Summary:
The 12 schools in Fort Worth's 76104 zip code, serving elementary through high school grades within the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd) and several charter networks, present a stark contrast between high-performing magnet schools and deeply struggling neighborhood schools, all while facing an average 85.5% economic disadvantage rate.
The standout performers are magnet schools with selective admissions. Young Women's Leadership Academy ranks in the 94th percentile statewide with a 98.2% graduation rate, while World Languages Institute ranks in the 72nd percentile and boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate. In contrast, neighborhood schools like Morningside Middle (2nd percentile) and Edward Briscoe Elementary (3rd percentile) show alarmingly low math proficiency—for example, only 2.91% of 7th graders at Morningside Middle were proficient in math. A notable exception is De Zavala Elementary, which ranks in the 85th percentile and significantly outperforms other elementary schools in the area, proving that strong leadership can overcome high poverty.
Key metrics reveal a system where high spending does not guarantee results, as the three lowest-performing elementary schools all spend over $12,500 per student. The charter schools in the area—Premier H S - Fort Worth (Southside), Ki Charter - Fort Worth, and Texasworks - Ft Worth-Southside—are not outperforming traditional public schools, with Premier H S having a 19.4% dropout rate. The most critical takeaway is a systemic "math crisis" in neighborhood schools, where foundational skills are not being taught effectively, creating a two-tiered system of opportunity within the same zip code.
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