Several high schools in Dallas ISD were recently recognized in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings list, standing out from the numerous struggling campuses across the district.
Nine schools ultimately made it onto the top 50 list for Texas, with the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, and the School of Science and Engineering (SEM) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center grabbing the top three spots.
The rankings followed the release of Dallas ISD’s most recent STAAR scores by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). While the share of students scoring at grade level in most categories ticked up, the district still came in behind statewide averages in almost every subject, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Upcoming TEA accountability ratings for the 2022-2023 school year will shed further light on Dallas ISD’s student achievement outcomes. During the 2021-2022 school year, only 41% of students scored at grade level on their STAAR exams. Additionally, almost 20% of students from the graduating Class of 2022 did not earn a diploma in four years despite the hard work of the district’s dedicated educators.
“[TAG’s] success is due to the everyday commitment every single person has day in and day out,” said TAG Principal Arnoldo Zuniga, per a Dallas ISD news release. U.S. News & World Report ranked TAG No.1 on its Texas list.
Yvonne D. Rojas, the principal at Young Women’s Leadership School, said, “The hard work and dedication of our young ladies are a testament to the limitless potential, fearlessness, and strength of their leadership.”
Rojas’ school came in at No.2 on the list.
“This recognition tells a story of the great things happening here at SEM and throughout Dallas ISD. I am immensely proud of our brilliant students and devoted teachers,” said SEM Principal Andrew Palacios, per the news release. SEM ranked No.3.
While such positive recognition is a change of pace for Dallas ISD in terms of academics, dozens of other district schools continue to struggle. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, 57 campuses received a D rating from TEA during the 2021-2022 school year, and 29 campuses earned an F.
