With more than 75,000 students, Fort Worth ISD enjoys a diverse student population and strong community partnerships. Under the leadership of the superintendent and the Board of Education, the District is undergoing a series of initiatives that will redesign, transform, and revitalize Fort Worth ISD Schools.
Students in FWISD’s Gold Seal Early College High Schools are graduating with two diplomas – their high school diploma and an associate degree from Tarrant County College.
FWISD now offers Gold Seal P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) Academies at eight schools. P-TECHS provide opportunities for students to earn a high school diploma, industry-recognized certifications, and an associate degree, all while getting relevant work experience in a high-demand job field, and making connections with industry partners.
Job fields include cloud convergence, web applications programming, cybersecurity, architecture, construction, medical, aviation, alternative energy, education, and more.
Partners include Cloud Unity, James L. West Alzheimer’s Center, Magna Mechanical, University of North Texas, Bell Textron, Oncor, Fort Worth Water, Habitat for Humanity, and Fort Worth ISD.
And, introduced in 2022, another outstanding Gold Seal choice: T-STEMs (Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Two T-STEM programs will provide foundational principles and standards for innovative partnerships with colleges, universities, and industries.
More than 40 companies and organizations have officially pledged to participate in preparing Fort Worth ISD students for college and career success. New Gold Seal partners include American Airlines, Facebook, and UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
Fort Worth ISD’s new mobile STEM lab is pulling up to elementary and middle schools with gadgets and games to excite every child. The hands-on activities include robotics, 3D electronics, and more. It’s an interactive introduction to the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math. It’s also an introduction to Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice with a STEM focus and possible future careers.
Fort Worth ISD students earned $158.1 million in scholarships and grant offers in 2020-21, a significant increase over the $126.6 million earned one year earlier.
Fort Worth ISD is wrapping up the last projects of the 2017 Capital Improvement Program. The “Rediscover Fort Worth ISD” campaign showed off the projects to the community, especially the extensive upgrades and additions to high schools, including:
- Collaborative, college-like learning spaces
- Modernized science labs and state-of-the-art Gold Seal career prep classrooms, studios, and other facilities
- Updated athletics facilities
- Dynamic front entries and secure entrance vestibules
- Redesigned, engaging Go Centers where students plan their next step in life
The District is working to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to neighborhoods with inadequate internet service. The District is continuing to deploy service by getting modems to students’ homes and by beginning the process of putting up more cell towers, which will extend connectivity to more neighborhoods.
To help recruit and retain great teachers, Fort Worth ISD is offering a realistic pathway for teachers to earn substantially more money for their best work. The FWISD Teacher Incentive Allotment was funded by the Texas Legislature as part of House Bill 3. Teachers will have the opportunity to be awarded one of three designations: Recognized, Exemplary, or Master. Depending on the designation, teachers can increase their yearly compensation from $3,000 to as much as $32,000.
