A legacy reimagined at MLK Arts Academy

From Staff Reports

DALLAS — In August 2020, the Martin Luther King Jr. Learning Center reopened as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy, transforming into a campus for pre-K through eighth-grade students in South Dallas. 

This reimagined campus was affectionately nicknamed “Baby Booker T.” as a nod to Dallas ISD’s famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. This wasn’t just a new name; it was the beginning of a new legacy.

Before its rebirth as an arts academy, the school faced challenges as one of Dallas ISD’s focus campuses. Within a year, however, MLK Jr. Arts Academy  became a Texas Education Agency  B-rated campus, and today, nearly seven years later, enrollment doubled and test scores are steadily increasing. 

Principal Romikianta Sneed attributes this transformation to a commitment to equity and access.

“What our school and Dallas ISD have been able to provide to our students comes from a lens of equity,” Sneed said. “We’ve been able to receive an amazing dance studio, transform a classroom into a theater room, and so much more.”

These changes have opened doors for students who once didn’t have access to arts education. Some who had never touched a piano are now performing in mini concerts and tiny desk performances, showcasing the untapped potential within this community.

During the 2021-2022 school year, the academy put on its first major production, “The Aristocats,” in partnership with Disney Musicals in Schools. It was a performance that did more than entertain — it challenged perceptions.

“When the community saw that our kids, in sunny South Dallas, were able to put on a show like this, they started to ask a lot of questions,” Sneed said. “Yes, the partnership helped a lot, but it was our teachers putting the work in with our students every day.”

This commitment to excellence positions the academy as a beacon of hope and opportunity. Despite being surrounded by multiple charter and private schools, enrollment continues to rise, and students are thriving.

“The students at this small Dallas ISD school in a quiet corner are leaving my campus with multiple high school credits while still being exposed to what all the arts have to offer,” Sneed proudly shared.

The impact of the academy extends beyond its walls, influencing the surrounding South Dallas neighborhood. Families and community members express gratitude for the opportunities available to students at no cost, thanks to the school’s Title I status.

“Students don’t have to do anything but show up, and we will do our very best to handle the rest,” Sneed said.

The academy’s success was cemented when its first class of fifth graders prepared to graduate as eighth graders. Four students applied to the prestigious Booker T. and all four were accepted, proving that opportunities are now within reach for students in South Dallas.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy continues to grow and inspire, it stands as a testament to its namesake’s dream—demonstrating that with vision, dedication, and equity, students can defy expectations and shape their own futures.