Dallas ISD’s top-performing seniors–those named valedictorians and salutatorians of their graduating classes based on academic achievement–have closed one chapter in their education and are looking forward to the next. The star students will soon be headed to top Texas schools such as Texas A&M University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Woman’s University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas Christian University. Out-of-state choices include Harvard University, Cornell University, and the University of California, among others. View a list of valedictorians and salutatorians, and what universities they will attend, here. Related story: Scholar-athletes rise to the top of their class

A third of this year’s Dallas ISD valedictorians and salutatorians are scholar-athletes. Honored for outstanding academic achievement, these students also excelled in golf, football, track, baseball and other sports. Many will attend college on athletic and academic scholarships. Director of Athletics Gil Garza congratulated these academic and athletic stars. Garza said the accomplishments of this year’s scholar-athletes is evidence that the district’s athletic program is growing in the right direction. “We are very excited to announce that 34 percent of the valedictorians and salutatorians from our 22 comprehensive high schools participated in athletics this school year,” he said. “This fact…

Studies show that students can lose up to a full month of instructional growth by not actively reading over the summer. Dallas ISD is working to close the summer reading gap by providing a range of opportunities for students, parents and other members of the community to beat the heat through books. Library Media Services last summer opened 31 school libraries as part of their summer reading effort. This year, Library and Media Services is opening 32 school libraries across the district from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. from June 15–July 16. Gay Patrick, director of Library Media Services, said parents, students, and community members checked…

Noting the district’s strong financial position, Dallas ISD Chief of Finance Jim Terry told trustees on Thursday that the district is now projecting to end the year with approximately $330 million in the reserve fund balance. The state recommends a school district have a reserve fund balance, which is basically a school district’s equivalent of a person’s savings fund, to cover two months in expenses; Dallas ISD’s reserve fund balance would cover three months in expenses. Terry noted that the district’s projected $330 million fund balance is significantly higher than just six years ago, when the fund balance was $37…