Tanglewood families are heading into their first full school year under a state-appointed Fort Worth ISD. The Texas Education Agency named a nine-member board of managers and a new superintendent, Peter Licata, on March 24, 2026. Tanglewood Elementary, McLean Middle School and Paschal High School, the schools zoned to the neighborhood, are not on the district's closure list.
For a neighborhood where many buyers choose a house partly for its public school path, the takeover is the biggest school story in years. Here is what changed, what did not, and what it means for people who live in Tanglewood or are thinking about moving there.
What happened with the Fort Worth ISD takeover?
KERA News reported the sequence on March 24, 2026. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath ordered the takeover on October 23, 2025, after one campus, the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, received five consecutive failing ratings. In November, the state appointed a conservator. In March, Morath named the board of managers and Licata, who leads a district of nearly 68,000 students.
Key details from KERA's and Axios's coverage:
- The board of managers will approve budgets, set policy and oversee the superintendent.
- Managers will serve at least two years before the state considers returning control to elected trustees, and the takeover can be extended in two-year increments.
- Elected trustees keep their seats but have no governing power, and trustee elections continue.
- To exit, the district must show sustained academic improvement, exceed state averages in reading and math proficiency, and earn a specific rating from the TEA, according to Axios.
Who is on the board of managers?
KERA listed the nine appointees: Bobby Ahdieh, Rosa Marie Berdeja, Luis A. Galindo, Laurie George, Pete Geren, Courtney Lewis, Frost Prioleau, Jay Stegall and Tennessee Walker. The group includes business leaders, lawyers, parents and a former member of Congress. Several are well-known names in Fort Worth civic life.
Are any Tanglewood-area schools closing?
The district's five-year plan to close or consolidate 18 campuses, approved in May 2025, is a separate effort driven by enrollment and budget. CBS Texas reported the final list that month. According to Wikipedia's Tanglewood entry, the neighborhood is zoned to Tanglewood Elementary, W.P. McLean Middle School and R.L. Paschal High School. None of those three campuses appears on the closure list.
One nearby item is worth noting. The list includes McLean 6th Grade, a consolidation the district had already approved, scheduled for 2028. Families with younger children should ask the district how that consolidation affects the sixth-grade path from Tanglewood Elementary.
Why does the closure list matter if our schools are not on it?
Closures elsewhere shift boundaries and enrollment. When a campus closes, its students go somewhere, and that can change class sizes and attendance zones at schools that stay open. NBC 5 reported in December 2025 that the board approved new zoning for fall 2026 tied to the first round of closures. Tanglewood was not part of that round, but families should watch future rounds.
How does the takeover change things for Tanglewood buyers?
Our agents at The Agency Dallas who work Tanglewood hear school questions in nearly every buyer consultation. The takeover does not change attendance zones by itself. What it changes is who makes decisions and how quickly. A few practical points for buyers:
- Verify the zoning for the specific address. School zones follow addresses, not neighborhood names. Use the district's boundary tools rather than a listing description.
- Read the current campus ratings. The district's overall ratings were a D in 2024 and a C the following year, according to Axios, but campus ratings vary widely.
- Follow the board of managers' agenda. Budget and policy decisions are now made by appointees, and those meetings are where boundary and program changes would appear.
- Consider the timeline. The managers will serve at least two years. A buyer with a child entering kindergarten in 2027 will likely experience the takeover era directly.
What about property taxes and school funding?
Fort Worth ISD has been among the districts pushing back on the Tarrant Appraisal District's two-year residential cycle. Hoodline reported in February 2026 that the district warned the appraisal freeze could cost it $26 million to $51 million, citing Fort Worth Report coverage. TAD has since adopted another two-year plan covering 2027 and 2028, according to The Texan. For Tanglewood owners, that means new market values likely arrive in 2027.
What else makes Tanglewood attractive right now?
Tanglewood sits southwest of downtown and just west of TCU, near the Trinity River, and the City of Fort Worth built its bike and walking trail there in the early 1970s, according to Wikipedia. Its proximity to Clearfork is a daily advantage, and the shopping district keeps adding restaurants. CultureMap reported in June 2026 that Piattello Italian Kitchen would move to The Shops at Clearfork, with opening scheduled for November 2026.
Original Tanglewood homes are mostly single-story ranch houses, and Wikipedia notes that newer homes are much larger. That mix of original houses and new construction is one reason buyers at different price points look here.
- Buyers seeking an original ranch house to renovate will find older homes on generous lots.
- Buyers seeking new construction will compete with builders for teardown lots.
- Sellers of original homes should understand both buyer pools before setting a price.
The Agency Dallas covers neighborhoods across North Texas, and our neighborhoods page is a good starting point for comparison. For a sense of where your home stands, try a home valuation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tanglewood Elementary closing?
No. Tanglewood Elementary does not appear on the Fort Worth ISD list of 18 campuses approved for closure or consolidation over five years, as reported by CBS Texas in May 2025. McLean Middle School and Paschal High School, the other schools zoned to the neighborhood, are also not on the list. The separate McLean 6th Grade consolidation is scheduled for 2028.
Who runs Fort Worth ISD now?
A nine-member board of managers appointed by the Texas Education Commissioner on March 24, 2026, governs the district, with Peter Licata as superintendent. Elected trustees keep their seats but have no governing authority during the takeover. The managers serve at least two years, and the state can extend the arrangement in two-year increments.
How long will the state takeover last?
KERA reported that managers will serve at least two years before the state considers returning governance to elected trustees. Axios reported the exit requirements: sustained academic improvement, proficiency above state averages in reading and math, and a specific TEA rating. The takeover can be extended in two-year steps if those goals are not met.
Should buyers verify school zoning before buying in Tanglewood?
Yes. Attendance zones follow specific addresses, and district boundaries can change after closures and consolidations. Buyers should confirm the zoned elementary, middle and high schools for the exact address using Fort Worth ISD's boundary tools, and recheck before closing if the purchase timeline is long.
Will the takeover affect Tanglewood home values?
No one can predict that with certainty. Home values reflect many factors, including location, lot size, home condition and interest rates. School perception is one factor. Families who value predictability should follow the board of managers' decisions closely, while noting that Tanglewood's zoned campuses are not on the current closure list.
Sources
- KERA News, Some of Fort Worth's Top Leaders Named to ISD Board of Managers (March 24, 2026)
- Axios Dallas, What's Next for Fort Worth ISD's State Takeover (March 24, 2026)
- CBS Texas, Fort Worth ISD Finalizes List of 18 Total Proposed School Closures (May 13, 2025)
- NBC 5 DFW, Fort Worth ISD Approves Zoning Changes for Fall 2026 (Dec. 10, 2025)
- Wikipedia, Tanglewood, Fort Worth, Texas
- Hoodline, Tarrant Tax Board Blinks as Schools Rage Over Value Freeze (Feb. 18, 2026)
- The Texan, Tarrant Appraisal District Adopts Another Two-Year Residential Reappraisal Cycle (Sept. 8, 2026)
- CultureMap Fort Worth, Piattello Italian Kitchen Moving to Clearfork (June 3, 2026)
