Quick Answer: The best schools near West Walnut Street Garland, TX include Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence, a top-rated PreK-5 campus a short drive away, along with North Garland High School and the apply-in magnet at Austin Academy. Because Garland ISD runs a Choice of School program, renters here pick their campus instead of being locked to one address.
Families searching for a rental in west Garland almost always ask the same question first. What about the schools? Crestridge sits at 3200 West Walnut Street, close to several of the area's strongest campuses, and it serves renters at these West Walnut Street apartments who want short commutes to class. This guide covers the best schools near West Walnut Street Garland, TX, how the district's choice model works, and which nearby campuses parents ask about most.
What to Look for in the Best Schools Near West Walnut Street Garland, TX
Start with three things: location, program fit, and Garland ISD's Choice of School rules. The nearest campuses to West Walnut Street sit in the 75042 zip, yet the district lets you apply well beyond your neighborhood. Weigh a school's grade range, magnet offerings, and transportation zone before you commit for the year.
Ratings help, but they are one input among the best schools near West Walnut Street Garland, TX. A 10 out of 10 GreatSchools score at Walnut Glen Academy means little if the commute or the program does not fit your child. Tour a campus, ask about the magnet application timeline, and confirm your zoned schools by address.
How Does Garland ISD's Choice of School Program Work Near West Walnut Street?
Garland ISD is one of the few Texas districts built around school choice. Instead of assigning every student to a single zoned campus, it lets families attend their neighborhood school, request one across town, or enter a magnet lottery. New families make a first choice during enrollment, then can change again each spring.
As of 2026, Garland ISD was named the H-E-B Excellence in Education Texas District of the Year, and it educates more than 51,000 students across 67 campuses. For the best schools near West Walnut Street Garland, TX, that flexibility matters. Transportation to your chosen campus is not guaranteed, so use the district's Choice of School program and its explore.garlandisd.net address map before you rank schools.
Walnut Glen Academy and Nearby Garland Elementary Schools
Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence is the closest of the standout campuses, on Edgewood Drive in the 75042 zip a short drive from West Walnut Street. It covers PreK through 5th grade, hosts one of the district's Academy for Excellence magnet tracks, and earned a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating in recent reporting. Look at the other Garland elementary schools too. Freeman Elementary and Northlake Elementary are common Garland ISD picks, though buildings shift. Freeman recently moved to Travis Street, so confirm the current address and your transportation zone before you enroll.
Which Middle and High Schools Serve the West Walnut Street Area?
The closest comprehensive high school is North Garland High School, a 6A campus on West Buckingham Road in the same 75042 zip. For middle grades, neighborhood options feed from your zoned elementary, while high achievers can apply to the magnet at Austin Academy. Here is how the nearby campuses compare.
| School | District | Grades | Area / Zip | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence | Garland ISD | PreK-5 | West Garland, 75042 | Closest strong campus; Academy magnet |
| North Garland High School | Garland ISD | 9-12 | West Garland, 75042 | Nearest comprehensive high school |
| Austin Academy for Excellence | Garland ISD | 6-8 | Garland, 75040 | Apply-in middle school magnet |
| South Garland High School | Garland ISD | 9-12 | South Garland, 75043 | Choice option, farther south |
| Garland Christian Academy | Private (Baptist) | PreK-12 | Garland, 75040 | Tuition-based college prep |
| Big Springs Elementary | Richardson ISD | PreK-6 | NW Garland, 75044 | Different district; verify eligibility |
Austin Academy Garland and Middle School Choices
Austin Academy Garland, officially Austin Academy for Excellence, runs the district's middle school Academies for Excellence magnet on Beverly Drive. It draws motivated 6th through 8th graders from across Garland ISD and has held a strong state rating for years. In 2025 it became the first campus in Garland ISD and Region 10 to earn a Purple Star designation for supporting military-connected families. Entry is by application, not by address, so West Walnut Street renters can apply no matter their zone.
South Garland High School and Area High Schools
South Garland High School sits farther out on Colonel Drive in the 75043 zip, on the south side of the city. It serves grades 9 through 12 with Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses. It is not the nearest high school to West Walnut Street, but the choice model means families can request it or another comprehensive campus. For most West Walnut Street addresses, North Garland High is the closer neighborhood option.
Garland Christian Academy, Big Springs Elementary, and Options Beyond Garland ISD
Not every family near West Walnut Street picks a Garland ISD campus. Garland Christian Academy, a private PreK-12 Baptist school on Lavon Drive, offers a college-prep program with tuition that has run roughly in the $7,700 to $12,900 range depending on grade. Big Springs Elementary is another name renters run across, but it belongs to Richardson ISD, not Garland ISD, and sits in the 75044 corner of northwest Garland. It has earned National Blue Ribbon recognition. If your address falls in that Richardson ISD pocket, your enrollment path and boundaries differ, so confirm the district before you assume a campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which schools are closest to West Walnut Street in Garland?
A few campuses sit closest to the West Walnut Street area:
- Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence, PreK-5, on Edgewood Drive
- North Garland High School, grades 9-12, on West Buckingham Road
- Beaver Technology Center, a K-5 math and science magnet on March Lane
Each falls in the 75042 zip. Confirm your zoned campus by address on the district's explore map.
2. Is Big Springs Elementary part of Garland ISD?
No. Big Springs Elementary is in Richardson ISD, even though it sits inside the Garland city limits at 3301 West Campbell Road in the 75044 area. It serves PreK through 6th grade and has earned National Blue Ribbon recognition. Families whose address falls in that Richardson ISD pocket follow that district's enrollment rules, not Garland ISD's.
3. Do I have to send my child to my zoned Garland ISD school?
Not necessarily. Garland ISD's Choice of School program lets you attend your neighborhood campus, request another school, or apply to a magnet lottery. New families choose during enrollment, and everyone can change each spring during the choice window. Transportation is only guaranteed within designated zones, so factor that in early.
4. Where is Freeman Elementary now, and is William Elementary nearby?
Both campuses recently relocated. Freeman Elementary, officially Freeman at Golden Meadows, now sits on Travis Street in Garland. The campus searchers call William Elementary is officially Williams Elementary, and it moved to Parkcrest Drive. Garland ISD has been consolidating buildings, so check the current address and transportation zone before you enroll.
5. What grades does Abbett Elementary Garland TX serve, and which schools rate highest?
Abbett Elementary Garland TX, on West Muirfield Road in the 75044 area, serves elementary grades within Garland ISD. Among nearby campuses, Walnut Glen Academy and the magnet at Austin Academy tend to post the strongest ratings. Ratings shift year to year, so pair them with a campus visit and your own program priorities.
Finding the Best Schools Near West Walnut Street Garland, TX
The best schools near West Walnut Street Garland, TX give renters real options, from top-rated Walnut Glen Academy a short drive away to apply-in magnets and private choices across the city. Because Garland ISD runs on school choice, your address in west Garland opens doors rather than closing them, though you should always verify zoned campuses and transportation before you enroll. When the schools fit, the home should too. Explore our floor plans, take the photo gallery and virtual tour, and start an application when you are ready to make this part of Garland your family's next home.
