Teachers at these Fort Worth schools could make six-figure salaries next year
Teachers at select Fort Worth ISD schools could start making six-figure salaries under a new compensation plan approved by the district’s board at Tuesday’s meeting.
The plan will be in place at seven campuses that are part of Fort Worth ISD’s Accelerating Campus Excellence program: Morningside Middle, William James Middle, Wedgwood Middle, Clifford Davis Elementary, West Handley Elementary, Western Hills Elementary and Western Hills Primary.
The new compensation plan is aimed at attracting and retaining the best talent to teach at the academically-struggling schools, Superintendent Karen Molinar said in September.
The district’s goal is for at least 50% of the staff at the schools to be designated under the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that awards distinctions and additional funds to “highly effective” public school teachers.
Instructional staff with those distinctions will be paid at one of four levels based on the category of their job, according to the plan.
Salaries for student support staff will start at $88,000 and range up to $100,000 for teachers of STAAR-tested core subjects. Elementary school principals will start at $130,000 and middle school principals at $145,000.
All other school staff, including assistant principals, counselors, librarians and licensed health professionals will be paid the regular Fort Worth ISD salary and receive a $10,000 stipend.
“We need the best teachers on these six campuses,” Molinar said. “We need them across our district, but we know that these campuses have historically been underperforming, and we have to do something radical.”
The Accelerating Campus Excellence program is part of a wider strategy, the Resource Campus Model, designed by Texas lawmakers in 2021. Under the plan, campuses with at least three D or F ratings over the past 10 years can qualify for additional funding if they pledge to adopt a series of changes, including a lengthened school year, high-quality instructional materials and a strategic teacher compensation plan.
The ACE program, in addition to the increased teacher salaries, encompasses other features like an extended school day and heavy emphasis on reading and math.
The motion passed in a vote of five to one, with six members of the school board present.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
