Principals introduce changes in South Dallas schools

An expanded all-day early learning center and a new state-of-the-art STEAM academy are just the latest building blocks in an effort to grow Dallas ISD’s South Dallas initiative, providing more and better services.

In addition to continuing to serve kindergarten through fifth-grade students, J.J. Rhoads Learning Center is expanding to become an all-day early learning center and will begin serving 3- and 4-year-old in prekindergarten in 2020-21. With extended hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to accommodate working parents, Rhoads will offer music and art as part of its after-school programming. Renovations are planned for the building, but Rhoads will remain open and will continue to serve its students.

In the 2021-22 school year, the neighborhood is gaining a new state-of-the-art STEAM academy to serve 675 students when the rebuilt H.S. Thompson Elementary reopens. The new school will be large enough to accommodate all the students now at Rhoads and will focus on preparing students for success in the 21st  century.

Once the higher grades move to Thompson, Rhoads will have room to offer wraparound services as well as community partnerships and resources. Meetings will be held to gather community input.

Rhoads will have two principals on site in the coming school year, the current Rhoads principal, Chaundra Macklin, and the newly named H.S. Thompson principal, Crystal Owens.