Dallas Independent School District
06/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/02/2026 09:11
Dallas ISD News: Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy students achieve 100% college acceptance
Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy students achieve 100% college acceptance
Editor's note: Spanish story included below
DALLAS - At Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith, the Class of 2026, which is made of 54 "brothers," achieved a 100% college acceptance rate, with $15.4 million in scholarships.
The multimillion-dollar total marks the second-highest scholarship amount awarded, paving the way for graduates, including several first-generation students, to attend elite universities like Princeton and Columbia to major in fields ranging from theater and finance to mechanical engineering and nursing.
The all-male Dallas ISD magnet school, which focuses on leadership development and academic achievement for young men, is led by Derek Thomas, principal.
"Even though I am proud of their academic performance, I am even more proud of the character, perseverance, and mindset that they have developed," he said. "This lets me know that they will not just get to college but make it through college."
Over seven years, the academy builds student character through targeted initiatives such as the Lyceum program, which links students with industry experts, giving them the insights needed to map out their futures early.
"We want our brothers to understand that hard work, meeting goals, and accomplishing tasks should be recognized and rewarded," Thomas said. "That balance of accountability, exposure, structure, and celebration has helped create the culture that makes these outcomes possible."
His goal is for every brother who leaves to feel prepared and qualified for their future endeavors.
With an understanding that their time at BOMLA is not about earning grades or diplomas, these students transform their lives and expand their opportunities.
Spanish story:
Estudiantes de Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy logran tasa de admisión universitaria del 100%
DALLAS - En Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith, la generación de 2026, compuesta de 54 estudiantes, logró un 100% de admisión universitaria, con $15.4 millones en becas.
El multimillonario total marca la segunda cantidad más elevada otorgada en becas, lo que abre camino para que los graduados, entre quienes hay primeros universitarios de sus familias, asistan a universidades de élite como Princeton y Columbia para estudiar carreras como Actuación, Finanzas, Ingeniería Mecánica y Enfermería.
La escuela magnet para varones, centrada en desarrollo de liderazgo y aprovechamiento académico, la encabeza el director Derek Thomas.
"Si bien estoy orgulloso de su desempeño, aún más orgullo me da su carácter, perseverancia y la mentalidad que han desarrollado", dijo. "Eso me dice que no solo irán a la universidad, sino que la terminarán".
Durante sus siete años en la academia, los estudiantes desarrollan su carácter a través de iniciativas como el programa Lyceum, el cual acerca a los estudiantes a expertos de diferentes industrias, dándoles así el conocimiento necesario para planificar su futuro con antelación.
"Queremos que entiendan que esforzarse, alcanzar metas y cumplir actividades debería ser reconocido y premiado", dijo Thomas. "El equilibrio de responsabilidad, acercamiento, estructura y celebración ha ayudado a crear la cultura que hace que estos resultados sean posibles".
Su meta para cada estudiante es que se marchen preparados y cualificados para sus futuros proyectos.
Sabiendo que su trayectoria en BOMLA no se trata solo de notas o diplomas, estos estudiantes transforman sus vidas y multiplican sus oportunidades.
Dallas Independent School District published this content on June 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 02, 2026 at 15:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]