Word is out: DISD schools, academics are on the rise!

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It’s been less than a month since school started, and I’m encouraged to see more Dallas-area families are learning about and choosing our tremendous schools in Dallas ISD.

Dallas ISD has already surpassed its student enrollment projections for the school year and is on track to top last year’s enrollment of 156,832 students. The reason for the higher-than-projected enrollment is clear: the word is starting to get out about our strong neighborhood schools and fantastic specialty schools such as collegiate academies, innovative choice schools and growing high-quality pre-K program. And, perhaps most importantly, the new accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency showing tremendous academic gains across Dallas ISD prove the district is on the rise.

The new state accountability system known as “A through F” grades school districts on student achievement, school progress/growth, and closing the achievement gap. Dallas ISD received a “B” letter grade and is home to six of the 12 schools that achieved the highest-possible score on the 2018 STAAR test, according to the TEA.

Schools in District 2 received a total of 55 distinctions, and three of our campuses—Hillcrest High School, Woodrow Wilson High School and Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy—received all possible distinctions.

On a districtwide level, Dallas ISD has achieved a steep decline in the number of Improvement Required campuses, from 43 in 2013-2014 to four in 2017-2018.

I am encouraged to see this progress underway, and I look forward to Dallas ISD building on these gains this upcoming school year.

In Other District 2 News…

Geneva Heights Elementary School has opened its own Peace Pantry to feed families in need this school year.
The annual and free Dallas ISD Districtwide College Fair for all high school seniors and juniors and parents is scheduled from 5:30–8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the district’s Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 South Polk Street. Schools will provide no-cost bus transportation for those who sign up with their school counselors.
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and the Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction Department is challenging students to “Show UP” and have perfect attendance this month. Students with perfect attendance, will have the chance to enter a prize drawing conducted per each Trustee district.

Mark your calendar for the following important dates: