The phrase “college-readiness” has replaced “graduation rate” when education experts talk about whether schools are successfully preparing students for life beyond school. In Dallas, a vast disparity exists between students who complete high school coursework and those who are able to pass college entrance exams, such as the ACT and SAT. Attempts to bridge this gap start before students even enter kindergarten, but recent efforts also include full rides to junior college for a large percentage of Dallas ISD graduates.

88

Percent of DISD high school seniors graduated from high school in 2017.

22

Percent of seniors took and passed college entrance exams in 2017, up from 14 percent in 2016.

8

New DISD collegiate academies rolled out in 2016, giving students the opportunity to earn credits for both high school and college.

23

DISD high schools house early college and career programs this year.

100

percent of graduates from 23 DISD high schools can attend any college in the Dallas County Community College District free of charge, regardless of income or GPA, through the new Dallas County Promise.