Western Hills High School

Western Hills High School in Fort Worth, TX, serves 854 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd), a district that ranks in the 30th percentile statewide. The school has experienced a significant and sustained decline in academic performance over the past decade, dropping from the 49th percentile in 2016 to the 11th percentile in 2026, indicating deep-rooted challenges that have not been successfully addressed.

When compared to nearby schools, Western Hills stands out for several concerning metrics. Its Algebra I proficiency rate of just 14.05% is dramatically lower than the district average of 33.31% and the state average of 54.03%, and it is far below the 52.65% proficiency rate at Benbrook Middle/High School, located just 4.12 miles away. The school also has a high dropout rate of 5.0%, compared to Benbrook's 0.4% and Arlington Heights High School's 1.5%, and a graduation rate of 81.3% that lags behind Benbrook's 91.2% and Brewer High School's 93.2%. Notably, Western Hills spends $13,530 per student, significantly more than Benbrook ($9,776), Arlington Heights ($9,673), and Brewer ($9,184), suggesting that funding alone is not the issue.

Despite these challenges, there are a few interesting findings. U.S. History is a relative strength, with 51.38% of students proficient, though still below the state average of 70.17%. However, the school's Gifted and Talented program ranks in the 0th percentile statewide, indicating a failure to challenge its highest-achieving students. The most direct comparison is with Benbrook Middle/High School, which serves a more diverse student body and achieves dramatically better results across all subjects, highlighting that higher performance is possible within the same district.