After big STAAR gains, long-struggling Lake Worth ISD eyes even more improvement
After improving its STAAR exam results more than almost any other district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this school year, Lake Worth ISD’s new state-appointed leadership has its sights set on even more improvement as it prepares for the 2026-27 year.
Lake Worth’s grade 3-8 STAAR exam results grew significantly from 2025 to 2026, according to Texas Education Agency data released last month. The district grew by more than 9% in math and nearly 3% in reading. The math score growth was more than any other district in Tarrant County. Both the math and reading results outpaced the Texas average for year-to-year growth.
The TEA announced it was taking over Lake Worth ISD in December. Shortly after, it named Ena Meyers as the new superintendent to replace former leader Mark Ramirez, and also appointed a Board of Managers to temporarily replace the elected school board. That decision was met with apprehension from many in the Lake Worth community who spoke at meetings to passionately defended Ramirez and said real progress had occurred under his leadership. Ramirez was named the district’s superintendent less than a year before he was replaced.
A spokesperson for Lake Worth ISD told the Star-Telegram that Ramirez’ leadership is a large reason the district saw such strong gains on STAAR results this year, and that Meyers’ work will build off that for even better results in the years to come.
“Lake Worth ISD is incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our students, teachers, campus leaders, and support staff,” a district spokesperson said. “We are grateful for the leadership of former Superintendent Dr. Mark Ramirez and the work he and his team began to strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes. Those efforts helped establish momentum, and we appreciate the commitment that was made to our students.”
Despite strong improvement in recent years, Lake Worth still lags significantly behind the state average in STAAR exam results, and is also behind most other districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
In the 2025-26 school year, just 22% of Lake Worth third- through eighth-grade students met grade level in math, compared to a state average of 43%. In reading, 27% of students of the same age range met grade level, compared to a state average of 54%. Lake Worth has improved those percentages in both subjects each year since 2023. There is still a long way to go for Meyers and new state-appointed leadership, but this is a step in the right direction, the district said.
“Our focus remains on building upon that progress, not starting over,” a spokesperson said. “We believe these improvements are the result of a focused commitment to high-quality instruction and meeting the needs of every student. While we are encouraged by the gains across multiple subjects and grade levels, we also recognize that there is important work ahead.”
The district said it will continue to improve student outcomes through bettering its instructional practices, supporting its teachers through coaching and professional learning, and making sure every student has access to rigorous instruction.
This coming school year, state-appointed district leadership will ensure every Lake Worth ISD student participates in weekly social-emotional learning and character development lessons, with dedicated time built into the school day to develop leadership, communication and other essential life skills.
“Our primary priority is ensuring every classroom delivers high-quality grade-level instruction aligned to a strong curriculum,” the spokesperson said. “Beyond academics, we are committed to educating the whole child. Our goal is to enhance college, career, and military readiness while creating meaningful pathways that prepare students for success beyond graduation.”
The district is also planning to improve its partnerships with higher education, business and community organizations in the area.
In her introductory press conference in April, Meyers said her first course of action would be to review the district’s curriculum and make sure teachers feel supported. Meyers, who most recently served as deputy chief of strategic initiatives at Houston ISD, also acknowledged that there were numerous parents who believed the state intervention was not the correct course of action for Lake Worth. But Meyers vowed that she will do everything she can to guide the district toward improvement.
“Our message to families is simple: every decision we make is centered on improving outcomes for students,” the spokesperson said. “We recognize the academic gains our students have achieved, and we celebrate that progress. At the same time, we know there is still significant opportunity for growth, and we remain committed to helping even more students perform at or above grade level.”
As she prepares for her first school year leading Lake Worth, Meyers outlined her key areas of focus as: establishing clear expectations for teaching across the district, providing ongoing coaching and support for teachers to improve instruction, increasing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the Central Office Team so that campuses receive the support they need, and strengthening curriculum.
Meyers has spent the last few months visiting each campus, reviewing data, observing classrooms, and meeting with teachers, students, staff and parents. Those conversations have helped shape the district’s priorities moving forward, the spokesperson said.
“Families can expect to begin seeing these improvements this upcoming school year,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is for students to experience engaging instruction every day, demonstrate continued academic growth, increase attendance and develop the confidence and skills needed for future success.”
