Summary
Versia Williams Elementary in Fort Worth, TX, is a PK-5 school in the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd) serving 307 students, with over 95% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and it has recently shown a promising upward trend after years of struggle.
This school is a story of dramatic, recent improvement. After hitting a low point, Versia Williams has climbed to its highest ranking in nearly a decade, a positive trend that stands out compared to nearby schools like Charles Nash Elementary, which has seen a decline. A unique finding is a significant gender performance gap: male students rank in the 41st percentile, while female students rank in the 3rd percentile, a much larger gap than at surrounding schools. The school also shows strength in its bilingual program, outperforming the district and state in Spanish-language reading on the STAAR exam. Additionally, 4th grade math is a bright spot, with a 50% proficiency rate that beats both district and state averages, a remarkable turnaround from the previous year.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Science scores are critically low, and 3rd grade math is a persistent weakness, suggesting the math curriculum may not be well-aligned across grades. The contrast with nearby De Zavala Elementary, a top-performing school in the district, highlights the powerful link between poverty and performance, as De Zavala serves a less impoverished population and achieves much higher scores. Versia Williams spends $12,410 per student, which is less than De Zavala's $14,207, but the key difference likely lies in instructional strategies and leadership rather than budget alone. For parents, this school offers a mix of emerging strengths and ongoing challenges, with recent data suggesting positive momentum.
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