As curricular and building plans get formulated for the new Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia 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.
In June 2018 the Toyota USA Foundation, SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development, and Dallas ISD 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 existing Pinkston High School facilities (2200 Dennison Street) transformed the campus into the STEM-focused School, and Pinkston High School relocated. The partnership provides professional development, design of a STEM curriculum, coordination of community-based services, and comprehensive research and evaluation. Dallas ISD supports all building, staffing and operational needs of the new Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia STEM School at West Dallas.
The Toyota Foundation followed its a sizable 2018 Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School grant to the Simmons School with a second and larger grant to Simmons in August 2021.