The on-time bus arrival rate increased to 95 percent by the end of the school year, according to a report shared with Dallas ISD trustees on June 13. Dallas ISD started running its own transportation system for the first time this past school year after Dallas County residents voted to dissolve Dallas County Schools (DCS), the taxpayer-funded agency that Dallas ISD contracted with to bus students. The average on-time arrival rate under DCS in 2017–2018 was 65 percent. While Dallas ISD saw notable transportation improvements this past school year, Dallas ISD Chief of Operations Scott Layne said the district must…

Three outstanding magnet schools have several seats available for August. Trinity Heights School for the Talented and Gifted and Mark Twain School for the Talented and Gifted will  cater to students who need a challenging academic environment to reach their full potential. Trinity Heights is accepting applications for incoming first- through sixth-graders. Twain is accepting applications for students entering grades one through five. (Learn more and download a paper application here. Return the application to the campus or to an  enrollment center. ) The schools will offer two-way dual language programs and include instruction in language arts, mathematics, humanities, the sciences,…

Karla Garcia won a runoff election on Saturday to serve District 4 on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. Garcia is a native of Southeast Dallas and a Dallas ISD graduate. Garcia will join two other new faces to the board­–Ben Mackey and Maxie Johnson–who were elected in May. District 4 serves Southeast Dallas, Seagoville and Balch Springs. What does a trustee do? The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees establishes the policies by which schools operate. In carrying out the task of setting policy, the board identifies needs and establishes priorities for the school system, allocates financial and human resources…

Dallas ISD’s two newest fine arts collegiate academies are here to serve students who want to pursue their passion in music or dance–while also earning up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree. Building on strong choir and band programs already in place in its feeder school community, the Wilmer-Hutchins Fine Arts Collegiate Academy offers students instruction in the basics of music theory, vocal performance and instrumental conducting along with courses in various forms of dance. The program includes courses in both performance and theory. In response to strong demand for dance instruction in its community, the…