*Sponsored Content*
Arianna Banda, a freshman at the new North Dallas High School Collegiate Academy, said it was a no-brainer to enroll at the Dallas ISD school this year.
Banda is coming to Dallas ISD from a charter school. After she and her mom, Maria, learned about the benefits of the collegiate academy — specifically the chance to earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree, for free, while earning a high school diploma—she knew she would be a future Bulldog.
“I think this will be a great advantage for her and give her a big head start out of high school,” Maria said.
Over at the new Hillcrest High School Collegiate Academy, Mr. Johnson welcomed students to his AP Human Geography class by blaring “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang and giving a warm smile. Johnson is coming to Hillcrest after working in IT, and he was drawn to the position because it serves such a wide variety of kids.
“I want to make a difference, and this is a chance to impact students from diverse backgrounds who want to have a head start after they graduate,” he said. “This is going to be a great school year.”
Hillcrest and North Dallas high schools in District 2 are home to two of the 23 collegiate academies and Early College High Schools (ECHS) being operated this school year by Dallas ISD and the Dallas County Community College District. The collegiate academies have a great record of success, with notably high retention rates and a large percentage of students passing their dual credit courses.
Also, the collegiate academies have industry partners that provide students with mentorship, site visits and potential opportunities for internships and job interviews. The Hillcrest High School Collegiate Academy has partnered with Cummings Electrical, Jones Lang LaSalle and Texas Instruments; while North Dallas High School Collegiate Academy has partnered with Southwest Airlines, Thomson Reuters, Bottle Rocket, Legend Networking, MD Medical Group and Baylor University Medical Center/Baylor Scott and White.
I am proud to support the district’s collegiate academy efforts, and I look forward to watching how they help students grow.
In other Dallas ISD news:
I want to share the appreciation I have for North Dallas High School and Dallas ISD for stepping up to help students displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Dallas ISD campuses are immediately enrolling these students from the Houston area, and North Dallas High School is the designated campus for those at the Convention Center, which is the major shelter for the City of Dallas.
And for all our junior and senior students, we invite them to begin preparing to take the next step toward their future, by attending the 2017 Districtwide College Fair. The fair will take place Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St. Representatives from colleges and universities throughout the country, will be available to share information about their school’s programs. To register for the fair, please visit: gotocollegefairs.com. Transportation will be provided for Dallas ISD students who register with their counselor by Sept. 13. For more information about the fair, please call 972-925-3505.
Dustin Marshall
Dustin Marshall is the District 2 representative on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.
