The School of Science and Engineering (SEM) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center is a selective STEM magnet high school in Dallas ISD, widely regarded as one of the strongest public high schools in Texas and the United States. The school delivers an accelerated, college‑preparatory curriculum in mathematics, science, and engineering for highly motivated students in grades 9–12.
Overview and key facts
SEM is a public magnet, not a neighborhood campus, drawing students from across Dallas ISD who meet academic and application requirements. Established in 1982, the school has built a reputation for rigorous coursework, exceptional standardized‑test results, and strong college placement, especially into competitive STEM majors.
- Full name: School of Science and Engineering (School of Science and Engineering Magnet, “SEM”).
- School type: Public, college‑preparatory STEM magnet high school within Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD).
- Grades: 9–12.
- Founded: 1982.
- Mascot and colors: Eagle; maroon and white.
School profile table
| Aspect | Details |
| School name | School of Science and Engineering (SEM) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center |
| Type | Public STEM magnet, college‑preparatory high school |
| District | Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Mascot / colors | Eagle; maroon and white |
| Approx. enrollment | Around 495 students (2023–24) |
| Accountability rating | A, overall scaled score 99/100 in recent Texas ratings |
Location, campus, and contact
SEM is housed inside the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center in the Oak Cliff area, just south of downtown Dallas, alongside five other specialized magnet high schools. Students benefit from shared facilities such as the auditorium, library, athletic areas, and cafeteria, while SEM maintains its own classrooms, labs, and administrative offices within the building.
- Address (official mailing / TEA record): 1201 E Eighth St, Dallas, TX 75203‑2545, United States.
- Townview/SEM listing often shown as: “1201 E Eighth St, Suite 216, Dallas, TX 75203” (same physical campus, internal suite number for SEM offices).
- Phone: +1 (972) 925‑5960.
- School district: Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD).
For prospective families, the best starting points are the official Dallas ISD SEM homepage and the “About SEM” and “How to Apply” sections, which post current application timelines and open‑house dates.
Leadership, mission, and culture
SEM’s principal is reported as Joshua Newton on the school’s own leadership information, while some district profile PDFs still list Dr. Andrew Palacios as principal for earlier years; your content should treat Newton as the current campus leader and Palacios as a former principal. The leadership team oversees a teaching staff of roughly 26–28 experienced educators, with average classroom experience near 14 years and an average tenure at SEM of around nine years.
The school’s mission states that it is “a learning community established to provide students with a rigorous college preparatory, academic and technical program relating to the sciences, mathematics and engineering fields.” SEM’s academic philosophy focuses on preparing graduates to attend top engineering programs and eventually enter STEM careers, largely through an accelerated mathematics sequence that lays the foundation for advanced science and engineering studies.
Campus culture is often described as challenging yet supportive: students tend to be highly motivated, and teachers expect substantial independent work, but the small size and strong advisory systems create a close‑knit community. Because Townview Magnet Center houses six magnets, SEM students get both the intimacy of a small program and the activity level of a larger comprehensive campus through shared events and extracurriculars.
Student body and demographics
SEM deliberately maintains a relatively small enrollment to preserve its intensive academic environment, with about 495 students in the 2023–24 Texas Tribune and TEA data. The student body is highly diverse and majority‑minority, reflecting Dallas ISD’s demographics while concentrating students with strong academic records and interest in STEM.
Recent profile figures show:
- Enrollment: approximately 495 students.
- Ethnicity: about 73% Hispanic, 6–7% African American, 10–11% White, 8% Asian, and small percentages of Native American and multiracial students.
- Economically disadvantaged: about 65% of students.
- Gifted & Talented: roughly two‑thirds participate in GT programming.
This combination—high academic expectations, diverse backgrounds, and a large proportion of economically disadvantaged students—contributes to SEM’s reputation for delivering elite‑level outcomes in a public‑school setting.
Academic performance and rankings
State performance and accountability
On Texas accountability metrics, SEM earns some of the highest scores in the state. Recent ratings report an overall scaled score of 99 out of 100, with subscores of 99 for Student Achievement, 99 for Student Progress, and 100 for Closing Performance Gaps. In state exams across reading/English, mathematics, science, and social studies, 100% of tested students met or exceeded the passing standard, including all major demographic subgroups.
Graduation results are equally strong: recent cohorts show a 100% four‑year high school graduation rate, with all students deemed college ready in reading and 99% college ready in mathematics. These figures significantly exceed both district and state averages and underline why SEM consistently earns the state’s highest accountability rating.
