For rising senior Cadence D., poetry started as an outlet for self-expression. Now, she is the City of Dallas’ 2026-2027 Youth Poet Laureate.  Cadence’s passion for poetry first sparked during her freshman year at Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts. With the help of her teachers, the musical theater conservatory student participated in her school’s Poetry Out Loud competition. Since then, she earned gold at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics, and advanced to the national competition each year. “It has been such a fun experience,” Cadence…

At Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith, the Class of 2026, which is made of 54 “brothers,” achieved a 100% college acceptance rate, with $15.4 million in scholarships. The multimillion-dollar total marks the second-highest scholarship amount awarded, paving the way for graduates, including several first-generation students, to attend elite universities like Princeton and Columbia to major in fields ranging from theater and finance to mechanical engineering and nursing. The all-male Dallas ISD magnet school, which focuses on leadership development and academic achievement for young men, is led by Derek Thomas, principal. “Even though I am proud of…

As the school year comes to a close, final exams and AP tests bring a familiar wave of stress. But for Suhita S., Tessa M. and Lily K., students at the School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, that is why their work matters. The juniors lead the school’s Mental Health Awareness Club, creating low-pressure, peer-centered spaces where students can relax, reflect, and talk about their feelings. “We know our school can be stressful,” Suhita said. “This is a space where people can talk about what’s happening and feel like they’re not alone.” Throughout the…