Summary:
In zip code 76164, there is one middle school, Elder Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 with 646 students in the Fort Worth Independent School District (Isd), an area where 94.43% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Elder Middle presents a striking paradox: it ranks in the bottom 9% of Texas middle schools overall (0-star rating for three consecutive years), yet its students achieve exceptional results in advanced high school-level courses. In the 2025-2026 school year, 100% of students taking the English I Reading End-of-Course (EOC) exam were proficient, and 91.14% were proficient in Algebra I EOC—dramatically higher than district and state averages. However, in standard grade-level subjects, performance is very low; for example, only 3.17% of 7th graders were proficient in math, compared to the state average of 29.41%. The school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1 and spends $9,498 per student, but these resources have not translated into broad academic success for the majority of students.
Despite low test scores, Elder Middle has a dropout rate of just 1.0%, one-third of the district average of 3.1%, suggesting the school is effective at keeping students enrolled. The data reveals a "two-schools" dynamic: a highly effective advanced program for top-tier students coexists with significant struggles in general education, particularly in 7th-grade math. This makes Elder Middle a unique case where parents may find strong opportunities for high achievers but should be aware of the challenges facing the broader student body.
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