How TSI is Helping Dallas ISD Boost Postsecondary Readiness

Dallas ISD is being highlighted for increasing the number of students meeting benchmarks in reading and math on the Texas Success Initiative met-by-assessment criteria at a rate significantly higher than the county or state average.

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a key measure used by all Texas public colleges and universities to determine whether students are ready for credit-bearing college courses in reading, writing, and math. Students can meet college readiness benchmarks through the TSI Assessment (TSIA) or via alternative pathways like the SAT, ACT, or certain end-of-course exams such as STAAR English III or Algebra II.

TSI readiness matters. Students who meet benchmarks are more likely to succeed in college and complete a degree without having to take remedial coursework. Recognizing this, Dallas ISD has scaled its approach to ensure that all students, not just those in early college programs, have access to TSI pathways. Through data systems, early advising, and targeted support, the district is making real progress in helping students graduate ready for what’s next.

Dallas ISD has made steady gains in college-readiness by expanding access to TSI pathways across the district. The district broadened support so that all students, not just those in specialized P-TECH or early college programs, could meet TSI benchmarks. The percentage of students meeting benchmarks grew from 24% for the Class of 2022 to 27% for the Class of 2023, and then to 34% for the Class of 2024, an overall gain of over 10 percentage points in two years.  Key to this progress has been the district’s investment in early advising starting in middle school, college and career access providers who support students from 9th–12th grade, and family engagement efforts to help parents understand postsecondary pathways.

Dallas ISD also trains principals, counselors, and teachers through quarterly leadership meetings and targeted professional development, ensuring that staff can act on student-level data to provide timely interventions. And, like DeSoto, Dallas leverages Economic Mobility Systems’ case-management system to track students’ progress toward benchmarks.

“We really began to move the needle when we said, okay, we need to look at our district as a whole and how we structure our departments to support CCMR. Once we brought the right teams together to plan and create synergy, it became clear that we needed to educate,” said Dr. Cheryl Nevels, Deputy Chief of College Readiness and Workforce Development. “We have to educate the people on the campuses. If they don’t understand CCMR, how are we going to move the needle?”

Dallas ISD demonstrates that postsecondary success grows when preparation starts early and when the heart of a student’s educational journey; teachers feel equipped to support it. With intentional data systems and targeted interventions, districts can ensure that students not only gain access to postsecondary options but also graduate prepared and informed.

To learn more about how Commit is working with school systems in Dallas County to increase the number of students meeting TSI by assessment, see our TSI strategy here and register for our upcoming TSI Readiness  Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 18^th here.

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