Fort Worth ISD welcomes 75,000 students back to school

Fort Worth ISD's 140 schools opened for the 2024-25 school year Tuesday. About 75,000 students attend schools in the district.

"I think the excitement is palpable," Superintendent Angelica Ramsey said Tuesday morning at M.H. Moore Elementary School. "We saw, driving here, students lined up at the middle school down the road when the doors won't open for an hour and a half. That's how excited our families and students are, and that's how excited we are."

Ramsey and Principal Ricardo Alvarez greeted students at the school as their parents walked them through a balloon arch near the entrance.

"It sets up the stage to have a successful school year, having the community and parents working together with us as one team," Alvarez said. "That is key to having a successful school year and to have excellent academic outcomes."

Parents walking their kids to school say a party atmosphere can help children feel more excited about returning to school and help them focus on education.

"It's great, good district, good school," one dad said as he walked in with his two daughters. "They're excited. They get to meet with friends and all that stuff."

Fort Worth ISD has already provided free breakfast and lunch at all campuses. Ramsey said the district will soon start to provide free dinner at some schools, as well.

"Just a lot of opportunities for our students and our families, and we're just excited about this school year," she said.

Fort Worth ISD said it still has space in pre-K, so people can still register online .

"There was a lot of excitement around coming back," School Board Trustee Roxanne Martinez said. "I think kids thrive in that structure, seeing their friends daily, seeing their teachers daily and knowing they have somewhere safe to come every day and know they are loved. My son wore his backpack all day yesterday. I love the excitement from the kids."

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