Fort Worth Education Partnership Released College Data
A new report highlights a gap between college readiness and degree completion for city students.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Fort Worth Education Partnership has released a report showing that only 22% of local students complete a college credential within six years. The findings track a cohort of 31,000 students who were in eighth grade between 2011 and 2015.
Why it matters
Researchers sought to understand the discrepancy between high college readiness ratings in the state accountability system and the reality of degree completion outcomes. About 80% of local students are classified as college ready, yet far fewer ultimately earn a degree.
Of the 31,000 students studied, 14% earned bachelor's degrees from Texas institutions, 3% earned degrees out of state, and 5% earned associate's degrees. These figures comprise the total 22% overall credential completion rate for the cohort.
The players
Fort Worth Education Partnership
This organization is a non-profit entity focused on improving educational outcomes and career readiness for students in the Fort Worth area.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
This state agency oversees higher education in Texas and maintains data on student enrollment and degree completion across the state.
The details
Researchers accessed data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to track students from middle school through college enrollment. By comparing longitudinal performance to initial readiness metrics, the study highlights a significant challenge in local secondary education.
Timeline
The study tracked students who were in eighth grade between 2011 and 2015.
The Fort Worth Education Partnership released the report on October 14, 2026.
Culture Shift
This report highlights a shifting focus toward actual degree completion rather than relying solely on state-defined readiness metrics. It signals a move toward more rigorous evaluation of how local school systems prepare students for post-secondary success.
Families and local stakeholders can use this data to better understand the challenges students face when transitioning from high school to post-secondary institutions. It prompts a need for parents and educators to look beyond readiness ratings when evaluating future academic pathways.
The takeaway
Parents should recognize that official readiness metrics may not always correlate with a four-year degree outcome for their children. Families are encouraged to seek additional support resources and mentorship programs to bridge the gap between high school completion and degree attainment.
Further reading
Find more analysis on academic progress in our secondary-education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KERA.
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