The two newest members of the Dallas ISD collegiate academy family are now accepting applications in advance of opening their doors next August. Skyline Collegiate Academy will open on the Skyline High School campus in southeast Dallas, and North Lake Collegiate Academy will be housed on the south campus of North Lake College in Irving.
Both schools are making their debut with information sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates:
- Wednesday, Jan. 16, and Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, Skyline Collegiate Academy, 7777 Forney Rd., Dallas 75227
- Thursday, Jan. 17, and Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, North Lake College south campus, 1081 W. Shady Grove Rd., Irving, TX 75060
Each campus will offer a combined high school and early college curriculum featuring specialized career pathways in several fields. At Skyline, that focus will be performing arts, science and commercial music technology. At North Lake, the offerings will include public service, criminal justice and business administration.
Skyline Assistant Principal Richard Bond, charged with launching the new Skyline Collegiate Academy, says the community is excited.
“Innovation is part of the Skyline High School DNA. This latest innovation is the next stage of an illustrious history of firsts,” Bond said. “We invite students to join the first graduating class of Skyline Collegiate Academy and earn an associate degree for free.”
In Irving, plans are underway to launch North Lake Collegiate Academy, a partnership of Dallas ISD and North Lake College. The new school is open to students from across Dallas County and offers courses and career pathways in public service, criminal justice and business administration.
North Lake College president Christa Slejko said the college welcomes the new students. “North Lake College is excited about the opening of the North Lake Collegiate Academy,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for more high school students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. The collegiate academy is a great option for students within our community, and we look forward to welcoming these new Blazers to our North Lake family this fall.”
Dallas ISD Principal Chase McLaurin, who will serve as the North Lake academy principal, says attending high school on a college campus is a major attraction for middle schoolers.
“I think the location is important for students,” he said. “Being on a college campus helps students realize that their dreams of going to college are real, possible, and coming true. This is a game changer for students and opens up a whole new world of opportunities.”
Incoming ninth-graders interested in attending these or any of the other 23 Dallas ISD collegiate academies can apply through Jan. 31 at www.dallasisd.org/yourchoices.
Since their inception in 2016, Dallas ISD’s collegiate academies have become a niche for highly motivated students whose families recognize the value of their student graduating with both a high school diploma and up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree at no personal cost to their families. The schools are a partnership of Dallas ISD and the Dallas County Community College District, which share faculty and curriculum and allow juniors and seniors to take classes on a college campus. This tuition-free opportunity offers families the potential to save up to $40,000 in college tuition while students earn credit in their chosen career pathway and gain hands-on experience and mentoring from industry partners connected to each program.
