About Fort Worth
Welcome to the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex! The term "metroplex", now a general term for several continuous metropolitan areas, was first used to describe this area: from Fort Worth and its suburbs through the midcities to Dallas and its suburbs.
The 18th-fastest growing city in the United States and the 5th largest city in Texas, Fort Worth is the western anchor of the metroplex and offers a truly unique city experience. Echoed in the motto "Where the West Begins" due to being founded on a treaty line separating settled lands from "the west", Fort Worth has always provided a sense of transition to its residents. When the original fort, Fort Worth, was abandoned by the military, the citizens transformed it into a thriving town.
During the late 1800s, Fort Worth was a major waypoint on the Chisolm Trail, and when it appeared that the railroad might stop at Dallas, the citizens came together to ensure that the railroad reached Fort Worth. This changed the city from a waypoint to the endpoint, and Fort Worth became "Cowtown". The Fort Worth Stockyards are world-famous and detail the city's long history in the beef industry. As new industries and opportunities arose in the area, such as the meatpacking industry, the first oil boom and the Barnett Shale gas boom, Fort Worth continued its tradition of taking full advantage of economical development while retaining its history.
Fort Worth continues to offer a sense of transition as its neighborhoods blend from urban to suburban to rural, combining big-city amenities with a small-town feel.
Schools
Fort Worth Independent School District (or FWISD) is the fifth largest school district in Texas, containing 144 different schools, including 80 elementary schools. In 2006, 3,587 students graduated from FWISD with 2,960 students (82.5%) graduating as Texas Scholars, a program established in 1992 to enhance students' educations by encouraging higher performance and teaching them to plan for their future. FWISD also offers highly-trained and experienced teachers, with the average experience level being 10 1/2 years.
The school district has the goal of being the best urban school district in the nation, and to that end, they have implemented a new strategic performance plan called Vision 2010 (available on-line at http://www.fortworthisd.org/pdf/spp.pdf).
This plan is designed to maximize the students' learning experience and education, the efficient operation of the school district and family and community involvement in the educational process.
For additional information on Fort Worth schools, you can contact them at:
Main: (817) 871-2000
Email: web@fortworthisd.net
Web Site: www.fortworthisd.org
or by mail at:
FW ISD Administration Building
100 N. University Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
