Dallas Independent School District

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nIntroduction

nThe Dallas ISD (DISD) is considered one of the fastest growing school districts in the US. The population living in the school district is approximately 6.5 million. It also serves North Central Texas, which has 12 counties. The DISD offers both secondary and primary education (DISD, 2016). It manages 225 schools and has more than 160 000 pupils. In addition, the district has public secondary schools. However, the institution is separate and autonomous from state, county or municipality. Therefore, the management of DISD is not accountable to any kind of government regulation or entity. Consequently, its taxing system is not subject to direct regulation from the authorities (DISD, 2016). The paper will review location description, academics, media outlet, sociological inventory and demographics of Dallas Independent School District.

nLocation Description

nDallas Independent School District (DISD) is located at the center of dynamic, diverse and large urban area in Dallas, Texas. It covers a total area of 809.69 square kilometers. Most areas of Dallas City are covered under DISD. Other cities that are included in this school district are Wilmer, Addison, Seagoville, and Cockrell Hill (DISD, 2016). Additionally, some parts of Mesquite, Lancaster, Hutchins, Highland Park, Grand Prairie, Garland, Duncanville and Carrolton are also covered (DISD, 2016). In terms of size, it is the second biggest in the state of Texas and fourteenth in the country.

nMedia Outlets

nDallas ISD operates media outlet, which play a huge role in facilitating communication between the organization and the outside world. In this respect, the DISD has established “The Hub to deliver vital and latest information for the parents, staff and students. In this forum, it uses video and publication to pass school district news. The HUB provides weekly publications that are accessed online. Interested persons can sign up to “the Hub” in order to enjoy constantly updated news concerning the DISD. They are also able to obtain media advisories and news releases (DISD, 2016). Through this media platform, parents are able to know how the school district is progressing and how the education and graduation of their children is taking place. The HUB also engages its clients through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook (DISD, 2016). Most importantly, it also collaborates with the Dallas Morning News to publish some of its articles on the daily newspaper.

nApart from The Hub, the DISD has a division of News and Information. The role of this division is to spread the mission and vision of the school district by facilitating interactive, timely, and effective communication with the public, staff members, families and students (DISD, 2016). The DISD has also formulated media protocols, which can be used in case the parents, staff or students are interested in engaging in media interviews. In particular, any person who intends to engage with the DISD media must follow appropriate procedures (DISD, 2016). Therefore, it has developed media policies that guide its media outlets and relationship with staff, parents and students.

nDallas ISD Demographics

nThe Dallas school district has a variety of people with diverse demographics. In the past five decades, the school district was largely composed of white students, which composed of more than 52 percent of the entire population. However, more recent data indicate that the number of whites has reduced while other groups has increased (DISD, 2016). In early 2000s, there were less than 34 percent are whites students and others belong to different ethnic groups. Currently, 3 percent of the students are Native American and Asian origin, 7 percent Whites, 33 percent African American and 57 percent Hispanics. Therefore, the number of Hispanics and Black Americans has increased over the last few decades. For instance, in 2010, about 190 schools in DISD were composed on 90 percent Hispanics and Black American students. On the other hand, only a few schools had 20 percent of White American pupils, especially in Kessler Park, Oak Cliff, North Dallas and East Dallas.

nDISD Academics

nThe mission of DISD is to enhance academic excellence of all students. The curriculum of the school district integrates crucial process of learning and has comprehensive tools to facilitate the success of children at every grade (DISD, 2016). In addition, the DISD offers different tools, which can be utilized, by parents and students to understand the skills and knowledge that is needed in every grade and subject. Furthermore, parents are provided with Course Information for high and middle schools, which include course descriptions (DISD, 2016). Moreover, staff resources play an important role in academic transformation of students because teachers and other staff can use it to access crucial reference materials.

n The DISD uses the Grading Policy to assess the academic grades of the students. The academic policy is geared towards helping the students become problem solvers in the real world (DISD, 2016). The academic performance of DISD has recorded improvement over the last few decades following implementation of drastic measures. The number of students who reach graduation at the 9th grade is 52 percent (TAPR, 2016). Reports from the Texas Education Agency show that the DISD has met the necessary academic standards. Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) summarizes how school districts have performed at elementary school, middle schools and high schools (TAPR, 2016).

nDISD Economic Status

nReports indicate that DISD has many schools that are extremely poor. In particular, approximately 90 percent of all students in its school districts are categorized as economically underprivileged (News America, 2016). Most of the students come from poor backgrounds, especially African Americans and Hispanics families (DISD, 2016). Moreover, in the US, the DISD is categorized as the second poorest independent school district among the urban centers. Therefore, most of the students needs financial support to facilitate their education (News America, 2016). Between 2000 and 2012, the rate of poverty in DISD increased by approximately 41 percent. However, the rate of population growth was about 5 percent. Furthermore, the rate of child poverty in Dallas is the highest in the country among cities with a population over one million (Nicholson, 2016). In addition, about 50 percent of the Hispanics children are poor. Some of the campuses with the lowest level of income include Dealey International Vanguard, Dealey Montessori Academy and William Travis Vanguard at 44 percent, 42 percent and 34 percent respectively (Nicholson, 2016). Therefore, most students are not able to cater for their needs, hence they depends on donors funds.

nSummary

nDallas ISD is located in Dallas city and includes urban cities such as Wilmer, Addison, Seagoville, and Cockrell Hill. It has more than 225 schools and serve about 160 000 students. The school is considered the fastest growing institution in the country. The largest population of students in the DISD involves Hispanics and African Americans who make up approximately 90 percent of the entire population (DISD, 2016). However, it has one of the worst levels of poverty index since many of its students are from economically disadvantaged families (News America, 2016).

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nReferences

nDISD,. (2016). About Dallas ISD / About Dallas ISD. Dallasisd.org. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://www.dallasisd.org/domain/48

nDISD,. (2016). Academics / Academics. Dallasisd.org. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://www.dallasisd.org/domain/172

nDISD,. (2016). Donors / Donate to Dallas ISD. Dallasisd.org. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/283

nDISD,. (2016). The Hub. Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from https://thehub.dallasisd.org/

nNews America,. (2016). Dallas Independent School District. Febp.newamerica.net. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://febp.newamerica.net/k12/tx/4816230

nNicholson, E. (2016). Has Dallas ISD Finally Stopped Hemorrhaging the Middle Class?. Dallas Observer. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/has-dallas-isd-finally-stopped-hemorrhaging-the-middle-class-8367447

nTAPR,. (2016). Dropout Statistics: Student enrollment by grade in Dallas ISD since 1996-1997. Studentmotivation.org. Retrieved 1 September 2016, from http://www.studentmotivation.org/DallasISD.htm