Fort Worth ISD started the 2025-2026 school year Monday with 70,000 students returning to class. Fort Worth ISD is the fifth largest in Texas.
"It's very nice," one mom dropping her son off at Phillips Elementary said. "I'm very happy my son is starting pre-K. They are excited. The first day they are very happy."
"We're excited for their education," another mom said. "They're more excited to be with their friends."
Superintendent Karen Molinar and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker greeted kids at the school and visited classrooms.
"It is imperative any mayor in this country is focused and cares about the kids in their classrooms, and that is every single kid regardless of zip code, regardless of income," Parker says. "I know Fort Worth will eventually be an example in this country."
This spring, the Texas Education Agency sent a letter to Fort Worth ISD threatening a take-over of the district over low test scores. TEA could then assign trustees to run the district.
"Our city is only as strong as our education foundation," Parker says. "We have kids in classrooms today, admittedly, who were in failing schools. Enough was enough."
Parker says 40 campuses improved at least one letter grade in the past year. She says Molinar's arrival as superintendent earlier this year has also led to better engagement.
"You can feel it when you walk campuses," Parker says. "A lot of times when I'm talking to teachers, principals and even family members, they'll tell you they feel supported and have direction for the very first time."
To improve student performance, Molinar says Fort Worth ISD has added additional periods for math and reading at middle schools. She says campuses are also adding additional support staff.
"We have added a new phonics program this year that will help the foundation for our K through two students even our third grade students," Molinar says. "We're going to start to see our students get the foundation they need in literacy but also how we are catching up our students through the middle and high school level. It really is being intentional."
Molinar says teachers will receive additional support with "highly qualified instructional material approved by the state and by our board of trustees."
"That's something we've been lacking is consistency of instructional framework in math and literacy," she says. "We're going to see a strong focus and be able to monitor as well."
Molinar says Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath is planning to visit Fort Worth ISD next month.
"We welcome him anytime. We're ready to show off the progress we're making," she says.