Dallas ISD students are exceeding expectations when it comes to college readiness.
“Our job doesn’t just stop at the end of graduation,” said Ben Mackey, member of the Board of Trustees. “We are preparing our kids to thrive beyond that, and this is evident in this work.”
At the November Board of Trustees briefing, board members heard an update from school leadership regarding student outcome goals, which sets benchmarks for ensuring Dallas ISD high school graduates are prepared for life after 12th grade.
The outcomes are based on the percentage of students who earn certificates and/or an associate degree by the time they finish high school. The district’s goal is to increase college readiness from 42% to 67% by June of 2025, and according to the report, Dallas ISD is well on their way to achieving that goal.
In fact, students are surpassing those benchmarks. For example, the number of students earning certificates increased from 470 in the 2022-2023 school year to 524 in the 2023- 2024. The target for the 2023-2024 school year is 445, with projections for the next school year being 450.
The number of students graduating with an associate degree is also set to exceed expectations. Dallas ISD projected the percentage of students enrolled in P-TECH or ECHS who earn 60 hours or an associate degree to be 62% by 2025. For the 2023-2024 school year, the target percentage is 61%, with the actual percentage coming in at 68%.
Brian Lusk, deputy superintendent of academics and transformation, credits the proactive approach schools are making to ensure their students sign up for–and stay on track with their programs.
“There’s a pathway manager who makes sure students are in the right courses for the pathway they’re in,” he said. “We know if we advise students more effectively year over year, the more students sign up for classes.”
The district is working to provide real-time data to campuses so schools can monitor students’ progress and make any needed adjustments, Lusk added.
“When we find students who are having challenges, it becomes about how do we get them back on track,” he said. “We can see it’s making a difference already.”
