\u201cWhatever that decision is, we are ready,\u201d Mayor Mattie Parker said in the Phillips Elementary library. \u201cWe are going to operate at top level for the next several months demonstrating that we have the right plan in place for this school district and for this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
FWISD leaders expect improved A-F ratings<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0812-FWISDFirstDay-23.jpg\")
Superintendent Karen Molinar reads over an ice breaker assignment in a classroom at Mary Louise Phillips Elementary in Fort Worth during Fort Worth ISD\u2019s first day of school Aug. 12, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
Superintendent Karen Molinar said she expects the state\u2019s A-F accountability ratings on Aug. 15 to show more than 50 campuses moved up a letter grade. FWISD is likely to have F campuses to drop from 31 to 11, she said.<\/p>\n
Molinar used Phillips Elementary as an example of the district\u2019s upward trajectory. The 399-student school has jumped more than 30 points from an F to a B over the last year, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis just shows how much support that has happened over the last eight to nine months for our school district,\u201d Molinar said.<\/p>\n
State takeover looms for FWISD as classes begin<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0812-FWISDFirstDay-12.jpg\")
Elementary students arrive at Mary Louise Phillips Elementary School in Fort Worth for Fort Worth ISD\u2019s first day of school Aug. 12, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath is expected to visit Fort Worth schools in September<\/a>. The district\u2019s fate is in limbo after the persistent failing of a now-closed campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Molinar has presented to Morath FWISD\u2019s progress and the actions her administration has taken to boost achievement, including doubling instruction time<\/a> for math and reading in middle schools and introducing new teaching roles<\/a> to support students.<\/p>\n Morath is expected to make a decision on whether to replace Fort Worth ISD\u2019s elected school board this fall. Regardless of the takeover choice, the superintendent knows her next steps.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to move on and do what\u2019s right for our students and really become student centered<\/a> and student focused in Fort Worth ISD,\u201d Molinar said.<\/p>\n A year since mayor spoke during school board meeting<\/p>\n Parker reflected on the state of FWISD just a year ago. A different superintendent was in charge. Academic progress stagnated.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mayor walked in front of a lectern in August 2024, urging the school board<\/a> to take action and pushing for leadership change<\/a>. More than 40 civic and business leaders signed a letter she presented that emphasized the need to avoid a takeover similar to Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fully confident that the change we asked for, not just as your mayor but as a community, was listened to by the board,\u201d Parker said Tuesday. \u201cI really appreciate the trustees listening and understanding that leadership change was needed to shift the focus on the school district.\u201d<\/p>\n The differences have been noticeable to Parker as she visited campuses since Molinar\u2019s appointment as interim leader in October<\/a> then superintendent in March<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Families, teachers and principals feel more supported and have consistency in direction and curriculum, the mayor said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it had to start at the top,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n Fort Worth parents expect school closures, aren\u2019t aware of takeover<\/p>\n Mother Ruby Leon tightly held a pink and lavender Hello Kitty backpack as she sat next to her daughter, Gianna, on an iron bench.<\/p>\n Gianna, 5, kicked her legs out in excitement. She just had to show off her pink Nikes.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd glittery!\u201d Gianna said. She couldn\u2019t contain herself because she was ready for kindergarten.\u00a0<\/p>\n Leon could not believe her daughter was moving up a grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just dropping her off for pre-K not long ago,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Leon\u2019s family was excited for the new school year. Gianna loves her teachers and school \u2014 especially gym where she can run and play games.<\/p>\n Leon, though, understood FWISD is going through changes. She heard about the school board voting to close 18 schools over the next five years<\/a> to deal with declining enrollment<\/a>. She was grateful Phillips Elementary was not slated for closure.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was just like wow, crazy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She was not aware of the potential state takeover.<\/p>\n Neither was Ximena\u2019s mom, Maribel Rodriguez.<\/p>\n Both mothers took in the moment as their daughters played before the first bell of the day rang.<\/p>\n Ximena and Gianna ran around the concrete landing, stopping only to watch the bubbles burst.<\/p>\n The girls played and weaved between their classmates until they ran up to their parents.<\/p>\n Rodriguez and Leon smiled, whipped out their phones and each snapped a photo of their daughter\u2019s first day.<\/p>\n Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0812-FWISDFirstDay-21.jpg\")
Mayor Mattie Parker joins in on a classroom at Mary Louise Phillips Elementary in Fort Worth during Fort Worth ISD\u2019s first day of school Aug. 12, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0812-FWISDFirstDay-03.jpg\")
Kindergartener Gianna Leon plays with bubbles at Mary Louise Phillips Elementary before Fort Worth ISD\u2019s first day of school Aug. 12, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
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