Two top administrators at a Dallas Independent School District college-preparatory school instructed staffers to "manufacture or manipulate" student test scores, according to an internal report obtained Tuesday by The Dallas Morning News.
The school, the Gilliam Collegiate Academy on Camp Wisdom Road, aims to attract college-bound students and many earn college credit while at the school.
Principal Tamara Francis and assistant principal Reginald Samuel were suspended in September when the district's investigation began after a complaint from a counselor.
The DMN obtained a copy of the report under the Texas public information law.
"Francis and Samuel directed employees to manufacture or manipulate students' (exam) grades," the report said. "Some Gilliam students may have graduated without earning the necessary credits."
A counselor at the school told investigators about "layers of inaccurate grading and incorrect student schedules," the report said.
Francis couldn't be reached for comment, according to the DMN. Samuel told the newspaper he had no comment.
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Guy Brown, 16, a junior at Gilliam, said many students are surprised by the revelations.
He said students are often warned not to cheat.
"And then, like, when the principal is cheating, it's like, 'Really?'" he said. "We want to have 100-percent, but cheating ain't the way to go about it."
The Dallas ISD released a written statement late Tuesday, saying it requires all employees to act ethically.
"Upon becoming aware in September of the concerns … Dallas ISD acted swiftly to reinforce that standard through increased oversight," the statement said, noting an interim principal is in place.
CLICK HERE to read more on this report from our media partners at The Dallas Morning News.
Tawnell D. Hobbs, of The Dallas Morning News, contributed to this report.
