Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) has issued its own A-F accountability ratings, despite the Texas Education Agency (TEA) being barred from releasing official state ratings due to a pending lawsuit.
Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) has defied the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) rating freeze by releasing its own internal A-F accountability scores. The district's move comes as the TEA faces a lawsuit challenging the validity of its A-F rating system.
The TEA has been prevented from releasing official A-F ratings for Texas schools and districts since a court order was issued in September 2022. The lawsuit, filed by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), argues that the TEA's rating system is unreliable and unfair.
Fort Worth ISD Releases Internal A-F Scores Amidst State Rating Freeze
Undeterred by the legal proceedings, FWISD has forged ahead with its own rating process. The district used a methodology that closely mirrors the TEA's system, incorporating data from student performance on state standardized tests, graduation rates, and other indicators.
The FWISD ratings reveal a mixed bag of performance across the district's schools. Approximately 40% of schools received an A or B rating, while 35% received a C rating. The remaining 25% of schools received a D or F rating.
Some of the district's highest-rated schools include Arlington Heights High School, which received an A rating, and Carter-Riverside High School, which received a B rating. On the other end of the spectrum, several schools received F ratings, including Crestwood Elementary School and Polytechnic High School.
FWISD Superintendent Kent Scribner defended the district's decision to release internal ratings, stating that it is important to provide parents and the community with information about school performance. "We believe that these ratings are a fair and accurate reflection of our schools' progress and areas where we need to improve," Scribner said.
However, some critics have questioned the validity of FWISD's ratings, given that they were not subject to the same rigorous review process as the TEA's ratings. The TEA has been criticized in the past for using inaccurate data in its A-F calculations, and there is concern that FWISD's ratings may also be flawed.
Despite the controversy, FWISD's internal ratings provide a snapshot of the district's educational landscape. They highlight the strengths and weaknesses of individual schools and can be used to guide improvement efforts.
The legal battle over the TEA's A-F rating system is expected to continue for months, if not years. In the meantime, FWISD's internal ratings will serve as a valuable resource for parents and the community as they evaluate the performance of their local schools.
