College Enrollment Worse Than Expected

College enrollment worse than expected by Dallas Independent School District officials surprised by declining numbers.

Dallas ISD reports it is 2.4 percentage points behind its target of 59% for college enrollment for 2022. This includes associate degree programs.

College Enrollment Worse Than Expected

The administration anticipates an increase in four-year enrollment for 2023 due to their investment in dual credit programs.

The Board of Trustees monitored Goal Progress Measure 5.5. This is a College & Career Readiness indicator that focuses on college enrollment and associate degree attainment.

The district reported that they are off track. The percent of college enrollment, including Associate degrees, was 56.6%, falling short of the target by 2.4 percentage points. Note this means the Board believes more than two of every five students will not go onto college after they matriculate from Dallas ISD.

Dallas ISD notes this is based on 2022 data. The administration is anticipating an increase in four-year enrollments due to their investment in Dual Credit programs.

Why This Matters

College enrollment and the attainment of associate degrees serve as indicators of success for the State Accountability System.

Progress in these areas not only enhances overall success metrics but also creates an opportunity to access outcome-based funding from the state.

Dallas ISD numbers fluctate, but the problems are the same – Dallas ISD does not educate students. They fail tests again and again.

College Enrollment Worse Than Expected – Campus Gaps The Cause?

The gap between high-priority campuses and non-high-priority campuses in student access to Proficient 1+ teachers widened to 11 points. There are, however, more proficient 1+ teachers on Dallas ISD campuses overall.

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    Dallas Moving Away From Grades?

    Dallas moving away from grades is a new question as sister school district Fort Worth ISD announces new changes.

    Fort Worth ISD plans to scrap traditional numeric and letter grading to a system that measures against TEA standards.

    Dallas Moving Away From Grades

    Both Dallas Independent School District and Fort Worth ISD are a part of a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency.

    That lawsuit hopes to stop letter grades that shine a light on their educational gaps.

    Dallas Moving Away From Grades Too?

    Thew new grading system will be phased in as follows.

    • Phase 1 – Planning and Preparation (Current Year 2023-2024):
      • Conduct a thorough review of the standards-based report card model and its alignment with our educational goals.
      • Engage with educators, parents, and other stakeholders to gather feedback and address concerns via surveys and Focus Groups.
      • Develop training programs for teachers to ensure a smooth transition.
    • Phase 2 – Pilot Programs (Next Academic Year 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, if needed):
      • Implement pilot programs in select grades or subjects to test the effectiveness of the standards-basedreport card.
      • Gather feedback from teachers, students, and parents involved in the pilot programs.
      • Identify and address any challenges or adjustments needed based on the pilot outcomes.
      • We believe this phased approach will enable us to proactively address any challenges and refine the standards-based report card model to best serve our students and community. 
    • Phase 3 – Refinement and Full Implementation (Following Academic Year 2025-2026 or 2026-2027):
      • Refine the standards-based report card model based on insights gained from the pilot programs.
      • Provide additional training and support for educators to enhance their understanding and implementationof the new system.
      • Gradually roll out the standards-based report card across all grades and subjects.

    Impact On Dallas ISD

    Dallas ISD has stopped measuring reading ability despite this being a key indicator of student success. Some believe this relates to their known problem in this area.

    Dallas ISD is becoming a dead end for students seeking post secondary education.

    Other Side Dallas continues to be your source for breaking Dallas news.

    New Elementary School Planned

    New elementary school planned for Dallas Independent School District students will offer 500 young people STEAM options.

    Dallas Independent School District currently has three other STEAM Dallas magnets.

    New Elementary School Planned

    STEAM schools offer a focus on science, technology, math and the arts for students interested in these areas.

    The Urban Park Steam Academy will include pre-K through fifth-grade students. It is budgeted to cost $34M.

    The old school will be demolished once the new campus is complete and students have moved into the new facility.

    New Elementary School Planned

    This school is in addition to the planned healthcare high school coming funded by Mike Bloomberg.

    Other Side Dallas will bring breaking Dallas news related to crime, education, local sports, and business.

    Dallas ISD Reopens

    Dallas ISD reopens today for students across Dallas despite subzero temperatures at the start of school this morning.

    Dallas ISD Reopens

    Yesterday was a one off for Dallas ISD closed using its inclement weather days to keep campus closed to students and staff.

    Schools in Dallas Independent School District are being monitored for heating and burst pipes.

    Maintenance officials appear to have the systems in place to keep students and staff warm. Additionally, early reports indicate busses running on time.

    Dallas ISD Reopens

    Dallas ISD regularly schedules for two inclement weather days per calendar year.

