FORT WORTH, Texas — In a letter to the Fort Worth ISD School Board, Mayor Mattie Parker and 45 other community leaders demanded sweeping changes to the district.
On Tuesday, Parker wrote to and spoke to trustees, saying the school district's success has not kept pace with the city's rapid growth. Parker compared Fort Worth ISD to other large Texas school districts.
"In Spring 2024, our students trailed 11 percentage points behind Dallas ISD, 14 behind Houston ISD, and 18 behind Brownsville ISD," the letter reads. "Furthermore, when we look at the 24 public school systems serving more than 20,000 students in Texas with a similar student population, Fort Worth ISD is ranked third from the bottom at number 22 out of 24 districts, a 25 percentage point gap from the top of the list."
Parker cited the STAAR Comparison Tool, the TEA Research Portal, and the TEA Academic Performance Reports as the sources for her data.
Parker called those results "unacceptable" and demanded reform, citing Houston ISD's successes under Superintendent Mike Miles and Dallas ISD's turnaround over the last decade.
Parker made a number of requests, adding that she and the letter's signees are prepared to support the district in attaining them.
"We recognize the enormity of this challenge, but you do not face it alone," Parker stated. "We offer our full support, expertise, and resources to help Fort Worth ISD become the district our city deserves."
Here are the requests listed in the letter:
- Develop clear and ambitious goals focused on student achievement.
- Align the goals with budget priorities informed by a thorough audit.
- Implement high-quality instruction across every classroom.
- Prioritize academic interventions for students who are falling behind.
- Conduct a comprehensive personnel audit, implement targeted evaluation plans, and develop compensation programs that support and retain top educators.
- Pause any further bond expenditure until a thoughtful district facilities plan is developed that enhances teacher capacity and student resources.
"We envision a district where all students are proficient on state assessments, where College, Career, and Military Readiness are within reach for every graduate, and where the achievement gap for our minority and economically disadvantaged students is not just narrowed but fully closed," Parker wrote.
A spokesperson for Mayor Parker told WFAA Parker and those who signed the letter have had multiple meetings with Fort Worth ISD superintendent Angelica Ramsey and board members.
This letter comes one month after the school board voted down Superintendent Ramsey's five-year plan for the district. Parker's spokesperson said Ramsey "reached out to the mayor for help" after that vote, which prompted the mayor to begin drafting her letter.
Parker and 45 other community leaders signed on, including three former mayors, the entire city council, the dean of the Texas A&M School of Law, and a former FWISD trustee.
In a statement to WFAA Wednesday, Ramsey thanked Parker and the others for their commitment to strengthening the district.
"We recognize that we are not where we want to be with student achievement, which is why the opportunity to lead FWISD is so important to me," Ramsey said. "I look forward to sharing results of our school ratings, our instructional focus, and the leading indicators we are tracking at the previously scheduled Board workshop next month. This is the reason I came to FWISD—to realize the potential of every student and the district. I am committed to making FWISD an outstanding school district."
Parker was displeased that FWISD's performance was 'flat' over ten years. She cited STAAR test results in all subjects for students in grades 3-8.
In 2015, 25% of students met grade-level math standards. Dallas ISD sat at 25%, and Houston ISD was at 34%. In 2024, that number rose to 35% for Dallas ISD and 38% for Houston ISD, while Fort Worth ISD remained at 25%.
After her speech Tuesday, Parker told media members she wasn't asking Ramsey to resign.
"I'm committed to working alongside Dr. Ramsey and her team or any superintendent because that's my job as mayor--we have to see these scores turn around," Parker said. "Your mayor should care. You can't keep up the economic progress of this city with so much promise if you don't invest in the talent in classrooms today. I've said that for years. We have not seen enough improvement for me not to be here this evening."
Read Ramsey's full statement below:
"The Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) expresses deep gratitude to Mayor Mattie Parker and our local leaders for their unwavering commitment to strengthening our public education system. As our city continues to grow and thrive, it is essential that FWISD and the city work closely together to ensure that every student receives the high-quality education they deserve.
We recognize that we are not where we want to be with student achievement, which is why the opportunity to lead FWISD is so important to me. I look forward to sharing results of our school ratings, our instructional focus, and the leading indicators we are tracking at the previously scheduled Board workshop next month. This is the reason I came to FWISD—to realize the potential of every student and the district. I am committed to making FWISD an outstanding school district.
We firmly believe that Fort Worth’s success is intrinsically linked to the success of our schools. To truly achieve this, we must move beyond simple engagement and actively work together, recognizing that we cannot do it alone. Our district remains laser-focused on our core mission: delivering excellent Tier one instruction so that all students can reach their highest potential. This mission drives every decision we make.
We are One Fort Worth, united in purpose. By maintaining a strong, collaborative relationship with the city, we can overcome challenges and build a brighter future for our students and our community. Together, we will create the educational excellence that Fort Worth’s children and families deserve."
Read the statement from newly-elected board president Roxanne Martinez below:
"As the newly elected president of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) Board of Trustees, I want to express my appreciation for the ongoing support and commitment from Mayor Mattie Parker, our community leaders, and all those who care deeply about our students.
Our board is fully committed to a close partnership with the city, ensuring that FWISD continues to prioritize delivering excellent instruction for all students. Together, we can rise to the challenges before us and strengthen our public education system for the betterment of our students, families, and community.
I am confident in the board's ability to adopt the newly developed strategic plan with clear goals, initiatives, action steps, and metrics. This plan will guide our efforts to drive student achievement and hold us accountable as we strive to meet the needs of every student in our district.
Our focus remains on fostering an environment where every student can succeed. We are dedicated to partnering with the city and our community, and I am confident that together we can make FWISD the school district that our children and families expect and that we can all be proud of."