Editor’s note: Spanish story included below
DALLAS — Hidden in plain sight on the campus of Paul Quinn College, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III Global Preparatory Academy is empowering Dallas ISD students with a rigorous International Baccalaureate curriculum.
Open since 2021, Haynes Global Prep utilizes the IB model to cultivate critical thinking skills that prepare students for success in high school, higher education, and future careers. Students can enroll as early as sixth grade.
“Over six years, they develop lifelong, transferable skills: critical thinking, advanced analytical writing, and global citizenship,” Mercedes Holly, IB coordinator, said. “We want them to see a problem in the world and feel empowered to fix it.”
The campus operates without academic entrance exams, welcoming students of all academic backgrounds. Once enrolled, students are immersed in an advanced-level-only environment, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 18-to-1.
“Academics are our number-one priority; however, as an IB campus, we place an equal emphasis on developing a student’s character,” Holly said. “When they graduate, they feel empowered to be leaders. We focus heavily on developing public speaking skills and teaching students how to advocate for themselves and others.”
Jasmine Ervins, the school’s principal, said the educational framework encourages students to broaden their perspectives, think beyond classroom instruction, and recognize that the possibilities for their future are limitless.
“We want our students to know it doesn’t matter where you’re from or where you live. The education you receive at our school will equip you to go anywhere you want to go in the world,” Ervins said.
To balance the academic weight of the IB program, the school integrates clubs on select Fridays that range from gaming and robotics to soccer and dance.
Next school year, the culinary arts club, led by an eighth-grade English teacher and professional food truck entrepreneur, will give participating students the chance to earn formal ServeSafe certifications.
With the inaugural class of seniors preparing to graduate next spring, the vision for the future of the campus remains bright.
“I want our graduates to be disruptors in the world, in the best way possible,” Ervins said. “We are actively creating knowledgeable, capable leaders who are prepared to step into society and make the world a better place.”
