The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Ume Dallas Secondary
UME Dallas Secondary is a charter school serving grades 7 through 12 in southern Dallas, operated by UME Preparatory Academy. The school enrolls a student body of modest size spread across six grades, with a student population that is just over half Hispanic, and a meaningful share of white and Black students. About two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school operates on the University Method of Education, a compressed-day model in which students attend school roughly half the conventional number of hours per day. Secondary students follow a college-style schedule with classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, alternating with Tuesday and Thursday sessions. This model requires active parental involvement to reinforce a fast-paced curriculum at home, making it a lifestyle choice as much as a school choice. The district enforces a full-device ban for grades 7 through 12: students must power off phones, smartwatches, and earbuds before entering campus and store them in a personal pouch carried throughout the day. Code-of-conduct consequences apply to violations, so the phone-free environment is a constant feature of the student experience.
On state assessments in 2024-2025, the school shows a mixed profile. In English language arts, proficiency is a clear strength: in seventh grade, just under three in four students met or exceeded standards, and in eighth grade that rate rose to nearly three in four as well. Reading comprehension and writing skills are solid across the tested grades. Mathematics presents a different picture. Seventh-grade math proficiency is low, with about one in three students meeting standards; eighth grade improves meaningfully, with just over half proficient. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits at just above half. Social studies is notably weaker, with just over one in three students meeting standards in eighth grade. When viewed as a whole across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Dallas County, a position reflecting strength in language arts offsetting softer results in math, science, and social studies.
Data on graduation rate and chronic absenteeism were not available. State testing results for high school grades (9 through 12) were not provided, so the full academic picture for the school's upper grades remains incomplete. High school performance and completion outcomes are a parent matter to explore directly with the school.
The district earned an A rating under the Texas Education Agency's 2024-2025 accountability system, with a district-wide four-year graduation rate well above the state average, a durable signal of overall academic standing for the charter operator.
Dallas itself is a large city with a mixed character that varies sharply by neighborhood. The central business district concentrates corporate offices, historic hotels, and an active arts scene. Surrounding areas range from industrial corridors to dense residential enclaves, with distinct neighborhoods carrying their own identities: Deep Ellum for music and arts, Bishop Arts in Oak Cliff for independent shops and restaurants, Uptown for young professionals, and large residential areas like Preston Hollow. The city is car-dependent overall, though downtown, Uptown, and neighborhoods like Deep Ellum and the Bishop Arts District offer higher walkability and active street life. Fair Park hosts the State Fair of Texas, White Rock Lake is a major recreational anchor, and DART light rail and bus service connect Dallas across the metro. Dallas is in strong growth; the metro led the nation in population growth recently, and the city ranked first nationally in new-home construction activity. Housing values in the 75236 zip code are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, with rental rates stable and modest year-over-year.
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