At Diane Ragsdale CityLab High School and Gertrudis “Tula” and Hector M. Flores Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy, math is the only core academic subject that is double-blocked, giving students a chance to build daily momentum and master foundational concepts.
Three components contribute to the subject’s emphasis: to succeed in specialized pathways, prepare students for STAAR, and college entrance exams, said Alan Varney, principal.
“Mathematics is extremely important,” he said. “For business, they need to know how to look at spreadsheets. They need to understand scale when it comes to architecture, and they need to know how to measure soil when it comes to growing things in environmental sustainability. It’s a huge foundational piece to our school.”
In Rachael Esquivel’s algebra class, students learn through a dynamic choose your own adventure approach.
Some days, they’re challenging themselves with math minute, which are timed exercises, and other days, they’re calculating how far their handmade fireworks will launch. Sometimes, success is a Jolly Rancher flying across the room because a student solved an equation.
“We place a high emphasis on math because we know it’s a critical part of students’ learning, and is one of the only courses that builds on itself,” Esquivel said. “There’s a strict structure in how I run my classroom, but there’s joyful elements in it. I have created a space where students are learning that it’s okay to get answers wrong.”
Engaging lessons ease anxiety around math, creating space for personalized support. Because incoming students arrive from homeschooled, charter, or out-of-district backgrounds with varying skill levels, the small-school setting gives teachers the flexibility to meet every student where they are, Esquivel says.
Ceasar R., a junior in the agriculture pathway, struggled to pass the algebra I STAAR exam since eighth grade, before arriving at CityLab. With Esquivel’s daily one-on-one tutoring, Ceasar earned the passing score he had chased for years.
“I got the results back and ran into him and his mom one day when I saw them in the front office,” Esquivel said. “His mom started jumping up and down with me, she was screaming. It was just such a wonderful feeling. Ceasar was so disappointed every time, but when he finally passed it, it was like a weight lifted off of him. My goal is always to give students one-on-one attention to make sure they are understanding the material.”
The daily focus on math does more than lift test scores, it transforms how students view their own potential. Through a blend of high expectations and one-on-one attention, the shared campus is one where any student can master complex concepts when given the right tools and encouragement.
Families interested in CityLab or IDEA can meet campus representatives and apply on-site at Discover Dallas ISD.