what your kids have been through. I couldn't have written this without Kealing. It has taught me many outlets of expressing myself, writing being one of those. I work on homework, on the bus, and at school during classes. If i sit down and focus I'm done in 45 minutes what apparently takes kids 4 years. It's not cause I'm better than others, it's because I focus. It takes kids doing "homework" on computers like 10x longer cause they multi task. Also this load of homework in Seveth grade. Been there done that. So easy. All you had to do was focus. I did Algebra and German as well. The teachers there are the best. They support critical thinking. In the end we don't follow district guidelines until we have to. We learn sometimes really useful things. Sometimes though we don't learn anything, because we think to much on a journal entry and debate. Overall Kealing in my opinion is one of the best schools for intellectual knowledge and for your kid to learn more. By that I mean interacting. I have scraped friends made new ones. Easy and a good thing too.

Posted: December 8, 2012

Parents beware--the magnet program challenges the kids, however, the negative reviews on this site are right. The homework load is outrageous. My kid frequently has over 5 hours of work each night--no breaks, works continuously , even at the dinner table. After school sports and clubs had to be dropped to keep up.The load is so great that parents started complaining on the listserve. They reported stressed out kids, lots of tears and frustration. Administrators conducted a survey confirming the problem. 1 in 3 parents said they considered removing their kids from the school. Teachers have unrealistic expectations and can be a tad sadistic. In group projects one member of the group usually does not do their part so the others are up late picking up the slack. The new principal seems to want to change things but it's wait and see. A.teacher at a very prestigious private high school once told me not to worry about getting my child into the best schools until high school where it would really matter most. I wish I had listened and kept my student in our home school & then attempted to get into LASA which I hear has a wonderful, positive learning environment. We will not be back.

Posted: October 23, 2012

The classes are extremely engaging, but the amount of work loaded on these kids is developmentally inappropriate. I have a post graduate degree in Education, and wanted my son to attend this school to be challenged; instead he is beginning to feel like he can't make the grade. I am trying to ascertain if the strong academics partnered with my child's plummeting self-esteem outweigh the "regular" curriculum of our neighborhood school where my child's self-esteem would remain intact. This school is not for everyone, and just because your child is bright/gifted does not mean this is the right learning environment for them. Is Kealing a good school? Yes, it is a good school. Is it for everyone? No, absolutely not.What would make Kealing a great school? Have a more inclusive accelerated curriculum that engages and encourages all students learning styles. Also, keep in mind an accelerated curriculum does not mean you must teach the students as if they are in college, challenge them , push them, but keep your teaching practices and expectations in line with the developmentally appropriate guidelines for the tweens and early teens you are charged with educating.

Posted: August 7, 2012

Is Kealing Magnet harder? Yes. Is it better? Not sure. Some instruction seemed unnecessarily difficult. On the other hand, students do learn self-discipline. Is there more opportunity? Definitely lots of electives and after school activities. Are the kids great? Yes. Are teachers really engaged? Not in our experience. This one really surprised us. In fact, our student felt anonymous among Kealing Magnet teachers and considered returning to our former AISD middle school for its excellent teacher-student relationships.

Posted: February 29, 2012

I'm a 7th grade magnet student at Kealing Middle School, and overall I would have to say Kealing is a great school. It's great for any child who is looking for a challenge, yes there's a lot of homework (it decreases as the year progress) but it is a great experience and a great advantage in their future. Kealing makes sure you are ready for life coming ahead and will make high school and college a breeze if you are successful. Don't freak if your child's grades than normal, it's normal the curriculum's are harder and challenging but overall it's a great school and highly recommend it for any bright child looking for a challenge!

Posted: February 18, 2012

I cannot speak to the quality of the regular/CAP program, but as far as the Magnet School I can't say enough great things. My kid was utterly bored the last year of elementary school and Kealing completely woke her up. Yes, its tough, but all the kids in her group are completely supportive and devoted to making it. The classes are interesting and challenging. You MUST stay on top of the homework every day or you will sink, guaranteed, but if you can set the right rules for getting it done, its super worth it, and my kid takes a perverse pride in knowing she's in the toughest school in the city. The orchestra is amazing, the electives fun, the core classes challenging. Our kid immediately made new friends who were also eager to learn. I am so impressed by the level of smarts at this school. There are downsides: friends are scattered all over town and hard to see after school. The cafeteria is dysfunctional so plan on taking lunch. Really, my kid never had time to eat after going through the line, so we gave up. But overall, Amazing school. Demanding but brilliant.

