Alamo Colleges District Recognized by Achieving the Dream as a 2026 Leader College of Distinction

The Alamo Colleges District has been recertified as a Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization dedicated to advancing student success and economic mobility in community colleges.

ATD created the Leader College of Distinction designation in 2018 to recognize institutions that have demonstrated sustained excellence in advancing student success outcomes over time. Leader Colleges of Distinction must demonstrate sustained and expanding success in early momentum metrics, such as course success rates and student retention, as well as in milestone momentum outcomes, such as rates of completion; a strong culture of data-informed continuous improvement; and evidence that effective practices are institutionalized. These colleges advance student success strategies that respond to their local context with emphasis on students who are missing or left behind.

“Being named a Leader College of Distrinction reflects our commitment to student success and our moonshot of partnering to end poverty through education and training,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “For more than two decades, our partnership with Achieving the Dream has helped guide the work we do to remove barriers, improve outcomes, and ensure that more students complete credentials that lead to high-demand, high-opportunity careers.”

The Alamo Colleges District has been a member of the Achieving the Dream Network since 2004, joining more than 300 colleges nationwide committed to closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success through data-informed strategies and continuous improvement.

“The 2026 Leader Colleges of Distinction demonstrate sustained commitment and measurable progress in advancing student success,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “By using data to guide decisions and continuously strengthen their practices, these institutions are producing real gains in student outcomes, strengthening their practices, and deepening their impact in the communities they serve. Their leadership sets a powerful example for colleges across the ATD Network, reflecting  the focus, discipline, and follow-through required to achieve lasting institutional change.”

The 2026 designation builds on the Alamo Colleges District’s longstanding leadership within the Achieving the Dream Network.

In 2024, the Alamo Colleges District received the Achieving the Dream 20th Anniversary Network Legend Award, recognizing the original 15 colleges that joined the Network in 2004 and have remained committed partners in advancing student success and equity. The Alamo Colleges District has been recognized as an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction since 2020. 

Through initiatives such as AlamoPROMISE, expanded advising models, and workforce-aligned credential pathways, the Alamo Colleges District continues to advance its moonshot of partnering to end poverty through education and training.