Nearly 3,800 Dallas ISD students are enrolled this upcoming school year in 23 collegiate academies and Early College High Schools (ECHS) where they can earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree—at no cost to them—while earning a high school diploma.
Dallas ISD and the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) operate the collegiate academies that have proven very successful. All 17 of the new collegiate academies received the Texas Education Agency (TEA) ECHS designation for the 2017-2018 school year. TEA awarded Early College High School (ECHS) designation to only 41 campuses throughout the state. The TEA grants the ECHS designations to schools that are on track to meet six rigorous benchmarks and implement best practices
“We are extremely proud of our students, teachers and administrators in our Early College High Schools,” said Usamah Rodgers, Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Initiatives and External Relations. “I know we will build on those successes for another incredible school year.”
In addition to earning TEA designation, the new collegiate academies have a 96-percent student retention rate, which is notably higher than the district average retention rate for ninth-grade students. The freshmen in the collegiate academies also had a 90-percent pass rate in dual credit courses in the fall and an 85-percent pass rate in dual credit courses the spring. The ninth-grade students’ success rate is aligned with the success rate of Dallas ISD eleventh-graders who take dual credit courses.
Meanwhile, more than 52 industry partners have joined Dallas ISD and the DCCCD, agreeing to provide students with mentorship, site visits and potential opportunities for internships and job interviews.
“We are excited that opportunities for Dallas ISD students continue to expand when it comes to preparing them to enter tomorrow’s workforce,” said Israel Cordero, Deputy Superintendent for Academic Improvement and Accountability. “These Early College High Schools add to existing district programs that are successfully making college a reality and supporting career-readiness even before students graduate from high school.”
Dallas ISD and the DCCCD have seen remarkable interest in the collegiate academies. The collegiate academies received more than 4,800 applications for about half that many spots during the last application period that was open Dec. 5 – Jan. 31.
Learn more about the Dallas ISD and DCCCD ECHS by going here.
