As curricular and building plans get formulated for the new West Dallas STEM School, L.G. Pinkston High School students and teacher Elizabeth Blue-Allen talk about the need for a STEM school in their community. Dallas ISD's new, pre-K through 8 grade school is created in partnership with Toyota USA Foundation and Southern Methodist University.
The Toyota USA Foundation, SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development, and Dallas ISD have formed a partnership to develop a PreK-8th grade STEM-focused school in the Pinkston Feeder Pattern in the West Dallas 75212 ZIP Code area. Renovation of the current Pinkston High School facilities (2200 Dennison Street) will transform the campus into the STEM-focused School, and Pinkston High School will relocate. The partnership will provide professional development, design of a STEM curriculum, coordination of community-based services, and comprehensive research and evaluation. Dallas ISD will support all building, staffing and operational needs of the new School.
The Toyota Foundation awarded a sizable grant to the Simmons School in support of the West Dallas STEM School project in June 2018 and followed it with a second and larger grant in August 2021.