It is important when considering a move to a new city or state to know as much about the schools as possible. Facts are important, but so are the opinions of people in the know – residents, new co-workers, researchers, websites and journalists are a few of the resources that one might consult in order to gain a clear perspective of the big picture.
Awards in Dallas Schools
Dallas Schools have won numerous awards for their excellent education. IBM has recognized several Dallas Schools as “exemplary” or “recognized”. This recognition is vital to Dallas Public Schools. It shows the general public that the schools are doing the right thing for their students. It affirms to the teachers and administrators that all their hard work has paid off. For the students, it is proof positive that they have gotten the job done.
Lower Budget in the Dallas Schools
Even though Dallas Schools are great institutions of learning, they are doing so on a substantially lower budget. For the 2007-2008 school-year, Dallas Schools will be operating with $14.7 million dollars less than they did the previous year. The district has had to make cuts in many areas in order to increase teacher pay and per student spending, indeed the most important parts of any school system budget. While money doesn’t solve everything, it certainly does help!
Arts Education in the Dallas Schools
A new Dallas Schools Arts Coalition was recently announced in February 2007. The Wallace Foundation is donating $8 million dollars to help finance the coalition’s goals to hire more art and music teachers for Dallas Schools, and to ensure that all Dallas Schools students have 45 minutes of arts education by 2009. Not only does education in the arts – be it music, art, dance, or drama – give students an outlet for their emotions and a way to express themselves, taking part in any art actually helps improve their learning in other, more traditional classes.
Science Magnets in the Dallas Schools
Dallas Schools offer many magnet programs. One such is the School of Science and Engineering, recognized this year (2007) by Newsweek Magazine as a top high school in the U.S. In fact, it is one of the top two; the other being the Gifted Magnet High School, also a member of the Dallas Schools system. In this day and age, a strong education in science is important, if not vital. We are learning more every day about the body, the earth and space. If this work is to continue, we must be sure to give our kids the best education possible in the sciences – it is a necessity that Dallas Schools have shown they believe in.