About 40% of Fort Worth ISD campuses will have a new principal this school year
With just weeks until the start of the 2026-27 school year, Fort Worth ISD is naming new principals at dozens of its campuses as expansive leadership shakeups continue across the district following the Texas Education Agency’s takeover.
After another flurry of hires in recent days, the district has now filled 48 principal positions this summer through new hires and internal placements. Twenty-three of those were filled through internal promotions of former assistant principals or other staff, while the other 25 were external hires. Three principal positions still remain vacant as of Friday, July 17, according to data from the district provided to the Star-Telegram.
Principals who left the district following the takeover have done so for a number of different reasons. Some left on their own accord because of changes made following state intervention. Others were not retained by new district leadership that is looking to jumpstart progress at struggling campuses.
The district also moved dozens of principals to new campuses following the creation of the Elevate Network, a group of schools handpicked by Superintendent Peter Licata and his team because of persistent underwhelming academic performance. Of the 19 campuses included in the network, 12 will have a new principal this upcoming school year. Five of those 12 are new to the district, a spokesperson told the Star-Telegram.
Schools who most recently had principal changes this summer include: Carter Park Elementary, Sunrise McMillan Elementary, JP Elder Middle, Jacquet Middle, Stripling Middle, Daggett Middle, McLean Middle, Clifford Davis Elementary, Burton Hill Elementary, M.H. Moore Elementary, Wedgwood Middle, Western Hills High, Arlington Heights High, McLean 6th, North Hi Mount Elementary, Paschal High, Marine Creek, RJ Wilson Elementary, Southwest High, Carter-Riverside High, and dozens more.
Fort Worth ISD leaders see the high turnover rates as an opportunity to appoint new principals who can spark academic progress at some of the district’s longest-struggling campuses. But some education advocates and community members worry that such extreme leadership turnover can do more harm than good. Others are concerned that long-time district employees no longer wish to work within the district and are instead opting for jobs at neighboring districts.
Castleberry ISD, Arlington ISD and several other campuses in and around Tarrant County have used the state intervention at Fort Worth ISD as a recruiting pitch, promising less drama and a local elected board, several sources told the Star-Telegram.
In a brief statement to the Star-Telegram, a district spokesperson said each staffing decision is made strategically.
“Fort Worth ISD is focused on strategic realignments under Superintendent Dr. Licata’s leadership,” the spokesperson wrote.
The district has experienced principal turnover at both its highly-rated and lowest-rated campuses. Changes sparked by the district were at schools with D and F ratings in the state’s A-F accountability rating system. But a number of other principals from highly-rated schools have also exited their jobs.
Of the 48 schools with principal changes this summer, 39 were given a 2024-25 A-F accountability grade of C or lower. Twenty-nine of those schools were graded D or lower. Several schools in the Elevate Network have already cycled through a number of different principals in recent years, even prior to the district’s shakeup from state-appointed leadership. A few campuses replaced principals who were appointed just several months ago.
It’s possible for extensive leadership changes to do damage to a district and campus. It can cause lower student test scores, accelerate teacher turnover and stall school improvement efforts, according to data from the Learning Policy Institute. Schools with average leadership tenures of less than four years create more unstable and less experienced staff environments than campuses with longer-tenured leaders, the data shows.
“The most robust evidence from the studies reviewed indicate that schools with higher percentages of students from low-income families, students of color and low performing students are more likely to experience principal turnover,” the Learning Policy Institute study reads. “These schools are also more likely to be subject to accountability pressures, which are associated with higher turnover.”
But Licata and his staff see the other side of the coin. They only sought to replace principals who were not delivering strong student outcomes. Successful principals deciding to leave the district following the takeover is unfortunate but just part of the process, Licata said.
“We’re trying to convince some of [the principals] that are really, really good that want to leave, to please stay,” Licata said in April. “Please, please, please stay. But we already accounted for about 40-60 percent of them to remain in place, so that is what we’re preparing for.”
Licata’s April estimation of 40-60 percent of principals staying in places ended up being fairly accurate. Sixty-two percent of Fort Worth ISD schools will have the same principal as they did during the 2025-26 school year. Thirty-eight percent will have a new leader.
“Dr. Licata was very intentional about the principal selection process,” said Louis Kushner, Licata’s chief of staff. “It wasn’t only teachers that reapplied for their jobs — it was principals and assistant principals, who had to go through a very rigorous interview process.”
Licata said the process for principal selections included evaluating data, test scores, an intense interview process and classroom walkthroughs.
“After the interviews, we had them come and walk through classes with our regional chiefs, myself and Dr. Kushner,” Licata said. “We pulled them aside after and asked them what they saw, what they didn’t see, what should have been better. We had them jump in and coach immediately. And not all of them made it through that process. It was really intense. It’s like, you’re honored to be in front of these kids and be the leader of these teachers. You’re gonna have to show us that you’re worth it.”
