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Joy James Academy Of Leadership

Public Grades PK, KG-5

3527^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Joy James Academy Of Leadership is an elementary school in Fort Worth, TX, serving 471 students in grades PK-5 within the Castleberry Independent School District (Isd), a district that faces significant challenges statewide.

This school stands out for its exceptional support of Special Education students, ranking in the 91st percentile statewide for this group in 2023-2024, a stark contrast to its overall ranking. It also shows a unique strength in its Spanish-language reading program, where 4th graders achieved 80% proficiency in 2025-2026, far exceeding both district and state averages. The school invests more per student ($12,732) and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (14.3) than nearby schools like Castleberry Elementary ($9,503/student, 15.6 ratio) and Greenfield Elementary ($9,357/student, 15.9 ratio), suggesting a focus on individualized attention for its high-needs population.

However, the school presents a paradox: while it excels with specific subgroups, its overall academic performance has declined sharply, dropping from the 49th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 24th percentile in 2025-2026. This decline is most evident in mathematics, where 5th-grade proficiency fell from 50% to 25.4% over two years. Compared to nearby schools, Joy James outperforms struggling Lake Worth Independent School District (Isd) schools like Marine Creek Leadership Academy and N A Howry Steam Academy, but is being outpaced by Dolores Huerta Elementary in the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd), which has rocketed from the 10th to the 57th percentile in the same period. This suggests that while Joy James provides strong targeted support, a strategic shift may be needed to raise achievement for all students.

471

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,067

Per pupil spending ?

91.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5300 Buchanan St
Fort Worth, TX 76114-1399

(817) 252-2500

District: Castleberry Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Joy James Academy Of Leadership usually attend:

Middle:	Irma Marsh Middle
High:	Castleberry High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

84.7%

White:

7.9%

African American:

3.6%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Joy James Academy Of Leadership to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (39% vs 50% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg45%

Texas avg50%

3,527^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Castleberry Independent School District (Isd)

679^th of 951Castleberry Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	28.5	3527 of 4627	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.1	3184 of 4651	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.4	2405 of 4710	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	3041 of 4647	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.6	2463 of 4581	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.0	3578 of 4578	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.7	3940 of 4479	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.9	3200 of 4359	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.0	3731 of 4329	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	28.6	3354 of 4286	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	13.8	4015 of 4320	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	24.5	3647 of 4260	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.3	3564 of 4221	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.6	3402 of 4206	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.2	2893 of 4095	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	49.4	2365 of 3937	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	37.0	2885 of 3884	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	40.0	2666 of 3768	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	32.4	2971 of 3724	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	44.5	2310 of 3476	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	41.1	2433 of 3475	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	33.0	2765 of 3465	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	55.3	938 of 2515	62.7%	★★★☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	48.3	2218 of 4461	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.4	2936 of 4331	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.2	3316 of 4295	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	52.0	1819 of 4240	57.1%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	42.6	1650 of 2918	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	2311 of 3668	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	1861 of 3556	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.8	1600 of 3487	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.3	2583 of 3446	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	2913 of 3333	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.3	1429 of 3226	55.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	29.0	3514 of 4575	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.8	2397 of 3744	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.1	2668 of 4658	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.1	3466 of 4588	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.3	2809 of 4561	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	3001 of 4499	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.0	3563 of 4348	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.8	3079 of 4306	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	20.1	2876 of 3075	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	40.2	1976 of 2619	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	61.7	1367 of 2980	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	1105 of 2958	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.2	2209 of 3006	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	2824 of 3184	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	77.8	235 of 3106	92.4%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	31.1	3381 of 4413	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	47.8	1872 of 3644	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.1	1850 of 4465	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.7	2511 of 4401	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.0	1644 of 4376	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	28.7	3318 of 4329	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.6	3765 of 4188	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	3202 of 4168	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	41.3	2757 of 4520	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.7	1372 of 3705	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.8	1511 of 4594	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.7	2408 of 4521	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.3	1405 of 4477	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.7	3199 of 4451	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.1	3574 of 4309	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.2	2475 of 4264	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	29.8	3464 of 4582	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.0	2031 of 3739	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.9	2127 of 4647	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.5	2598 of 4585	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	2256 of 4563	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	20.1	3856 of 4498	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	4019 of 4357	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	3392 of 4319	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	2144 of 4301	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.4	672 of 3549	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	81.9	379 of 4292	91.2%	★★★★★
2023	39.4	2346 of 4086	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	1649 of 3952	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.0	2559 of 3799	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.0	3559 of 3684	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	50.3	1395 of 3558	60.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	25.3	2180 of 2612	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.4	1774 of 3108	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.2	2489 of 3106	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	2814 of 3082	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	28.0	2429 of 3082	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.7	2805 of 3142	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.1	2264 of 3127	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2019)63rd percentile+51 vs school

At Risk (2022)50th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2026)50th percentile+26 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)43rd percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)24th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)23rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)23rd percentile~ school

White (2025)17th percentile-15 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)6th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading45%-10 vs state

Mathematics31%-16 vs state

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Schools Near Joy James Academy Of Leadership

