Exxon Mobil, J.C. Penney, Texas Instruments, and others. That distinction has
translated into a thriving business climate
and demographic for those who live and
work here.
FORT WORTH: MUCH MORE
THAN BIG D’S NEIGHBOR
Located about 35 miles west of Dallas in
Tarrant County, many visitors and those
new to the area see Fort Worth as simply a
smaller version of Dallas - but nothing could
be further from the truth. The city has a
personality all its own – a mix of cowboys,
big business, and community pride.
The 17th largest city in the U.S. and the
fifth largest in Texas, Fort Worth has been
honored by Partners for Livable Communities as one of America’s Most Livable
Communities. The city is also a multiple
recipient of the All-America City Award,
given annually by the National Civic League
to ten winners for excellence in “
community-based problem solving, grassroots civic
engagement and joint efforts on the part of
the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.”
Rustic Roots
Like Dallas, Forth Worth has rustic roots
as the city “Where the West Begins.” Originally established as an army outpost in 1849,
it eventually served as the last major stop
on the legendary Chisholm Trail – the road
where wranglers drove millions of herds of
Longhorn cattle north to market in Kansas.
The city earned the nickname “Hell’s
Half Acre” after the red light district
teeming with gambling parlors, saloons,
and dance halls sprang up to entertain
the wild cowboys who frequently visited
as they passed through town. Today, residents still call it “Cowtown” because of
its proximity to the drovers’ trail and its
rowdy cowboy roots.
All Business
Cosmopolitan and chic in its own right,
Fort Worth‘s long and storied history still
reigns - but so does its designation as a
national business, educational, and cultural
destination. Big D’s thriving smaller
neighbor is equally rich in commerce as the
headquarters of Fortune 500 companies.
It’s also an attractive destination for moving
families according to CNBC who has ranked
it among the “best cities to relocate to in
America” thanks to its affordable housing,
low unemployment rate, and thriving arts and
culture scene – which includes one of the best
zoos in the country. Today, more than 830,319
residents are proud to call “Cowtown” home.
Multiple Attractions
Today, the city holds true to its early beginnings with a thriving nightlife and the Fort
Worth Stockyards - a premier livestock center,
and still, the city’s centerpiece. But it’s also
become known for internationally famous
art museums, ballet, opera, symphony,
renowned concert venues, and high culture
– and has now garnered a more apropos nickname, “The City of Cowboys and Culture.”
DALLAS AND FORT WORTH:
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Between its universities, colleges, trade
schools, public, private, and parochial
schools, there’s no shortage of educational
resources for those relocating to the Dallas/
Fort Worth area.
According to data from the City of Dallas
Office of Economic Development, over 30
percent of the D/FW area’s workforce has
at least a college degree, and more than 80
percent have at least a high school education.
Together, the K- 12 public school systems
in Dallas and Fort Worth educate several
hundred thousand students and have both
received accolades for their education
programs, resources, and diversity.
Public, Private and Higher Education
The Dallas Independent School District is
the 14th largest school district in the U.S.
with more than 20,000 employees and a
diverse population of more than 160,000
students who speak more than 70 different
languages. The district currently has 227
schools, and voters approved a $1.35
billion building program that is adding 14
new schools and various renovations over
the next several years. According to The
Washington Post, DISD is home to two
of the top ten public high schools in the
country. Several of the district’s schools
have been designated as Blue Ribbon
schools and scores more rated as exem-
plary or recognized. DISD also boasts
a progressive dual language immersion
program benefiting both native English
and Spanish speakers, along with three
“early college” high schools.
Nearby Tarrant County (which includes
such major communities as Arlington, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford,
Grapevine-Colleyville, and Keller) includes
21 school districts. The largest is the Fort
Worth Independent School District, which
is the fifth largest in the state with more than
86,000 students in 83 elementary schools, 29
middle schools and sixth-grade centers, 18
high schools, and 16 special campuses.
There are also many smaller school districts
across other DFW counties that offer a wealth
of education options for families. (See the
Public Education section for more detailed
information about the area’s largest school
districts, including enrollment numbers, test
scores, student-teacher ratios, and much
more). The area also offers multiple choices
for private and parochial K- 12 education,
with more than 200 schools of all sizes (see
the Private School section for a listing of the
DFW area’s largest private schools).
Home to more than 40 public and private
colleges and universities, the DFW area
offers extensive opportunities for workforce
training, advanced degrees, and continuing
education. Acclaimed area schools include
Southern Methodist University, University
of Texas at Dallas, the University of Dallas,
Dallas Baptist University, the University
of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University, as well as the University of
North Texas and Texas Women’s University in nearby Denton. (Refer to our Higher
Education section for a listing of area
colleges and universities.)
No matter what your preference, the DFW
area offers much for relocating families to
ensure that students of all ages have access
