New state A-F ratings could place Fort Worth ISD at risk of state takeover. Here’s why
The Fort Worth Independent School District could be at risk of a state takeover after a now-closed campus posted five consecutive years of failure ratings, a spokesperson for the state education agency confirmed.
The Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade received an F in the Texas Education Agency’s 2023 A-F accountability scores, which were released Thursday after two years of legal wrangling.
State law requires Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to take action against school districts that have campuses with five consecutive years of unacceptable ratings. That action could include a state takeover like the one Houston ISD went through two years ago.
State law allows the education commissioner to intervene in other ways, including shutting the struggling campus down but leaving the district intact otherwise. Fort Worth ISD closed the campus last year due to declining enrollment and combined it with nearby Forest Oak Middle School. But it’s unclear whether the fact that the campus has already been shut down removes the risk of a state takeover.
A TEA spokesperson said the ratings are considered preliminary until August, and all districts are given an opportunity to appeal their ratings. He declined to speculate on possible interventions Fort Worth ISD could face.
In a statement, Fort Worth ISD officials didn’t address the possibility of state takeover directly, but pointed to steps the district has taken in the past year to increase student achievement, including a renewed focus on reading instruction and the adoption of a new strategic plan.
“The District Strategic Plan is our roadmap to addressing past accountability ratings and current student data,” officials said. “Campus Improvement Plans for the 2025-2026 school year are aligned to the District Strategic Plan. The plans are developed based on a campus needs assessment that enables the campus staff to capture the unique opportunities for their campus. The need assessment includes state performance data as well as a variety of other data that help campuses to develop plans that meet the unique needs of all students while fostering an environment where they can thrive academically.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
