John D Spicer Elementary

Tucked into Haltom City just northeast of Fort Worth, Spicer Elementary sits in a working-class, tight-knit corner of Tarrant County where families tend to put down roots and stay. The school holds its own with solid math and science numbers, making it a decent fit for families who want a neighborhood school with real academic substance without the pressure-cooker feel of higher-ranked suburban campuses. It's the kind of place where the community around the school is just as much a part of the experience as what happens inside the classroom.