Application window opens for Dallas ISD Transformation Schools

Attention parents: would your student be interested in attending a school that focuses on hands-on learning where, in a given day, they might create a blog, practice leadership and public speaking skills, and create and present projects about real world issues? The school—D.A Hulcy STEAM Middle School—is housed under a science, technology, engineering, arts and math banner, and it would help prepare the student to succeed throughout their life.

Or maybe your student would prefer to attend Mata Montessori, which would give them the independence to learn on their own terms? The student would leave Mata with the tools necessary to be a lifelong learner.

Then again, maybe your student is more interested in a school that would give them personalized instruction based on what they needed to know, with content tailored to their needs? At the Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Academy at James W. Fannin, your student would also be paired with a business mentor and have an internship opportunity beginning in the 10^th grade.

Or, as a fourth option, if your student is a girl, would they be interested in going to an all-female school that would prepare them to become trailblazers in STEAM-related fields and equip them with a depth of knowledge, capacity for leadership, strength of character, and love of self? At the Solar Preparatory School for Girls at James B. Bonham, which opens in August, they would receive STEAM instruction through blended learning, project-based learning, tech literacy and coding, engineering, robotics, integrated art, and drama.

If any of these options seem like a good fit for your student, the window to apply to one of these four Dallas ISD Transformation Schools opened Jan. 6 and closes Jan. 29. A Transformation School offers specialized academic programming, similar to a magnet school. However, unlike a magnet school, Transformation Schools do not have any academic entry requirements: they are open enrollment for students across the district.

“Every kid deserves a best-fit school, something that offers a specialized approach that can tap into their interests, aspirations and learning styles,” said Mike Koprowski, chief of the Office of Transformation and Innovation.

Below are the grades the Transformation Schools are accepting applications for:

Solar Preparatory School for Girls at James. B. Bonham

• The single-gender STEAM school is accepting applications for new Kinder, 1^st, and 2^nd grade. The school, which received a prestigious $100,000 NewSchools Venture Fund grant, will grow to Kindergarten–8^th grade.

Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy at James W. Fannin

• The Personalized Learning high school is accepting applications for new 9^th graders. The school, which received a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant, will grow to 9^th-12^th grade.

Eduardo Mata Elementary

• The Montessori school is accepting applications for new PK3, PK4, and kindergarteners. The school will grow to PK3–5th grade.

D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School

• The project-based learning STEAM school is accepting applications for new 6th graders. The school, which has offerings including robotics, technology apps, and art, will grow to 6^th–8^th grade.

Applications can be completed online at www.dallasisd.org/choice or picked up in person at the Dallas ISD Administration Building, 3700 Ross Ave., Room 102A; D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School, 9339 S. Polk St; Mata Montessori, 7420 La Vista Dr.; or the Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy at James W. Fannin, 4800 Ross Ave.