Dallas ISD has the most high-performing and high-progress low-income schools in Texas, according to a report issued Thursday by the Texas Education Agency.
The TEA report listed 25 Dallas ISD schools among the top 400 high-performing and high-progress Title I schools in Texas for 2014–15. Title I schools are campuses with a student population of at least 40 percent low-income.
“While we talk of the need to close the education achievement gap, the real work in accomplishing that goal is already taking place on these campuses,” Commissioner of Education Michael Williams said in a statement. “Whether identified as high-performing, high-progress or both, we should be proud of what’s taking place at these schools and what it means for the future of Texas.”
TEA looked to statewide reading and mathematics assessments in the 2013–14 school year and graduation rates to identify the high-performing and high-progress schools.
“It’s rewarding to see the hard work of district teachers, students and staff recognized by outside agencies like TEA who are looking at student gains and improvements,” Dallas ISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ann Smisko said. “Remaining focused on instruction and working to have an effective teacher in every classroom, strong school leaders and high expectations is making an impact, and kids are learning more.”
Last year, TEA identified 594 high-performing and high-progress low-income schools. TEA this year identified 410 high-performing and high-progress schools.
TEA issued its report on the same day Children at Risk, a Texas-based non-profit, announced that Dallas ISD has more high performing, high poverty elementary schools than any other urban school district in Texas. Earlier in April, Education Resource Group Analytics presented a report showing a notable positive trend in the performance of Dallas ISD students and schools.
“For anyone who gets to see the great work happening inside Dallas ISD classrooms, the results from these three independent reports come as no surprise,” Superintendent Mike Miles said.
