The Fort Worth Independent School District launched the 2014-2015 school year Monday with a total enrollment more than 2,600 students higher than on opening day a year ago.
For the first day of the district’s 132nd school year, there were 43,773 elementary students, 16,772 middle school students and 19,669 high school students for a total of 80,214. Last year there were 77,607 students on the first day. The district ended the 2013-2014 school year with 84,421 students and expects continued growth this year.
Student attendance numbers fluctuate for the first several weeks and tend to level out in mid-September, according to school officials.
“It has been a wonderful first day of classes across the district,” said Interim Superintendent Patricia Linares. “Our teachers and students are excited and our parents are telling us they want to be involved. The Fort Worth ISD is moving forward with the promise of continuous improvement.”
Linares, who previously served as deputy superintendent, was hired to oversee the district while the school board searches for a permanent replacement for Walter Dansby, who resigned as superintendent in June.
Joined by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Linares kicked off the school year by greeting elementary and pre-kindergarten students at Morningside Elementary School. Morningside is one of several sites now offering pre-kindergarten classes as the district moves toward next year’s introduction of universal pre-K.
Linares later visited Kirkpatrick Middle School, then joined Price at Tanglewood Elementary School. Linares concluded the first day of school with a visit to McLean Middle School.
Betty Dillard bdillard@bizpress.net