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)			STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2026)		STAAR Reading (2026)			STAAR Mathematics (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	Total
Joy James Academy Of Leadership	Public	PK, KG-5	5300 Buchanan St	Fort Worth	76114	Tarrant County	Castleberry Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 252-2500	471	33	14.3	91.5%	37 (7.9%)	17 (3.6%)	399 (84.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	14 (3.0%)	28.5	3527^th of 4627 public elementary schools	23.8%		34.1	3184^th of 4651 public elementary schools	31.5%	343	50.0	80.0				41.5	52.6	40.3	25.4	42.9	25.4	$16,067
Marilyn Miller Language Academy	Public	1-5	5250 Estrella Dr	Fort Worth	76106	Tarrant County	Lake Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 306-4280	509	33	15.3	91.2%	45 (8.8%)	100 (19.6%)	348 (68.4%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	6.9	4557^th of 4627 public elementary schools	1.5%		6	4592^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	1.3%	35	7.4	23.5	20.0	0.0		22.7	25.0	30.1	19.0	19.0	19.2	$10,200
W J Turner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3001 Azle Ave	Fort Worth	76106	Tarrant County	Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 814-4900	341	22	15.1	93.8%	7 (2.1%)	11 (3.2%)	321 (94.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	12.7	4396^th of 4627 public elementary schools	5.0%		12.2	4407^th of 4651 public elementary schools	5.2%	11	35.3	21.1	54.6			33.3	30.0	24.3	16.3	25.5	33.3	$11,458
Marine Creek Leadership Academy	Public	1-5	4801 Huffines Blvd	Fort Worth	76135	Tarrant County	Lake Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 306-4270	347	26	13.1	91.4%	54 (15.6%)	124 (35.7%)	102 (29.4%)	38 (11.0%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.6%)	9.1	4517^th of 4627 public elementary schools	2.4%		4.7	4620^th of 4651 public elementary schools	0.7%	103						27.4	19.5	21.4	27.9	21.8	26.2	$11,275
Dolores Huerta Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3309 W Long Ave	Fort Worth	76106	Tarrant County	Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 740-5550	443	35	12.7	93.7%	9 (2.0%)	4 (0.9%)	427 (96.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	52	2011^th of 4627 public elementary schools	56.5%		26.2	3651^st of 4651 public elementary schools	21.5%	1640	12.5	47.4	38.5		40.0	51.2	51.2	55.8	45.5	45.0	50.0	$10,725
Castleberry Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 Roberts Cut-Off	Fort Worth	76114	Tarrant County	Castleberry Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 252-2300	754	48	15.6	90.5%	82 (10.9%)	24 (3.2%)	628 (83.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	18 (2.4%)	42.1	2581^st of 4627 public elementary schools	44.2%		40.1	2765^th of 4651 public elementary schools	40.6%	184	65.2	61.1	50.0			46.5	34.1	58.4	36.3	44.3	47.5	$11,791
Sam Rosen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2613 Roosevelt Ave	Fort Worth	76164	Tarrant County	Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 814-4800	407	28	14.4	95.1%	9 (2.2%)	6 (1.5%)	392 (96.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25.5	3719^th of 4627 public elementary schools	19.6%		24.2	3782^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	18.7%	63	50.0	53.9	31.3			33.3	38.5	47.6	35.4	27.5	37.5	$11,292
Kirkpatrick Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3229 Lincoln Ave	Fort Worth	76106	Tarrant County	Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 814-4600	296	21	14.1	94.3%	32 (10.8%)	40 (13.5%)	203 (68.6%)	14 (4.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	18.5	4129^th of 4627 public elementary schools	10.8%		8.6	4525^th of 4651 public elementary schools	2.7%	396	62.5	40.0				42.9	33.3	26.7	30.3	37.2	23.4	$12,369
Effie Morris Early Learning Academy	Public	PK-K	3801 Merrett Dr	Lake Worth	76135	Tarrant County	Lake Worth Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 306-4260	356	23	15.2	90.7%	64 (18.0%)	99 (27.8%)	166 (46.6%)	8 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.1%)	18.5	4127^th of 4627 public elementary schools	10.8%					(n/a)						35.5	30.3	31.7	29.0	42.7	16.7	$12,830
Greenfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6020 Ten Mile Bridge Rd	Fort Worth	76135	Tarrant County	Eagle Mt-Saginaw Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(817) 237-0357	620	39	15.9	48.7%	220 (35.5%)	101 (16.3%)	236 (38.1%)	17 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	43 (6.9%)	29.9	3431^st of 4627 public elementary schools	25.8%		44.9	2444^th of 4651 public elementary schools	47.5%	987						46.2	42.9	44.3	37.6	36.1	29.3	$7,962

Frequently Asked Questions about Joy James Academy Of Leadership

What is the racial makeup of Joy James Academy Of Leadership?

Students at Joy James Academy Of Leadership are 85% Hispanic, 8% White, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Joy James Academy Of Leadership attend?

Students who attend Joy James Academy Of Leadership usually go on to attend:

Middle : Irma Marsh Middle
High : Castleberry High School

What district is Joy James Academy Of Leadership in?

Castleberry Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Joy James Academy Of Leadership?

In the 2024-25 school year, 471 students attended Joy James Academy Of Leadership.

Is Joy James Academy Of Leadership a good school?

Joy James Academy Of Leadership ranks in the bottom 23.8% of Texas elementary schools.

Rate Joy James Academy Of Leadership!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.