Fort Worth, Texas – Over the past decade, Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) has experienced a significant decline in student enrollment, particularly at the elementary level. This trend has prompted the district to consider potential campus closures or relocations, marking a critical juncture for the educational landscape in Fort Worth.
The district’s declining student population contrasts sharply with the city’s growth. Data from FWISD reveals that in the 2013–14 school year, the district had a total enrollment of 84,588 students. Fast forward to the start of this year, and that number has decreased to 71,066, representing a 16% drop. Alarmingly, 88% of these departures occurred among students in grades K–5.
This decline comes despite the city of Fort Worth itself growing by more than 20% during the same period. “Fort Worth is a booming city, and so our population in our schools should be growing, but they’re not,” said Hollie Plemons, a parent who chose to withdraw her children from FWISD in favor of homeschooling and charter schools. She attributes this to dissatisfaction with what the district offers in terms of discipline and academic outcomes.
The rise of local charter schools has been a significant factor drawing students away from FWISD, as observed by Andrea Arabie, VP of Advocacy for the Fort Worth ISD Council of PTAs. These charter schools, often built within neighborhoods, offer alternatives to the public school system. Additionally, changing neighborhood demographics have impacted attendance at some schools.
Arabie believes that the district has been responsive to parental concerns regarding curriculums and discipline, yet the exodus persists. This situation has led FWISD to initiate a $2 million facilities master plan to evaluate its campuses critically.
The master plan will assess schools with lower enrollment to determine their future. “Looking at the schools that have lower enrollment, it’s just like any business, we need to assess that,” Arabie explained. “And if this isn’t working, we reevaluate and we do better.” This plan might result in the closure or relocation of some campuses, but Arabie sees this as an opportunity for growth and adaptation to meet current population needs.
The upcoming January meeting of the Fort Worth school board is expected to provide further updates on the facilities plan. As FWISD navigates these challenges, there is hope that the district will transform these setbacks into opportunities for improvement, ensuring it remains a vital part of Fort Worth’s growing community.
