Texas Agency Takes Control of Lake Worth ISD Amid Low Ratings

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced a significant intervention in the Lake Worth Independent School District (ISD) due to persistent academic struggles. Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed on Thursday that the agency will disband the district’s elected school board and appoint a board of managers to oversee operations. This decision follows the Marilyn Miller Language Academy receiving its fifth consecutive “unacceptable” academic accountability rating for the 2024-25 school year.

With the takeover, the existing seven-member board of trustees will be replaced, and a new superintendent will be appointed. Mark Ramirez, who previously served as an associate superintendent at Dallas ISD, was named the district’s leader in May. In a statement, Lake Worth ISD acknowledged the TEA’s decision, stating it reflects the urgent need for improvement in student outcomes.

Ramirez expressed a commitment to collaboration and transparency, stating, “We accept the TEA’s decision and view this as an opportunity to accelerate our progress. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and partnership as we work side-by-side with TEA to ensure lasting improvements for our students.”

This marks the second state takeover in Tarrant County this year, with the TEA also intervening in Fort Worth ISD, which has become the second-largest district in Texas to face state control. In addition to Lake Worth ISD, Morath announced takeovers of Beaumont ISD and Connally ISD on the same day.

Lake Worth ISD officials highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at improving academic performance, including a turnaround model focused on enhancing reading and math outcomes. This model emphasizes the adoption of high-quality instructional materials and regular collaboration among teachers regarding lesson plans. The district noted that it is already seeing improvements as a result of these strategic efforts.

During the 2024-25 school year, all six campuses within Lake Worth ISD received ratings of either an F or C, as indicated in Morath’s letter to Ramirez and the trustees. The district successfully appealed TEA’s initial rating for Lake Worth High School, which improved from a score of 69 to 79 following the appeal.

Morath, who visited Lake Worth ISD in October, remarked on the district’s long-standing academic challenges, stating that only 22% of students across all grades and subjects meet grade-level standards. This figure is a stark 28 percentage points below the state average. He noted, “Lake Worth ISD’s low level of student achievement is a long-standing issue, predating the COVID-19 disruptions, and has gotten worse recently.”

In response to the threat of intervention, district leaders established ambitious goals in September. These included raising all schools’ ratings to a B or higher by June 2028 and improving third graders’ performance in reading and math on the STAAR tests. Additionally, they aim to increase the percentage of students deemed college, career, and military-ready from 86% to 95% by December 2027.

In the coming weeks, TEA will solicit applications from the Lake Worth ISD community to form the new board of managers and will initiate a search for a new superintendent. Morath will also appoint a conservator to ensure that the district effectively implements its turnaround strategies and supports its low-performing campuses.

The board of managers is set to serve for two years, with the possibility of extending its term for another two years, depending on the commissioner’s assessment. Lake Worth ISD is entitled to an informal review, which will take place on December 19, 2023, at 14:15 in Austin. This meeting, closed to the public, provides the district an opportunity to present information for Morath’s consideration regarding the future leadership of the district.

The Dallas Morning News has established the Education Lab, a community-funded initiative aimed at deepening coverage and dialogue about critical educational issues in North Texas. The initiative receives support from various organizations, including the Communities Foundation of Texas and Southern Methodist University, while maintaining editorial independence.