Tanglewood Elementary

Tanglewood Elementary in Fort Worth, TX, is a top-performing public school serving 575 students in grades PK through 5, and it consistently ranks in the top 3% of all elementary schools in Texas, making it a standout within the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd).

What truly sets Tanglewood apart is its elite academic performance, which dramatically outpaces both the district and state averages. For example, 3rd-grade Reading proficiency reached 86.32%, compared to the district's 40.84% and the state's 51.08%. This pattern of roughly doubling the district average holds across all subjects and grade levels. While nearby Overton Park Elementary ranks slightly higher statewide (#28 vs. #134), Tanglewood serves a more economically diverse student body (19.48% eligible for free/reduced lunch vs. Overton Park's 6.08%) and still achieves near-perfect scores, suggesting it adds exceptional value. In contrast, other nearby schools like Como Elementary and Alice D Contreras have over 90% economic disadvantage rates and rank in the 35th to 85th percentile, highlighting a significant performance gap.

A standout finding is Tanglewood's remarkable support for Special Education students, who ranked in the 98th percentile statewide—a rare achievement that indicates highly effective, inclusive programs. The school also excels across all student groups, including Hispanic (87th percentile), African American (79th percentile), and low socioeconomic status (93rd percentile) students. While per-student spending spiked to $21,142 in 2020-2021, this was likely due to one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds, not a permanent budget. Overall, Tanglewood is a shining exception within its district, offering families an elite educational environment with consistent, school-wide excellence.