College readiness, SAT/ACT, and AP
College‑readiness metrics highlight SEM’s STEM strength. According to recent Texas Tribune and profile data, 100% of students in the relevant cohort took a college‑entrance exam, with:
- Average SAT score: 1331.
- Average ACT score: 31.2.
- Percentage meeting at least one college‑ready benchmark: about 97%.
Breakdowns show that Asian and White students average SAT scores in the mid‑1400s, while Hispanic and African‑American students also perform above state and national averages. Almost all students are classified as college‑ready in both math and reading by graduation, and there are virtually no reported dropouts or GED substitutions.
SEM also has an exceptional record in Advanced Placement. The school offers a wide slate of AP courses such as AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, and multiple AP English and social science classes. College Board recognitions have noted SEM for having the world’s highest pass rate for minority students in AP Calculus AB and leading performance by Hispanic students in AP Computer Science.
National and state rankings
In national rankings, SEM is regularly placed among America’s top high schools, especially for STEM and magnet categories. Highlights include:
- 2018: U.S. News & World Report ranked SEM No. 13 nationally, No. 3 in Texas, and No. 4 among magnet high schools, earning a Gold Medal designation.
- 2019: U.S. News ranked SEM No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 in Texas.
- 2023: A Dallas ISD report notes SEM among the best in Texas, with a top‑tier national position in updated U.S. News rankings (around top 25).
To keep your blog evergreen, you can accurately state that SEM “has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 in Texas by U.S. News & World Report and remains in the top tier of U.S. public high schools in recent rankings.”
Curriculum, programs, and teaching
SEM’s curriculum is built around an accelerated math sequence that moves qualified students quickly into college‑level content. Some students complete Geometry, Algebra II, Pre‑Calculus, and AP Calculus AB in a single year, a unique “Freshman Calculus” track highlighted in school recruiting materials. This approach allows juniors and seniors to spend more time in higher‑level science and engineering electives.
STEM and core academics
- Mathematics: sequences typically include Honors Algebra II or higher in 9th grade, followed by Pre‑Calculus, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Statistics, and additional advanced options.
- Science: students generally take accelerated biology, chemistry, and physics, with AP options and electives such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, and advanced physics.
- Engineering and technology: SEM offers project‑based engineering and computer science courses, sometimes drawing on Project Lead The Way and similar frameworks, with opportunities in robotics, programming, and design.
- Humanities and social sciences: despite its STEM focus, SEM also provides a full set of English, social‑studies, and world‑language courses, many at honors or AP level, to meet and exceed college‑admission requirements.
Teachers at SEM bring deep experience, with profile data showing an average of about 13.9 years of teaching and around 9.1 years at SEM itself, split roughly evenly between male and female educators. This stability contributes to consistent expectations and a mature academic culture.
Support and enrichment
Even though students are high‑achieving, SEM offers supports such as tutoring, teacher office hours, advisory periods, and counseling to help them cope with the workload and plan for college. The school encourages participation in academic competitions—science fairs, math and engineering contests, robotics, and UIL events—which further extend classroom learning into real‑world problem solving.
Student life and extracurriculars
Because SEM shares the Townview campus, students can access a variety of clubs and activities jointly run across the six magnet schools, expanding options beyond what a typical 500‑student campus might offer. Clubs may include robotics, math and science teams, programming and cybersecurity clubs, National Honor Society, student council, cultural organizations, fine‑arts groups, and community‑service organizations.
Niche and parent‑review platforms frequently mention a culture of collaboration rather than cut‑throat competition: students push each other academically but also support peers through study groups and shared projects. With nearly all students planning for college, especially in technical fields, the environment is highly focused yet still allows room for arts, leadership, and service.
Admissions and who SEM suits
SEM is a choice school with academic requirements for admission, not an automatic feeder from a neighborhood attendance zone. Applicants—usually 8th‑grade students in Dallas ISD—submit an application through the district magnet process, which considers grades, standardized test scores, and other indicators of readiness for advanced math and science.
The program is best suited for students who:
- Enjoy and excel in mathematics and science.
- Are ready for an accelerated, homework‑intensive schedule.
- Want a small, academically focused environment with strong support for college and STEM pathways.
Families should consult the official SEM and Dallas ISD magnet‑choice websites each year for updated admission criteria, deadlines, and required documentation, as these can change over time.