    Other Side Dallas is your source for Dallas local breaking news, school closure information, and weather warnings.

    Dallas ISD Closed Tuesday

    Dallas ISD closed Tuesday due to low temperatures and student safety across Dallas and the cities it covers.

    Dallas ISD Closed Tuesday

    Roadways appear to be significantly improved after the cold weather assault on the region this weekend, but school is still out.

    The first extreme weather for 2024 is causing worry about students standing as bus stops in sub freezing temperatures.

    There is also generic concern about the impact of two hundred schools and the impact on the electrical grid.

    There have been reported power outages across Dallas, but do not appear to be the result of grid failures.

    Dallas ISD Closed Tuesday, Open Rest Of Week?

    The National Weather Service anticipates temperatures above freezing mid-day on Wednesday.

    Other Side Dallas is your source for Dallas local breaking news.

    Winter Break Over

    Winter Break Over

    Winter break over across the city for Dallas Independent School District students who will return to classes today.

    Dallas Independent School District students have been out of school near December holidays since December 22, 2023. Drivers are encouraged to mind their speeds through school zones.

    Winter Break Over

    Normal bell schedules will be in effect this week.

    Winter Break Over, But Four Day Week Next Week

    Students are being eased back into class with a four day work week, but will enjoy the same next also.

    Monday the 15th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and will be a day for students to remember his legacy.

    Other Side Dallas is your source for Dallas local breaking news and information about schools.

    Hillcrest Race Issues

    Hillcrest Race Issues

    Hillcrest race issues were on full display Tuesday night at the school’s basketball games against Lake Highlands High School.

    Lake Highlands High School parents contacted Other Side Dallas about verbal abuse by Hillcrest fans.

    Hillcrest Race Issues

    The abuse was aimed at Lake Highlands players and fans.

    There are reports that students used words like “ni**er”, “ki*e”, and other disparaging words were used against Lake Highlands players.

    Neither Dallas Independent School District or Richard Independent School District has returned emails about the issue.

    There have been multiple antisemitic threats and other race issues in Dallas since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.

    Hillcrest Race Issues And Play Issues

    Lake Highlands dominated both the varsity and junior varsity contests. The varsity game ended 84 – 48.

    One Hillcrest parent noted the games weren’t as close as the games make them.

    DISD Says No Rangers

    DISD says no Rangers says some parents shocked that Dallas ISD is not closing or closing early for today’s Rangers parade.

    Unlike other districts, Dallas Independent School District is not allowing students to celebrate the first World Series win.

    DISD Says No Rangers

    Arlington, Irving, Kennedale, and Mansfield all stated they would close. Grand Prairie ISD was forced to close when they could not secure enough substitutes for anticipated vacancies.

    Meanwhile, Dallas ISD says Ba Humbug to the Texas Rangers first World Series win.

    DISD Says No Rangers

    It is unclear how many students will be absent any way, but a large part of Dallas ISD’s budget comes from attendance levels.

    Dallas ISD took the Texas Education Agency to court earlier this year. The lawsuit came after a preliminary report showed 20% of campuses failing basic standards.

    Another question exists would Dallas ISD hold this same standard for a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl win.

    Dallas Magnet Applications Open

    Dallas Magnet applications open tomorrow morning for the 2024-2025 school year and will run through January 31, 2024.

    Dallas Independent School District magnet campuses are some of the most sought after positions in public high schools.

    Dallas Magnet Applications Open

    The Townview Talented and Gifted High School along with School of Science and Engineering are consistently top ten.

    Additionally, the School of Health Professions sent one of their students to Harvard on a full scholarship.

    Dallas Magnet Applications Open

    Magnet spots are allotted on a competitive basis and students must meet testing and GPA requirements to be eligible. School specific testing rubrics are then used to evaluate candidates.

    Dallas Student Saved

    Dallas student saved by a bus driver paying attention when her riders alerted her to a life threatening emergency.

     Raquel Radford Baker, a bus driver for Dallas Independent School District, saved the life of a seven year old in late September.

    Dallas Student Saved

    School bus surveillance view shows the 7-year-old student putting something into his mouth.

    Seconds later, the same boy is choking and approaches the driver.

    Another part of the video shows Baker carrying the boy who is visibly limp in her arms.

    Baker had instructed a woman outside the school to call 911, but dislodged the object before ambulances arrived.

    Dallas Student Saved

    The City of Dallas regularly holds disaster training for citizens to prepare for emergencies in their community.

    CPR, including care for choking, and first aid are part of the curriculum offered free.