How did each campus perform on Fort Worth ISD’s self-reported and calculated 2023 and 2024 AF Accountability Assessments?
The Fort Worth Independent School District released its AF rating estimates on Sept. 10, but the ratings remain provisional due to legal challenges that prevent the Texas Education Agency from releasing official ratings.
More than half of Fort Worth Independent School District schools saw their state-issued accountability ratings increase in 2024, based on unofficial, self-reported grades. The district’s scores were worse than they were in 2022, the last year for which the TEA released official ratings.
Of the Fort Worth Independent School District’s 125 campuses, 51 improved their AF ratings by at least one level, 56 remained unchanged and 18 saw their scores decrease, according to data released by the district.
The numbers for 2022 paint a different picture. The district’s overall grade is a B, currently estimated at a C, but 69 campuses received a grade one level higher in 2022 than they did in 2024.
According to the TEA, the grades are calculated using a formula based primarily on standardized test results, graduation rates and college, career and military readiness outcomes.
The accountability rating system looks at three main areas of schools and districts:
Student Achievement: State standardized test scores, graduation rates and career readiness are the basis for this metric. School Progress: This shows how student achievement has changed over time and how a school’s performance compares to other schools with a similar percentage of low-income students. Closing Disparities: This metric examines whether all students are succeeding.
The rating system also looks at relative performance, measuring student progress compared to schools with similar economic demographics.
In its announcement, the district did not say whether it had certified its internal calculations to the state. Neighboring Castleberry Independent School District was the first Tarrant County district to release its own results, but it said it had reviewed its unofficial assessments with the TEA.
The Fort Worth Independent School District blames the drop in its ratings from 2022 on more rigorous state standardized tests and other changes to the TEA’s scoring criteria. The district, which is suing the state to block the release of the ratings, also argues that the changes unfairly lowered its scores.
An overhaul of the Air Force’s assessment system includes placing more emphasis on college, career and military readiness outcomes, with a focus on closing gaps.
The grade is determined by a combination of scores and relative performance from these three key areas: Schools that score 90 or above receive an A, while those that score 80 or above receive a B. However, if a campus receives a score below 60 in three of these categories, the TEA will require the school to receive an F grade, even if the overall score is above 60.
Similarly, according to the TEA, if a campus receives a score below 70 in three of the four categories, the school must receive a D rating, even if its overall score is above 70.
The Fort Worth Independent School District released only the top-line scores for schools, without releasing detailed data explaining the finer categories.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. He can be reached at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @MatthewSgroi1.
Jacob Sanchez is senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. He can be reached at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez.
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