Arlington School & Family Magazine January 2017 | Page 31
Arlington ISD Recognized for Efforts to
Close the Access and Achievement Gaps
in Advanced Courses
The Arlington ISD was recently recognized by White House Cabinet Secretary and My Brother’s Keeper
Taskforce Chair Broderick Johnson at a celebration hosted by Equal Opportunity Schools and the Jack Kent
Cooke Foundation, for its work to ensure that historically underrepresented students have the opportunity to
succeed in challenging high school courses.
Through its work in the AP/IB Equity and Excellence Project, the district found that 1,164 low-income
students and students of color participated in AP and IB programs, which was 30 percent of all 11th- and
12th-grade low-income students and students of color. By contrast, 40 percent of middle- and upper-income
white and Asian students in 11th and 12th grades participated in these programs. The district identified 932
low-income students and students of color for AP and IB courses. In partnership with each high school
campus and the AP/IB Equity and Excellence Project, the district established an enrollment management
team designed to assist in the process of identifying, enrolling and supporting these students.
“I am proud of our teachers and students for their hard work to ensure that access, excellence and innovation
guide our work every day,” Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said.
In recognizing those leaders who have already eliminated access gaps in their schools, Johnson said, “We applaud
the tremendous progress Equal Opportunity Schools and all its partners have made to ignite the potential of
thousands more traditionally underrepresented students across the country. The Lead Higher coalition exemplifies
the values of My Brother’s Keeper, forming innovative alliances to disrupt inequity and expand opportunity.”
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