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As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken.  Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISDemploys 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.

DISD's Exemplary And Recognized Schools Announced

17 Aug 2000

New Set of District Schools Make the List

The Texas Education Agency today announced the final accountability ratings for Dallas Independent School District. The district is rated academically acceptable. Eight district schools made the Exemplary list for 1999-2000, and 16 schools are on the Recognized list.

The district's School of Science and Engineering, School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), School of Health Professions, School of Education and Social Services, School of Government, Law and Law Enforcement, George Bannerman Dealey Montessori (7-8), Harry Stone Montessori (7-8), and Stonewall Jackson Elementary earned "Exemplary" status this year.

Several of these schools have maintained their Exemplary rating for many years; for example, the School for the Talented and Gifted has been ranked exemplary since the 1995-96 school year. The School of Science and Engineering has been an exemplary school since 1996-97. Last year, in addition to being a recognized school, Stonewall Jackson was named Blue Ribbon School by the U. S. Education Department—one of the top honors awarded by the agency.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't have more schools to receive exemplary and recognized status," said Interim General Superintendent Robert Payton. "We will apply all of our resources, attention and support to the schools that have not been as successful in order to ensure that they reach a higher academic standard.”

“To this end, we must continue to focus on our major initiatives—reading, math and science—and make these initiatives a priority in this year's budget.”

There were 16 "Recognized" schools—School of Business and Management, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas Environmental Academy, Longfellow Academy, Nathan Adams Elementary, Carpenter Elementary, DeGolyer Elementary, Dealey Elementary, Julia C. Frazier Elementary, N. W. Harllee Elementary, Daniel “Chappie” James Learning Center, T. D. Marshall Elementary, George Peabody Elementary, J. W. Ray Elementary, Joseph J. Rhoads Elementary and J. P. Starks Elementary. Three schools, Bryan Adams, A. Maceo Smith, and Middle College made the achievement requirements but were dropped from exemplary status because they didn't meet the attendance threshold.

Also released by TEA were the names of the district's low-performing schools which reflect an increase from last year's nine to 28 this year.

The schools are Long Middle School, Bayles Elementary, Bowie Elementary, Bushman Elementary, Bonham Elementary, Buckner Elementary, Burnet Elementary, Conner Elementary, DeZavala Elementary, Earhart Elementary, Hernandez Elementary, Hogg Elementary, Hooe Elementary, Houston Elementary, Lagow Elementary, Maple Lawn Elementary, McMillan Elementary, Miller Elementary, Mount Auburn Elementary, Medrano Elementary, Preston Hollow Elementary, Roberts Elementary, Saldivar Elementary, Silberstein Elementary, Stevens Park Elementary and Wheatley Elementary. Two of Dallas' charter schools, Buckner Academy and Prairie Creek Academy, were added to the low-performing list by special analysis.

According to district officials, the increase in the number of low-performing schools was due in part to changes to the testing standards which resulted in the increase of target scores. Last year, approximately 6,500 more Limited English Proficient (LEP) students were tested in reading and math, and an additional 2,500 LEP students were tested in writing. The district's policy on testing LEP students changed in that only LEP students enrolled in ESL for less than 30 months could be exempted.

“We have many fine schools with similar numbers of LEP students who performed acceptably on the TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills),” said Robert Mendro, Chief Evaluation Officer. “We are working to see that these schools share their insights and successful strategies with the low-performing schools to assure that they make acceptable progress this year.”

Rating Explanation:

Exemplary—At least 90% of the students and 90% of each student population group, such as minority groups and disadvantaged students, passed each section of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS). Dropout rate of 1.% or less. At least 94% attendance rate.

Recognized—At least 80% of the students and 80% of each student population group passed each section of the TAAS. Dropout rate of 3.5% or less. At least 94% attendance rate.

Low-Performing—Less than 50% of students passed at least one section of TAAS; or the dropout rate for all students is over 6%, or the dropout rate for each student population group, such as minority and disadvantaged students, is over 6%. Or attendance rate below 94%.