Latest news with #DallasISD
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Two Dallas Students Triumph With National Merit Scholarship
Two Dallas ISD students have beaten the odds, earning prestigious National Merit Scholarships from a pool of 1.3 million applicants nationwide. Samuel H. and Cami S., graduates of the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, secured spots among just 2,900 winners this year. The achievement places these students in rarefied company — fewer than one percent of high school seniors receive this honor. The awards, ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually, can be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study. Samuel, who attended the School of Science and Engineering, plans to study physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Cami, a graduate of the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), will pursue biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University. Arnold Zuñiga, principal of Townview TAG, praised Cami's accomplishment as evidence of exceptional character. 'This recognition tells me that Cami demonstrated remarkable discipline and focus — qualities that go beyond intelligence alone,' Zuñiga said. 'It shows that she met challenges head-on, often balancing academics with extracurricular and community involvement, all while maintaining a high level of performance.' The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will announce additional recipients in July. For now, these two Dallas students stand as examples of academic excellence in a highly competitive field.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bright Futures Ahead: Five Dallas Teens Earn $5K Scholarships from Monty and Sarah Bennett
Five Dallas ISD seniors have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Monty J. and Sarah Z. Bennett Dallas Scholarship Fund, awarded through Dallas Bright Futures. The scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated academic excellence and perseverance in the face of adversity. Each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support college expenses, including tuition, books, or housing. The recipients were chosen from a competitive pool through a selective process involving essays, interviews, and recommendations. 'These five seniors are bold, bright, and beautifully resilient. Their journeys – marked by perseverance, grit, and a deep desire to uplift others – deeply resonate with me,' said Sarah Z. Bennett. 'Like them, I know what it's like to walk a harder road. That's why their academic achievements and community impact feel especially inspiring. They remind us all of the strength that can come from hard work and determination, and they truly represent the best of this rising generation.' The 2025 scholarship recipients include: Mekhiya Matthews, graduating from Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy with a high school diploma and associate degree, will study mechanical engineering at Texas Christian University. She hopes to develop engineering solutions to improve systems like voting and hospital operations. Anica Ayala, a graduate of Emmett J. Conrad High School and former English learner, will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study biology with a focus on pediatric oncology. Jesus Serrano, also from Emmett J. Conrad, plans to major in engineering at UT Austin. With a background in robotics and a passion for mentorship, he hopes to return to Dallas to inspire future engineers. Lauren Osorio, graduating from Irma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, overcame homelessness and plans to study psychology at Willamette University, aiming to support youth struggling with mental health challenges. Sophia Olivas, also of Irma Rangel YMLS, will attend Southern Methodist University to study actuarial science. A standout math student, she created youth financial literacy programs and wants to help underrepresented communities gain economic knowledge. The scholars will be honored at a private reception on June 17, hosted by Monty and Sarah Bennett at Ashford Inc. Dallas Bright Futures, the nonprofit behind the scholarship fund, supports students from under-resourced backgrounds by providing access to higher education and opportunities for long-term success. Reception DetailsDate: June 17, 2025Time: 2–3 PM CTLocation: Ashford Inc., 14185 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TXMedia RSVP: abeach@ For more on the scholarship and Dallas Bright Futures, visit
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
Rescheduled plea hearing for alleged 2024 Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooter to take place Tuesday
The alleged teen gunman in a 2024 shooting at Dallas ISD's Wilmer-Hutchins High School is set to appear in court on May 13. Ja'Kerian Rhodes-Ewing, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting on April 12, 2024, was initially set to appear in a Dallas County courtroom on April 22 for a plea hearing. About two hours after the hearing was supposed to take place, it was rescheduled for May 6. Now, it's scheduled for May 13. Rhodes-Ewing allegedly shot another student in the leg with a Pink Lady 38 revolver inside a Wilmer-Hutchins High School classroom after a dispute. A witness quoted in the affidavit told Rhodes-Ewing to leave the classroom and the building "to prevent further harm to the victim and others." No other injuries were reported from the shooting. Rhodes-Ewing fled from the campus and was later found on Langdon Rd., near Wilmer-Hutchins Athletic Stadium. Police found the revolver hidden in a semi-wooded area nearby. The now 18-year-old remains in the Dallas County Jail with one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlicensed carrying a weapon in prohibited places. His bond is set at $200,000. According to paperwork from Dallas County, Rhodes-Ewing could enter a guilty plea. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dallas ISD said it had strengthened security measures since the shooting. 2025 Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting Several people were hospitalized after a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas on April 15, authorities said. According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, there were a total of five victims - four directly from the shooting and the fifth indirectly impacted by the incident with anxiety-related symptoms. Tracy Haynes Jr. is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on six counts of aggravated assault mass shooting. Five charges are for $500,000 and one charge is for $600,000. His total bond is $3.1 million, according to Dallas County court records.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
Dallas ISD addresses drop in state rating and school safety at "State of the District"
It's a night Dallas Independent School District educators look forward to all year. New Tech High School Principal Channel Hutchinson said the "State of the District" acknowledges the successes and challenges ahead. "It's an opportunity for DISD to come together with all the teachers and leaders in the district to really talk about where we are as a district," she said. "I think some of the biggest accomplishments this year are really having great scores for certain schools." However, the Texas Education Agency recently released its A-F ratings for 2023. Dallas ISD dropped from a B to a C. Tuesday night, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said the state could look at other factors. Safety and accountability top concerns at Dallas ISD State of the District "Many of you may have remembered a local accountability system that included an emphasis on service and getting information about our climate and culture and extracurricular activities of our students," she said. "Those are truly outputs." With the recent shooting at Wilmer Hutchins High School, safety and security is another top concern. Surveillance video shows a student let the alleged shooter in through a side door. "We need to make sure that we hold our children accountable," Dallas ISD Trustee Maxie Johnson said. "We need to make sure that we are protecting our community and children are safe in our school." On Thursday, the Dallas ISD school board is expected to discuss possible changes to the Code of Conduct, upgrading the punishment for opening locked, secured doors. Right now, it's a "Level II offense," which can lead to punishments like community service or detention. Under a proposed update for the 2025-26 school year, it would be a "Level III offense," which could lead to placement in a disciplinary alternative education program.
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Dallas ISD to address state of the district following TEA's latest grade report
Dallas ISD to address state of the district after TEA releases grade report Dallas ISD to address state of the district after TEA releases grade report Dallas ISD to address state of the district after TEA releases grade report On Tuesday, Dallas ISD is addressing the state of the district following the release of the Texas Education Agency's latest A-F ratings. Dallas ISD is the largest school district in North Texas, with about 140,000 students, larger than some cities. Last month, the Texas Education Agency released its A-F ratings for 2023. Those ratings revealed that Dallas ISD dropped from a 'B' to a 'C'. Here's the breakdown of those scores. In 2022: Dallas ISD scored an overall 'B' 'C' for student achievement 'B' for school progress 'C' on closing the gaps In 2023: Dallas ISD dropped to an overall 'C' 'C' for student achievement 'C' for school progress 'C' on closing the gaps Almost every district in the state saw scores drop in these ratings, some more than others. The ratings release comes after the TEA prevailed in a years-long lawsuit filed by over 100 school districts which challenged the legality of changes to the rating system. Dallas ISD was one of those districts. The lawsuit prevented the TEA from releasing the 2023 ratings until last month, when an appeals court ruled in favor of the TEA. Dallas ISD's state of the district begins at 6:30 p.m.
