Fort Worth ISD’s overall accountability rating ticked up slightly in the latest Texas Education Agency (TEA) report, holding at a C, but its Student Achievement score — the measure of how many students are performing at grade level — has stayed in the D range for three straight years, raising questions about whether those gains are enough to avoid a possible state takeover.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath informed Superintendent Karen Molinar and Board President Roxanne Martinez in a May 5 letter that the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade had failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years. State law requires Morath to intervene in such cases, either by appointing a board of managers to replace the elected school board and superintendent or by ordering campus closures.
Scores Show Limited Progress
According to TEA, Fort Worth ISD’s Student Achievement score — the domain that measures how many students are actually performing at grade level — improved only from D / 63 in 2022–23 to D / 68 in 2024–25. While the district’s overall accountability grade rose from D / 61 to C / 73 over the same period, the sluggish pace of growth in Student Achievement underscores that the majority of students are still not meeting state standards in core subjects.
Gaps Across Student Groups
TEA’s “Closing the Gaps” data reveal persistent disparities across student groups:
- All Students: 38% reading, 29% math; growth rates 63% and 60%; graduation rate 82.6%
- African American Students: 29% reading, 19% math; graduation rate 76.4%
- Hispanic Students: 35% reading, 28% math; graduation rate 84.3%
- White Students: 65% reading, 55% math; graduation rate 82.9%
- Asian Students: 44% reading, 37% math; graduation rate 89.3%
- High Focus Students (economically disadvantaged, special education, English learners): 33% reading, 25% math; graduation rate 81.2%
These outcomes underscore that the majority of Fort Worth ISD students are not meeting grade-level standards in reading and math, with the widest gaps hitting African American and Hispanic students.
Dallas ISD Comparison
By contrast, Dallas ISD’s Student Achievement score has held steady in the C range, rising from 71 in 2022–23 to 76 in 2024–25. While both districts continue to grapple with gaps between student groups, Dallas has shown more consistent momentum in raising overall achievement.
As The Dallas Express reported last week, Dallas Education Collective Executive Director Nakia Douglas cautioned that accountability ratings reveal deeper issues.
“While we celebrate the progress, the Student Achievement data shows there is still significant work ahead, especially when looking at certain student groups,” Douglas said. “That’s why it’s critical we focus on improving educational outcomes for every child — no matter their ZIP code.”
Leadership Response
Superintendent Morath framed the updated A–F ratings as part of the state’s renewed focus on transparency and student success. “Today marks a return to clarity and accountability,” he said in a statement. He added, “With the release of the 2025 A-F Ratings, we are reinforcing our commitment to transparency and to providing accurate, readily available information that helps every family understand how their school is doing.”
Molinar expressed hope that the district’s improvements will influence Morath’s decision on whether to impose a state takeover. “I hope that he sees the direction we’re going in,” she said, noting that incremental gains can still make a meaningful difference for students.
“Their chances now for what their future looks like just changes every day and every year,” Molinar said.
The commissioner has not announced what action he will take. For now, Fort Worth ISD remains under scrutiny, balancing the threat of state intervention with cautious optimism that recent academic gains could help stave off a takeover.