On Thursday, Texas officials opted not to take control of the Wichita Falls Independent School District, which had been facing the possibility of state intervention due to years of poor academic performance.
The potential for a takeover was triggered by Kirby Middle School. According to the state’s accountability regulations, if a school receives unacceptable ratings for five consecutive years, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) can replace the district’s elected school board with a state-appointed board or shut down the failing school.
Situated near the Texas-Oklahoma border, the district had already taken steps to close Kirby Middle School informally in 2024, relocating its students to Hirschi Middle School to offer them improved facilities. In response to ongoing pressure from the state to enhance academic results, the district implemented state-sanctioned math programs and entrusted the management of Hirschi to Third Future Schools, a charter network known for revitalizing underperforming schools.
Following a visit from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath last month, an agreement was reached to officially close the outdated Kirby campus and allow Hirschi to maintain its partnership with Third Future Schools. The TEA will appoint a conservator to oversee the district’s development and provide guidance to the superintendent and school board.
“The TEA will closely monitor the district’s progress through the appointment of a conservator and other agreed-upon conditions,” stated Jake Kobersky, a spokesperson for the agency. “The district must strive to improve academic outcomes to avoid potential campus closures or the appointment of a Board of Managers in the future.”
Wichita Falls has made notable strides, reducing the number of academically unacceptable campuses from 11 in the 2022-23 school year to five for the 2024-25 year. Superintendent Donny Lee expressed optimism, stating that he anticipates no failing schools when accountability ratings are released later this year.
Under the management of Third Future Schools, students are experiencing a more structured learning environment, characterized by extended school days. Students are organized in lines as they transition between classes, and any disruptions lead to immediate removal from the classroom, according to Lee.
“We will be able to continue operating under a locally elected school board, and to say we are delighted would be an understatement,” Lee remarked during a board meeting on Thursday, which was met with applause.
The state of Texas has increasingly turned to interventions as a way of guiding educational outcomes in public schools. A significant takeover is currently underway in the Houston Independent School District, which serves over 183,000 students. There, the state appointed Mike Miles as superintendent. Miles, the founder of Third Future Schools, has adopted a stringent approach to education in Houston that, while resulting in academic improvements, has sparked considerable controversy among local families.
Wichita Falls was one of five districts that reached the threshold for state intervention after the accountability ratings were published last year. The other four districts have faced different outcomes, with the TEA currently replacing the elected school boards in Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth. As part of this intervention, Fort Worth Superintendent Karen Molinar informed families this week that she would not remain in her position.