Posted: January 31, 2012

My child is now in the 7th grade Kealing Magnet program and it is far more sane for him than 6th grade was. He only has 1 hour homework a night and no longer has huge projects due every 6 weeks in multiple classes. I have not had to help him with any subjects other than some linear algebra they touched on for a week. That was hard core, but thankfully a short chapter. This has been a very easy year for the family. Nothing like 6th grade. My son is holding a 92 average in most core classes, 95 in English and history. He is a smart child but loves to goof off and play. He is still a child at heart. 7th grade is not crushing his spirit like 6th grade almost did last year. I no longer drive him so hard either. 92% in math and science are fine. He is 12. KM 85% is like A plus in other schools. Don't freak if your A+ baby drops to the 80's in a class or two. That holds double for 6th grade. Best of luck!

Posted: December 11, 2011

Great school...BUT...There is too many gangs around the school and the teachers don't encourage them to learn when they are in the gangs.THEY DONT CARE

Posted: December 8, 2011

Our 6th grader in the Kealing Magnet program is having a great time. He is finally getting academic instruction and challenge at an appropriate level for him. For years we paid extra for math instruction through the Stanford EPGY program and now he is able to take math at his level. His other classes are also very high caliber and interesting to him. The coordination between English and World Cultures is great. And science and band are both fun and challenging. He spends about 1 hour on homework during the week and just a couple hours on the weekend. I think this is very acceptable. I think some kids at Kealing may not have good preparation for scheduling their time but it's a skill they WILL eventually have to learn to get into a great college. Being a Stanford graduate household, this is what we want for our kids and I think this is the way to prepare them for that caliber school. Kealing isn't for every kid and some kids will mature later and not be ready for the responsibility and work yet. But if your student is really motivated and is aceing their elementary school work then Kealing may be a good option for them.

Posted: November 30, 2011

It has good teachers, really! And it should be, considering its' a magnet school. YAY!!

Posted: November 28, 2011

People complain about teachers being too harsh or the homework being too hard, but as a 7th grader at the school I can say that that's the point. You sign up knowing that you will be subjected to a heavy workload and possible stress, and you deal with it if you are actually interested in receiving superior education. If you don't then the consequences are your fault. Students at school are happy and supportive of each other and there is a strong, positive community. The curriculum is rigorous and covers much more ground than regular schools. Kealing also has great orchestra and band programs and a huge selection of fun, engaging electives that aren't offered at any other school. It's really a personal matter. You will hate the school if you can't handle the workload, but if you can the academic and personal rewards are great.

Posted: October 1, 2011

I am a current 8th grader at Kealing in the magnet program, and it is one of the best learning experiences I've ever had. The curriculum is rigorous and difficult, but fun to learn about and gives you good study habits. There is a lot of homework but I enjoy doing it and I still have time for extracurriculars and friends. The orchestra program is also amazing and in the top ten middle school orchestras in the state. You make friends with kids in both programs and people from all over the city. The teachers are excited about teaching and we want to learn.

Posted: September 11, 2011

I would strongly encourage everyone to stay away from Kealing Magnet School. They screen kids to get the smart ones but heap so much homework on them as if they can't comprehend! Three hours of homework a night is routine. There isn't any room for other activities. Kids learn best when they are having a positive experience, not being punished. They need to explore other interests and be well rounded. Administration ignores these issues and is difficult to work with. Don't be surprised if they don't return your calls. Teachers impose their own liberal views of life/religion on kids and parents aren't usually aware unless you follow homework carefully. You are far better off to have your students in local middle schools. They have student support and factual curriculum. Their music and theater teachers quit last year due to no support from the administration. One teacher told me she felt she was being set up by the administration for failure. The students I spoke with weren t happy at Kealing Magnet. They hated the bars on the windows, the homework, the teachers and the many fights between CAP kids and Magnet kids. We have one chance to raise our kids. Beware .

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Midtown Commons at Crestview Station	Apartment Complex	Austin	TX	4.8 mi
2	Anderson Mill	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Austin	TX	13.4 mi
3	Mill creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Salado	TX	48.5 mi

Kealing Middle School

Austin, TX 78702

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Kealing Middle School

Austin, TX 78702

School Ratings

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