Walk the halls of Moisés E. Molina High School in Oak Cliff, and it’s impossible to miss the words “Where will you be in 10 years?” spray-painted on the wall.
The phrase underscores a key focus for Principal Jacob Nuñez, his teachers and staff: Getting students ready to not just attend college but succeed at a high level and go on to good wage jobs.
“We want to be the standard here in Oak Cliff and have all students understand and be prepared to succeed in college, if that is the path they choose,” Nuñez said. “Education is the catalyst that changes lives. We take that very seriously.”
The data show that the school’s effort is paying off.
Molina, with a student population that is more than 90% economically disadvantaged, is significantly outperforming peer high schools in the number of students who are college ready. Specifically, nearly 60% of Molina’s recently graduated seniors met the state’s TSI standards, with passing scores on the TSIA2, SAT or ACT. TSI, the Texas Success Initiative, is considered a challenging college-ready metric. For comparison, 32.6% of total recently graduated Dallas ISD seniors met TSI standards, up from about 24% the previous year.
House Bill 3, the school finance bill passed in 2019, provides additional funding to school systems based on student outcomes, including TSI readiness. Economic Mobility Systems, a nonprofit focused on student outcomes, estimates Molina generated an additional $798,000 in funding for Dallas ISD through its 60% TSI readiness rate.
“Sixty percent of our students being considered college ready isn’t our ultimate goal,” Nunez said. “We are aiming for 100.”
How they are doing it:
Nuñez and his team begin the school year by meeting with Molina’s entire junior class in the auditorium. They explain the importance of meeting TSI standards, and how working to meet the standard will prepare them to excel in college courses after they graduate high school.
In the spring, every junior takes the TSIA2 or SAT and receives a score to show TSI readiness. Students who are not TSI ready are placed in college prep courses for extra support. Also, to earn senior privileges such as early release or late arrival, students must achieve TSI readiness.
Meanwhile, Nuñez assigns outstanding teachers to Algebra 2 and English IV classes, because these key courses help students graduate ready to succeed in college.
“Every student deserves an excellent teacher, not by chance but by design,” Nuñez said.
Nuñez reiterates many times that creating a college-ready culture at Molina requires a team effort from teachers and campus staff.
“Principal Nuñez knows and cares about everyone here at Molina,” said Dallas ISD Executive Director Salem Hussain. “He has implemented great systems for teacher and student support. The sky is the limit here at Molina High School.”
