Fort Worth has all the right ingredients for economic success but one: a strong, high-achieving Fort Worth ISD. At least that is the assessment of local business leaders. 

Fort Worth ISD plays a key role in setting the economic direction of the nation’s 12th most populous city. As the largest school district in the city, its performance can make or break deals to bring companies to Fort Worth, according to the city’s economic power brokers. The school district is integral in building up Fort Worth’s workforce.

Several business leaders joined Mayor Mattie Parker’s call for Fort Worth ISD to step up and improve after more than a decade of stagnant and low academic achievement. After the call for leadership, the school board accepted Angélica Ramsey’s resignation as superintendent. 

The city’s sustained growth, they said, depends on turning around Fort Worth ISD.

“It’s critically important for us, as one of the fastest growing large cities in America, to make sure we have the best possible public education we can have in K-12,” said Robert Allen, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership.

Fort Worth ISD ranks near the bottom among 25 school districts with similar demographics in the number of students meeting grade level on the state standardized test across all subjects, according to Texas Education Agency data.

On third-grade reading, Fort Worth ISD ​​​​is one of the worst performing large school districts in Texas, according to state standardized test results.

“I don’t think we’re meeting our expectations. There’s more work to do there,” Allen said. 

Economist Ray Perryman, founder and CEO of the Waco-based Perryman Group, described education as the greatest source of both opportunity and challenge. As birth rates decline and the baby boomer generation retires, the entire nation faces a workforce shortage that will persist for decades, he said.

Economic development, Perryman said, will increasingly depend on the capacity to supply workers.

“Areas that can provide the needed workers will be successful,” he said. “Others will not.”

Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, distilled economic development and prosperity down to core elements: “It’s education, education and education.”

Chamber members frequently tell Montgomery that they depend on getting qualified, capable workers who stay in Fort Worth, he said. The sentiment is one that has resonated with corporate executives considering a move to the city.

“Companies that are here and companies that want to come here, they need a solid dependable talent pipeline — and that comes from our ISD,” said Montgomery, who was one of the more than 40 community leaders who signed the mayor’s letter to school board members.

Fort Worth ISD has bright spots, such as efforts ensuring students are career ready, the chamber leader said. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce works with the school district to build partnerships between businesses and create specialized career readiness classes to build career pathways for students. 

The main issue for Fort Worth ISD, Montgomery said, is that not every student has access to an opportunity for success when they should.

Montgomery knows that his goal sounds, as he described it, grandiose. However, leaders cannot tell kids they can’t succeed because they were born or live in the wrong ZIP code.

“Every kid’s got to have an opportunity for success,” Montgomery said.

Education played a factor when Fort Worth was up against Georgia for electric truck-maker Rivian’s $5 billion manufacturing plant that would have brought an expected 7,500 jobs. Rivian picked Georgia because of the state’s education and talent. In March, Rivian paused construction.

Between 2010 and 2022, 530 companies moved or expanded to North Texas — with only 8% picking Fort Worth. 

Fort Worth educational attainment is lower than that of Austin, Dallas and Houston, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

High-growth, prosperous communities across the state feature good public school systems, Montgomery said. 

“The health of the community, the quality of life of a community all comes back to education,” Montgomery said.

A healthy, high-achieving Fort Worth ISD likely would help the city grow within Loop 820, the chamber president said. The urban core is where the cultural life of Fort Worth exists — and with it, businesses and higher density.

People want great amenities, housing and schools when they are looking to move. They can find that outside of the loop, but they need it within, Montgomery said.

“Instead of just continuing to build in greenfields farther and farther out where people have to get in cars and are far removed from the authenticity and greatness of our city,” he said.

Business editor Bob Francis contributed.

Jacob Sanchez is a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez. 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.