David Wendel Carter High School (commonly referred to as Dallas Carter) is a public high school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas, United States. The school is a part of the Dallas Independent School District and is classified as a 4A school by the UIL. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.
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History
The school was built in 1965 and is named after David Wendel Carter, a doctor and member of the DISD school board. He served on the school board for 25 years, from 1925 to 1950, longer than any other member. Carter also served as the school board's president for 16 years. The school graduated its first class of seniors in 1968.
The school initially drew students from Justin F. Kimball High School; the two schools maintain a highly competitive rivalry to this day. The two schools face each other annually in football as "The Oak Cliff Super Bowl."
In 2005, after the closure of the Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District, Carter absorbed some WHISD high school students.
In 2011 the district re-opened Wilmer Hutchins High School. Some former WHISD zones covered by Carter were rezoned to Wilmer-Hutchins.
Demographics
As of 2026, David Wendel Carter High School has a student population of 1,097 that is 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.2% multiracial, 1.5% white, 39.9% Hispanic, and
57% black. The school's graduation rate is 74%.
Athletics
The David W. Carter Cowboys compete in the following sports:
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Wrestling
State titles
Boys Basketball
2026(4A/D2)
Football
The 1988 football team won the 5A state title and was the subject of two films. They are mentioned at the end of the novel Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, which was a chronicle of Permian High School that lost to Carter in the semifinals that year.
The Cowboys won 31-14 in the championship game over the Judson Rockets of Converse, before academic violations stripped the title from Carter, years later, and gave it to Judson.
In addition to finishing as state semifinalist in 1971, 1974, 1982, and 1990, the team reached the playoffs in every year from 1990 to 2010.
Feeder schools
The following schools are feeder schools for David W. Carter High School as of the 2026-2027 school year.
Elementary schools
Umphrey Lee Elementary School
T. G. Terry Elementary School
Adelle Turner Elementary School
Martin Weiss Elementary School
Birdie Alexander Elementary School
Ronald E. McNair Elementary School
Middle school
Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr. Law Academy Middle School
Notable alumni
Clifton Abraham (class of 1990): American and Canadian football player
Karan Ashley: Actress known as Aisha Campbell, the second yellow ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Jessie Armstead (class of 1989): American football linebacker from 1993 to 2003 (New York Giants, Washington Redskins)
Chet Brooks (class of 1984): American football defensive back; two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers
Joe Burch (class of 1989): American football offensive and defensive lineman
Jerametrius Butler: American football cornerback at Kansas State and later the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints.
Jeremy Combs (born 1995), basketball player for Israeli team Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim
Michael Crabtree (class of 2006): wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens; first-team All-American for Texas Tech
Adrian Hamilton (class of 2006): NFL linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2015
Ennis Haywood (class of 1998): American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys
Greg Hill (class of 1990): professional American football running back from 1994 to 1999
Rod Harris (class of 1984): professional American football wide receiver in the NFL and CFL
Notable faculty
Freddie James, former head football coach from 1982 to 1995
Gerald Lewis, former basketball coach