Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 76119

This analysis examines three middle schools in zip code 76119 of Fort Worth, Texas, serving grades 6-8 (with two also including grade 9) in an area characterized by extremely high economic disadvantage, where over 91% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Idea Southeast College Preparatory stands out as the academic leader in the area, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 30th percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year. It is the only school in the zip code to score above the state average in any subject, notably in 8th Grade Mathematics (50.84% vs. state 47.24%). Despite serving a 91% economically disadvantaged student body, it has the lowest dropout rate (0.7%) and the highest student-to-teacher ratio (20.1). In contrast, Int'l Newcomer Academy faces unique challenges as a school for recently arrived immigrant students, with critically low test scores (often near 0% proficiency) and a 0-star rating in the bottom 1% of Texas middle schools. It has the highest per-student spending ($23,222) and the highest dropout rate (4.2%), reflecting the intensive resources needed to support English language learners. Forest Oak Middle, the largest school with 1,044 students, shows inconsistent performance—while its general test scores are low (ranking in the 15th percentile), it demonstrates surprising strength in advanced coursework, with 86.57% of students proficient in English I Reading EOC and 73.91% in Biology EOC, far exceeding district and state averages.

Key takeaways include that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as Int'l Newcomer Academy spends more than double per student than Forest Oak Middle ($23,222 vs. $11,433) yet has dramatically lower scores. Additionally, a lower student-to-teacher ratio does not automatically lead to success, as Forest Oak Middle has the lowest ratio (13.3) but worse overall performance than Idea Southeast (20.1). Both schools are part of larger networks: Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd) oversees Forest Oak Middle and Int'l Newcomer Academy, while Idea Public Schools operates Idea Southeast College Preparatory.