by An elementary school in Lake Worth ISD failed for the fifth year in a row, according to recently disclosed A-F accountability, putting the district in danger of state takeover.
After failed schools prompted a Texas legislation requiring action, the district, which has around 3,250 kids, may have to undergo an intervention similar to that of Fort Worth ISD.
In the meantime, three school districts in the Tarrant County region saw an increase in their state accountability grades, while none saw a decrease.
The 2024 and 2025 A-F ratings, which gauge the academic achievement of districts and institutions, were made public by the Texas Education Agency on Friday.
The northwest boundaries of Fort Worth are close to Lake Worth ISD. According to state data, out of the approximately 500 pupils enrolled in the elementary school, Marian Miller Language Academy, 91% come from low-income families, and 43.6% are emerging bilingual learners.
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Requests for comment were not immediately answered by representatives of Lake Worth ISD.
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In comparison to the F it received in 2024, the district as a whole received a D for 2025. With the exception of its high school, all six of its schools were given a failing grade for 2025. It was the fifth consecutive one for just Marilyn Miller Language Academy.
Any district with a failing campus for at least five years is viewed by the state as having consistently poor academic performance. Texas law mandates that the commissioner replace the elected school board and superintendent with a new board of management or close the failing campuses.
After visiting the district shortly, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has stated that he anticipates making a judgment regarding Fort Worth ISD’s future in the fall. He hasn’t discussed Lake Worth ISD in public.
Requests for comment were not immediately answered by TEA officials.
Mark Ramirez, who took over as superintendent in May, is starting a new school year in Lake Worth.
Lake Worth’s predicament is difficult and significantly influenced by dwindling enrollment, according to Steven Poole, executive director of the United Educators Association, which advocates for local educators.
The district had over 3,600 pupils in the 2019–20 school year, right before the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Poole, the new superintendent ought to be able to establish himself. Let’s give him a time to see what he can do with Lake Worth’s schools, and maybe the commissioner will take that into account.
Surrounding Tarrant County districts react to their ratings
Although grades are significant, statistics don’t represent the whole story, according to Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Superintendent Jerry Hollingsworth, whose district maintained a C for the third year.
According to a statement from Hollingsworth, we are learners much like our pupils. We’ll review the findings, make any necessary adjustments, and continue on our journey together. The best parts of our story are yet to come, the effort is important, and the development is genuine.
Aledo and Carroll, two of the 18 districts in the Tarrant County area, received As for both years.
The Everman and Crowley school districts went from receiving Ds to receiving Cs.
You can look up individual campus grades at TXschools.gov.
According to a news release from Morath, today is a return to accountability and clarity. With the publication of the 2025 A-F Ratings, we are reaffirming our dedication to openness and to giving every family access to accurate, easily accessible information about how their school is performing.
According to data from the Texas Education Agency, one out of three schools in the state saw an improvement in their letter grade. 15% of campuses saw a drop in ratings, while the majority kept their prior rankings.
Students’ performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, is a major factor in determining their grades.
The results are being released as Fort Worth ISD, which serves roughly 70,000 students, prepares for a possible state takeover due to low ratings. The revelation of the 2023 scores in April prompted a Texas law that required state intervention, forcing Morath to consider a takeover even if FWISD witnessed improvement.
2024 grades release after legal stall
Since the rating system’s introduction in 2017, Texas school administrators have had conflicting opinions about the A-F grades. Concerns about shifting standards and the measure’s emphasis on STAAR results have been voiced by elected trustees and superintendents around the state.
In recent years, some districts have challenged the method, which has delayed the release of grades.
Concerns that the state’s new computer grading system would lead to unfair scoring caused a lawsuit to halt the 2024 grades.
Texas was authorized by a state appeals court to make the ratings public in July.
The STAAR test isn’t given much weight by Northwest ISD, which scored a B, according to Anthony Tosie, executive director of communications. The district does not think a single-day, high-stakes test is the best way to gauge student learning, even though STAAR findings are useful for gauging student performance.
According to the spokeswoman, our district is still pushing for lawmakers to do away with the STAAR exam and instead concentrate on individualized education and each child’s ongoing development.
Governor Greg Abbott called a second special session on Friday, during which he asked lawmakers to do away with STAAR and replace it with other instruments for evaluating student achievement.
Similar to Tosie, Keller ISD, which was given a B, said in a statement that the state’s accountability ratings are just one piece of information among several that are taken into account when assessing achievement.
Numerous Texas districts frequently track academic performance in a variety of ways.
For instance, the district in Northwest favors Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP, assessments, which Tosie defined as a low-stress assessment conducted at different times during the year.
Castleberry ISD administrators praised its B rating and the positive reputation of its schools in a press release. Additionally, the district showcased new programs aimed at enhancing teacher retention, promoting literacy, and assisting families in getting ready for college.
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw superintendent Hollingsworth said he observes growth and interactions among kids, teachers, and parents at schools that cannot be quantified by ratings. He stated that in order to promote academic progress, the district is implementing significant modifications to its support and instruction systems.
According to him, this year’s results demonstrate both achievements and difficulties, serving as a reminder that even if we should celebrate our accomplishments, there is still significant work to be done.
This tale is still in progress and will be updated.
This story was reported by Jacob Sanchez, an education editor.
Drew Shaw works for the Fort Worth Report as a government accountability reporter. You may reach him at shawlings601 or [email protected].
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