Innovative choice schools and programs are bringing students back home to Dallas ISD

BY THE HUB

Dallas ISD’s innovative choice schools and programs are bringing students back home to the district.

Over the past three years, 2,296 students left a charter, private or other school to attend a Dallas ISD transformation school or P-TECH. This brought nearly $14 million in recapture funds back to the district.

“This shows that more and more families in the Dallas area are learning about everything we offer here in Dallas ISD,” Dallas ISD Chief of Strategic Initiatives Brian Lusk told trustees during a March 11 board briefing. “It’s clear that providing best-fit schools are resonating with families.”

During the choice school application window open Nov. 7–Feb. 7, about 7,000 students submitted a total of 16,000 applications to nearly 70 district choice schools. Acceptance notices start going out March 12, and the second window to apply for choice schools and specialty programs opens March 22. The district has simplified its enrollment system this school year, making it easier than ever to apply to a best-fit school.

Meanwhile, Dallas ISD will launch a record number of choice programs and schools in the 2021–2022 school year, significantly increasing the education choices in families’ backyards across the Dallas area. See a map of the new choice schools and programs.

And in a push toward equity in student representation in district magnet schools, 30 mentors are working with students in targeted feeder patterns–Lincoln, Madison, Roosevelt, Carter and South Oak Cliff–to ensure Black and Hispanic students are supported in the magnet school application process.