As the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year gets underway, thousands of seniors are celebrating college acceptances.
Nearly 7,500 Dallas ISD seniors have received acceptances to colleges and universities around the country, including Southern Methodist University, Tuskegee University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania, and more.
Additionally, Sarai C.J., of North Dallas High School, and Emmanuella J., from Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy are finalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, which aims to
give high-achieving students the chance to graduate from college with as little debt as possible.
“Jack Kent Cooke meant freedom to me, being able to go to college and focus on classes instead of work, to replace financial stress with worrying over midterms,” Sarai said. “I am so thankful to have moved on to being a semifinalist, and I’m glad that scholarships like this are now more accessible for students like myself.”
The scholarship provides as much as $55,000 per year to pursue a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution.
“l am grateful to Academic Success Program, my counselors, and advisors for strengthening me to persevere toward greatness,” Emmanuella said. “I am honored to be a finalist for the scholarship which would aid in my pursuit of a career in public health.”
Current data shows Dallas ISD seniors are earning acceptances to both major Texas universities and highly selective institutions nationwide.
Students are also being accepted to nationally recognized schools such as the University of Michigan, Case Western Reserve University, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Northeastern University, and St. Olaf College, reflecting strong outcomes across a wide range of college pathways.
The data reveals a strong in-state enrollment trend among Dallas ISD students, particularly at large public Texas universities, while also showcasing acceptances to elite private and liberal arts colleges. This highlights the wide range of college pathways available to Dallas ISD students and reflects their competitiveness at both state and national levels.
