We hear a lot about magnet schools in Dallas ISD, but what about the great neighborhood schools? Are they just as innovative?

The answer is likely yes, and if it isn’t a resounding yes, it just might be soon, the district said, thanks to new initiatives aimed at bringing the innovation you see in magnets and other schools of innovation in the district.

Take, for instance, the Innovation Engine Grant Program, which the district says will award up to 20 neighborhood schools each year with $50,000 to explore and implement new education models.

Or there’s also what is already happening in several local middle schools, where two separate initiatives are being heralded as a way to address that often tricky period between elementary school and high school. 

First, this year’s budget includes $10 million in funding from the district in the Achieving in the Middle (AIM) initiative, which will implement proven strategies to improve middle school outcomes — everything from social and emotional learning, extending learning, strategic staffing and more. The district says 23 middle schools will benefit from the program this year. 

“Middle school is a stage of discovery. Students are figuring out what they like to do and who they are,” D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School principal Jonica Crowder-Lockwood said in a district press release. “It’s great that Dallas ISD is focusing on these years so we can guide our kids into success in high school and beyond.”

Also on tap? The Middle School Redesign, which took five higher-performing middle schools and gave them $50,000 in funds and weekly support to dig in to new models for their schools. 

Want to live near one of those schools? We took a look at what’s available.

Hill Middle School

Robert T. Middle School will be exploring the idea of becoming an international academy. It appears that there are roughly 100 listings in the Hill footprint, including this three-bedroom, two-bath home at 12224 Sunland Street, listed for $279,000 by Tom Cappello with Crossroads Realtors.

Quintanilla Middle School

Quintanilla Middle School will be exploring the idea of becoming a STEAM school. It appears that there are roughly 18 listings in the Quintanilla footprint, including this three-bedroom, two-bath home at 2806 Gladstone Drive, listed for $319,000 by Michael Anderson with Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

Richards Middle School

Richards Middle School will be exploring the idea of becoming a STEAM school. It appears that there are 38 listings in the Richards footprint, including this three-bedroom, two-bath home at 3317 Kingsford Avenue, listed for $399,000 by Sonia Flores with Results Property Group.

Spence Middle School

Spence Middle School will be exploring college and career exploration. It appears that there are about 650 listings in the Spence footprint, including this four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home at 4136 Prescott Avenue, listed for $915,000 by Nancy Guerriero with Dallas City Center Realtors.

E.D. Walker Middle School

E.D. Walker Middle School will be exploring the idea of becoming an international academy. It appears that there are about 384 listings in the Walker footprint, including this three-bedroom, two-bath home at 3782 Van Ness Lane, listed for $345,000 by Renee Mears Realtors.

“We are committed to improving our schools’ market share and bringing more educational choices into our families’ backyards,” said Dallas ISD Chief of Strategic Initiatives Brian Lusk at an August 8 board briefing.

For more about the potential opportunities for neighborhood schools, click here. To see more School+House features, click here.