Original Research by School Decision on Texans Can Academy - Grant East
Texans Can Academy - Grant East is a charter alternative high school in Dallas serving grades nine through twelve. The enrollment is small, with about two hundred students, and the population is overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This is an alternative school, meaning it typically serves students whose pathway differs from a traditional high school setting, whether by choice, academic history, or circumstance.
The school's academic performance, measured on the most recent state assessments available, reveals a student body working well below the state standard across most subjects. On overall proficiency measures across all tested subjects, less than half of students demonstrated the "approaches grade level" standard, which is the lowest proficiency bar. Breakdowns by subject show sharp variation: mathematics results were notably stronger, with a clear majority approaching grade level, and science also showed substantial strength at the approaches level. English language arts and social studies performance lagged significantly; in English, less than one-quarter of students approached the standard, and attainment at the "meets" or "masters" levels was minimal to absent across all subjects. No student achieved "masters" level in English, and mastery rates in mathematics, science, and social studies were in the single digits. This performance pattern is consistent with what alternative schools often see, where student populations include learners with interrupted schooling, prior academic struggles, or other barriers to traditional pathways.
The school's standing relative to other districts in Dallas County cannot be determined from available graduation rate or broader proficiency comparisons, because the school did not report a graduation rate and comparison metrics were not applicable at the school level. This gap in data is typical for alternative schools, which may serve students across multiple years and grade progressions differently than traditional schools report.
The Grant East location sits in south Dallas, in a zip code where housing values have moderated and rents remain accessible relative to the broader Dallas market. The surrounding area includes major employers like Methodist Hospitals, the VA North Texas health system, and UNT Dallas, alongside ongoing development such as University Hills, a large mixed-use project with residential, commercial, and green space components planned adjacent to the campus. Dallas itself is in strong growth, with major new construction across residential and commercial sectors, though much of the high-profile development concentrates in central and northern districts like Uptown and Victory Park. South Dallas, where this school sits, is further from the walkable urban core and downtown employment centers, and transit is provided by the DART bus and rail network.
For a family considering this school, the key questions are whether an alternative setting with small enrollment and intensive support fits the student's learning history and goals, and whether the current academic results and subject-specific performance gaps align with your child's strengths and needs. A parent may want to speak directly with the school about its curriculum structure, how it supports students in English and reading, what outcomes it tracks beyond state testing, and how it prepares students for post-secondary pathways, whether work, trade training, or further education. The demographic composition is a straightforward fact about the school's current population, neither a strength nor a drawback on its own; what matters is fit with your family's situation and the school's ability to serve your student well.
See more original research from School Decision →