40 Facts About Dallas Isd

Overview of Dallas ISD

Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) is a cornerstone of education in Texas. With a rich history and a commitment to diversity, it serves a vast and varied student population.

1. Largest District in Texas: Dallas ISD is the second-largest school district in Texas, serving over 157,000 students.
2. Diverse Student Body: The district's student population is approximately 68% Hispanic, 25% African American, 4.5% White, and 1.1% Asian.
3. Fastest Improving District: Recognized as one of the nation’s fastest improving school districts by the Council of the Great City Schools.

Academic Excellence

Dallas ISD is home to some of the top public high schools in the country and has shown significant improvements in academic performance.

4. Top Public High Schools: Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center’s School of Science and Engineering and School for the Talented and Gifted are among the top public high schools in the U.S.
5. Advanced Placement Exams: The number of students taking and scoring a 3 or above on AP exams has been increasing for 16 years.
6. Blue Ribbon Schools: The district boasts several U.S. Blue Ribbon Schools, 30 Exemplary schools, and 67 Recognized schools.

Graduation and Facilities

Dallas ISD has made strides in increasing graduation rates and improving school facilities.

7. Graduation Rate: The graduation rate is at its highest since the mid-1980s.
8. Renovations and New Schools: A $1.35 billion bond program is funding significant renovations and the construction of 14 new schools.
9. Budget: The overall district budget for the 2010-2011 school year was $1.4 billion, with a budget per student of $9,387.

Ethnic Breakdown by Grade

The district serves a diverse student body across all grade levels.

10. Elementary Schools: Serve 87,925 students with 68% Hispanic, 25% African American, 4.5% White, and 1.1% Asian.
11. Middle Schools: Serve 31,167 students with a similar ethnic breakdown.
12. High Schools: Serve 38,066 students with a similar ethnic breakdown.

History of Desegregation

Dallas ISD has a complex history of desegregation, marked by significant legal and social challenges.

13. Desegregation History: Until 1961, Dallas was the largest city in the South with a segregated school system.
14. First Desegregation Steps: On September 6, 1961, eighteen black children started first-grade classes in previously segregated schools.
15. NAACP Dissatisfaction: The NAACP criticized DISD for making it difficult for black children to enter white schools.
16. Tasby Litigation: Sam Tasby filed a lawsuit in 1970, charging DISD with maintaining a dual school system.
17. Desegregation Plan: In response, DISD implemented the “Confluence of Cultures Desegregation Plan” in 1971.

Recent Enrollment Statistics

Recent data shows the continued diversity and challenges faced by Dallas ISD.

18. Enrollment Statistics (2025): As of January 7, 2025, the district's enrollment statistics reflect a diverse student body.
19. Ethnic Breakdown (Grade 9): Approximately 31.6% Hispanic, 8.3% African American, and 12% Asian.
20. Ethnic Breakdown (Grade 10): Approximately 52.3% Hispanic, 8.5% African American, and 10% Asian.
21. Ethnic Breakdown (Grade 11): Approximately 51.2% Hispanic, 4.3% African American, and 9.8% Asian.
22. Ethnic Breakdown (Grade 12): Approximately 30.5% Hispanic, 4.7% African American, and 22.7% Asian.

Performance and Challenges

Dallas ISD has faced various challenges but continues to strive for improvement.

23. Performance Review Recommendations: In 2000, a Texas School Performance Review identified 193 ways to save the district over $69.9 million.
24. Human Resource Management Issues: The HR department has faced constant changes, disrupting hiring and recruiting.
25. Medicaid Reimbursement: DISD aggressively pursues Medicaid reimbursements for services provided to students with disabilities.
26. Career and Technology Education Program: The CATE program ensures its offerings meet the needs of area employers.
27. Student Health Services: Partnerships with health service organizations provide medical and mental health services to students.
28. Technology Integration in the Classroom: Partnerships have provided networked computers and specialized training for teachers.
29. Arts-in-Education Initiative: ArtsPartners integrates arts and cultural events into the curricula.

Financial and Operational Issues

The district has faced financial and operational challenges that impact its overall performance.

30. Cash Management Issues: Problems with cash management have led to theft, highlighting the need for stricter contract enforcement.
31. Accountability Rating (2021-2022): Dallas ISD received an accountability rating of B for the 2021-2022 school year.
32. Student Enrollment (2021-2022): The district had 143,430 students during the 2021-2022 school year.
33. Students at Risk of Dropping Out: Approximately 66.4% of students were considered at risk of dropping out.
34. Bilingual and English Language Learning Programs: About 46% of students were enrolled in bilingual and English language learning programs.

Graduation and Dropout Rates

Dallas ISD continues to work on improving graduation rates and reducing dropout rates.

35. Four-Year Graduation Rate (2021): The four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2021 was 81.1%.
36. Dropout Rate (2020-2021): The dropout rate for students in grades 9-12 was 4.5% during the 2020-2021 school year.
37. Average SAT Score: The district aims to improve student performance in standardized tests.

Teacher Experience and Student Demographics

Teacher experience and student demographics play a crucial role in the district's performance.

38. Teacher Experience: The average teacher experience in Dallas ISD is 10.4 years, slightly lower than the statewide average.
39. Student Demographics (2021-2022): African American students made up 20.9%, American Indian students 0.5%, Asian students 1.2%, Hispanic students 70.1%, Pacific Islander students 0.1%, White students 6%, and Two or more races students 1.2%.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite progress, Dallas ISD continues to face several challenges that require ongoing efforts to address.

40. District Challenges: Issues such as inadequate focus on education, lack of accountability, leadership instability, poorly planned and managed contracted services, and failure of core business functions persist.

Dallas ISD: A Snapshot of Progress and Challenges

Dallas ISD stands as a testament to both progress and ongoing challenges. With over 157,000 students, it's the second-largest district in Texas. The student body is incredibly diverse, with a majority being Hispanic, followed by African American, White, and Asian students. The district has earned recognition for its top public high schools and increasing graduation rates. However, it also grapples with issues like leadership instability, cash management problems, and a high percentage of students at risk of dropping out. Despite these hurdles, Dallas ISD continues to push forward with initiatives in technology integration, arts education, and career programs. The district's journey reflects a blend of achievements and areas needing improvement, making it a dynamic and evolving educational landscape.