In August 2017, CityLab High School will be the newest Dallas ISD Transformation School to open its doors for 100 new freshman students. CityLab will utilize a school-wide urban planning, architecture, and community development framework, making its downtown location (912 S. Ervay Street) that was recently approved by the Board of Trustees an ideal site for its inventive academic offerings.
Led by architect and veteran Skyline High School teacher Peter Goldstein and local architect Lorena Toffer, the school will provide a transformative educational experience where learning extends beyond the classroom walls into the streets where students live, work, and play. Students will be prepared to become the next generation of design professionals and civic leaders, equipped with an appreciation and holistic understanding of the urban environment. Programs of study will include architecture, environmental science, and urban and regional planning, leading to one or more endorsements in Business and Industry, Public Services, or Multidisciplinary Studies.
“CityLab High School will offer students the unique opportunity to explore and investigate the city, while engaging with our neighborhoods and communities,” explained Goldstein. “We see this as a way for students to learn about the build and natural worlds, and the systems and processes that are an integral part of our city. Our school is so excited to build future Dallas leaders.”
Like other district Transformation Schools, CityLab will be open to all incoming ninth grade students regardless of academic ability. Enrollment will be based on socioeconomic status, following the successful model piloted by Solar Preparatory school for Girls. 50% of accepted students will be eligible for free and reduced price lunch, and 50% of students will not be eligible. To further encourage a diverse student population, 70% of CityLab seats will be reserved for students living within Dallas ISD boundaries, and 30% will be reserved for students living outside of Dallas ISD boundaries. The application window will be open from November 28 to January 31.
CityLab High School was identified through the district’s annual Public School Choice competitive proposal process that was open to educators nationwide. “Creating highly effective student-centered schools that will serve all students takes energy, commitment and imagination,” said Mohammed Choudhury, director in the Office of Transformation and Innovation, who facilitated the request for proposal process. “This was extremely rigorous process. Successful teams participated in school design workshops, demonstrated evidence of community buy-in, and went through interviews to ensure that the best possible school was proposed.”
With the addition of CityLab, the district will have 15 Choice Schools as part of its Public School Choice initiative: four other Transformation Schools (Solar Prep, Mata ES, Hulcy STEAM MS, and IDEA) and ten Innovation Schools (Cabell ES, Rogers ES, Weiss ES, Preston Hollow ES, Kramer ES, Lee ES, Lipscomb ES, Marsh MS, Franklin MS, and Bryan Adams HS).
For more information about Public School Choice and enrolling for the 2017-2018 school year, visit www.dallasisd.org/choice, email choice@dallasisd.org, or call (972) 925-3306.
To learn more about CityLab, visit the Public School Choice website or attend one of the upcoming information sessions open to the public:
- Saturday, December 3, 9am-4pm at the Discover Dallas ISD Fair
- Monday, December 12, 6:00-7:30pm at 912 S. Ervay Street, 4th floor*
- Thursday, January 12, 6:00-7:30pm at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak Street
- Saturday, January 14, 10:00-2:00pm at 912 S. Ervay Street, 4th floor*
- Wednesday, January 25, 6:00-7:30pm at 3700 Ross Avenue
