Here's how the district describes itself:
"The Dallas Independent School District is “one of the nation’s fastest improving school districts,” according to the Council of the Great City Schools. With 230 schools and more than 157,000 students, Dallas ISD is home to the top two public high schools in the country (Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center’s School of Science and Engineering and School for the Talented and Gifted) as reported by The Washington Post and Newsweek. In addition, the number of Dallas ISD students taking and scoring a 3 or above on Advanced Placement exams increased again in 2011, continuing a 16-year upward swing in preparing students for college.
"Dallas ISD boasts several U.S. Blue Ribbon Schools, 30 Exemplary and 67 Recognized schools as determined by the Texas Education Agency and is steadily increasing its graduation rate. Currently the number of students graduating from Dallas ISD is at its highest since the mid-1980s. Schools are also receiving renovations made possible by a $1.35 billion bond program approved by voters that is also building 14 new schools."
The overall district budget for the 2010-2011 school year was $1.4 billion. The budget per student for that year was $9,387. Approximately 68% of students are Hispanic; 25% are African American; 4.5% are white, 1.1% are Asian. Elementary schools (PK-5) serve 87,925 students; Middle Schools (grades 6-8) serve 31,167 students; High school serves 38,066 students.
