Following state lawmakers’ inability to authorize education savings accounts this year, administrators at Dallas ISD have been trying to make the most of application season by advertising its magnet schools and “choice” programs.
Dallas ISD has organized several open house events to inform prospective students and their parents about its range of offerings. The district has over 100 programs offering specialized instruction in everything from STEM to the performing arts.
Those who cannot make it in person can learn about programs and tour schools virtually.
“Our goal is to just offer families the best-fit schools and allow them to exercise their choice for their students,” explained Jonica Crowder-Lockwood, executive director of the district’s magnet programs, according to The Dallas Morning News. “That’s our ultimate goal, regardless of politics.”
Although it is unclear exactly how many Dallas ISD students are currently enrolled in “choice” and magnet programs, they are reportedly in high demand. As such, slots are allocated to students based on merit or through a lottery.
For parents like Shamonica Wiggins Mayes, enrolling her daughter in Dallas ISD’s Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School made more financial sense than paying the tuition fees of top-rated institutions such as The Hockaday School.
“I love the choice program because exceptional students are not always born in exceptional circumstances,” Mayes said.
Fort Worth ISD has similarly boosted its recruitment efforts this application season, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Its open houses have placed its enrollment students front and center, with them leading tours and discussions with potential new arrivals.
Although magnets and schools of choice like Irma Rangel are feathers in the cap of Dallas ISD, its student enrollment figures have been slipping each year. This dynamic — which has affected other North Texas districts, such as Fort Worth ISD — appears to be due to an array of factors ranging from demographic shifts to housing costs in attendance zones.
Nonetheless, Dallas ISD has been plagued with issues ranging from accusations of mismanagement to consecutive years of lackluster academic results.
In 2021-2022, Dallas ISD saw only 41% of its students score at grade level on the STAAR exam, according to the Texas Education Agency accountability report. Moreover, almost 20% of its seniors did not graduate within four years that school year.
