By Joyce Foreman
Dallas ISD Board of Trustees
District 6
Throughout the month of August, I took time to visit each campus in District 6, making sure to listen to the voices of our students and teachers.
Across the district, I connected with school principals and experienced their profound belief in students. I met with student leaders and saw school environments centered on elevating the student experience. I connected with teachers who are relentless in their commitment to giving students the best learning experience possible.
Parents, I am proud of what I see on each campus, and I am excited for the ways our students will grow into well-rounded individuals who make meaningful contributions through their careers and in the world around them. In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, a civil rights and child advocate: “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”
Our students are receiving an education that will prepare them for whatever path they choose to take. It is my hope that we continue to meet students where they are while keeping our expectations high, knowing fully that they are capable of unlimited success.
STAAR success
In just four years, Dallas ISD has seen a nine-point STAAR increase in its accountability rating, bringing the district to an 85 from the Texas Education Agency. Within the first month of the 2026-2027 school year, our schools are already celebrating outstanding academic results. According to the Texas Education Agency, 18 of the 25 schools in District 6 earned A or B ratings.
I am especially excited to recognize the recent academic achievement at David W. Carter High School. Carter is now an A-rated campus! This phenomenal achievement was made possible by the hard work of our teachers, students and campus leadership, who helped move the school’s rating up two letter grades in just one year.
Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, Clinton P. Russell Elementary School, D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School, and Umphrey Lee Elementary School are also A-rated campuses, continuing a legacy of excellence in District 6.
Where Everybody Belongs
Pivotal to our continued academic success are thriving legacy schools that serve students in their neighborhoods. Through the Where Everybody Belongs program, select eighth graders support incoming sixth graders as they transition into middle school. As leaders and role models, they help build a strong school culture while developing their own leadership, team-building, and communication skills.
During the first week of school, I met with WEB students at Boude Storey Middle School to encourage them as they begin their journey as leaders. Initiatives like WEB, which
directly support students attending our legacy schools, are part of what makes their educational experiences special and personalized.
The progress we have made shows what is possible when we believe in our students, invest in their success, and continue to expect excellence. Let’s have another great school year.
