For the first time, the Dallas Independent School District is partnering with Dallas鈥� Historically Black Paul Quinn College to open an International Baccalaureate school in southern Dallas.
The IB campus will open this fall at Paul Quinn College.
鈥淲e鈥檙e talking about impacting kids in low-income households," said Dallas ISD Trustee Maxie Johnson, who represents the area. "Some feel like they're not going to be able to go to college, or they are excited about college, but they can't afford the tuition. This is a step forward, partnering with an HBCU.鈥�
Paul Quinn鈥檚 campus is located in a historically low-income section of Dallas, sitting in what鈥檚 also been called a grocery desert 鈥� an area where residents have limited access to healthy, affordable food.
Recognizing the need for the educational option of an IB program, Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said while his district has partnered with Southern Methodist University, A&M Commerce and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the district had never partnered with a HBCU, let alone one 鈥渋n our own backyard.鈥�
Hinojosa said this IB school will follow the model of rigorous standards with high expectations, adding that students from anywhere in Dallas can enter a lottery to attend and there won't be an entrance exam.
He said the school will open this fall with only 75 students in 6th and 7th grade. Eventually, it鈥檒l include grades up to 12th. Students can earn up to 40 college credits and graduates can matriculate to Paul Quinn or other colleges and universities.
鈥淎 vision is a dream with a deadline,鈥� Hinojosa said, 鈥渁nd you can鈥檛 sit around and whine. You鈥檝e got to do something and make things better for your community.鈥�
The plan is to name the campus for Frederick Douglass Haynes, the pastor of Dallas鈥� Friendship West Baptist Church, who became nationally-known for his social justice advocacy.
Haynes, who attended the Wednesday announcement in front of Paul Quinn鈥檚 campus, said he could barely find the words to express his appreciation for this honor. He called education the great equalizer.
鈥淚 receive this honor humbled, blown away, I鈥檓 trippin鈥� and so y鈥檃ll forgive that last language, because that鈥檚 not worthy of education. But right now I鈥檓 straight trippin鈥� boo, so thank you so much.鈥�
Naming a Dallas school for Pastor Haynes goes against current district rules, but trustees are expected to make an exception in this case.
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