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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 75% of the 345 students at Smith Elementary School not on "college track"

Commissioner of education mike morath 2023

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

Of the 345 students at Smith Elementary School in Richmond, 259 (75%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to SW Houston News' analysis of test scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). To better understand these statistics, it's important to know what TSI (Texas Success Initiative) and CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) are, as they are key indicators of a student's readiness for post-secondary education or career paths.

Primary data on overall student readiness in Smith Elementary School is derived from the TSI's assessments, which evaluate student capabilities in reading, writing, and mathematics. Certain students may qualify for exemptions from these assessments. In contrast, CCMR focuses on preparedness for life post-high school, factoring in TSI scores along with other criteria like dual credits, AP/IB exam results, and more, to provide insights into specific subject performance.

In the 2021-22 school year, Smith Elementary School's student population was made up of 345 students, of which 54 were Hispanic, 14 African American, 13 White, and two Multiracial students.

Data shows that 33% of Smith Elementary School eight multiracial students, 30% (13) of its 46 white students, 24% (54) of its 227 Hispanic students, and 23% (14) of its 63 African American students had "mastered" their grade level in the 2021-22 school year and were "on track for college and career readiness," as measured by state academic standards.

The TEA says students who meet, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

In 2020-21, the TEA noted that 296 Smith Elementary School students - equivalent to 83% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 75%, marking an 8% decrease from the previous year.

Despite an improvement after the pandemic, Texas students are still struggling to keep a good performance and reach grade level in schools. In the 2021-22 school year, nearly two-thirds (60%) of students were below grade level in math and 48% did not meet the standards in reading language and arts.

According to Chandra Villanueva, director of policy and advocacy for Every Texan, one of the main causes for this is bad funds management. "Your average homeowner is like, 'Look, I'm paying more and more every single year. Why are my schools still underfunded, overcrowded, my teachers underpaid? Obviously, the schools are doing a bad job with my money,'" she said in an interview. Currently, Texas residents pay more than $70 billion annually in taxes destined to public education.

Gov. Abbott has been calling not only for an end to the main school property tax, but to use public money to support private schools. The initiative is called universal private school choice and, if passed, would allow residents to use taxpayer money to pay for their kids' private education.

"School choice not only improves education for every kid and every parent who chooses that pathway," Abbott said at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16.

Students On and Off College Track by Race at Smith Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150HispanicAfrican AmericanWhiteMultiracial545417317314144949131333332266On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Lamar CISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
B. F. Terry High School1,96086%
Beasley Elementary School41478%
Bentley Elementary School93857%
Bess Campbell Elementary School49737%
Bowie Elementary School45280%
Briscoe Junior High School1,78560%
Cora Thomas Elementary School72371%
Dean Leaman Junior High School1,84860%
Don Carter Elementary School83154%
Dr. Thomas E. Randle High School75986%
Fletcher Morgan Elementary School55863%
Foster High School2,18957%
Frost Elementary School87051%
Fulshear High School2,12365%
George Junior High School1,10686%
George Ranch High School2,62660%
H. F. McNeill Elementary School80555%
Harry Wright Junior High School1,23277%
Huggins Elementary School58859%
Irma Dru Hutchison Elementary School76366%
Jackson Elementary School30388%
Jane Long Elementary School53381%
Joe Hubenak Elementary School1,21960%
John Arredondo Elementary School1,00271%
Judge James C. Adolphus Elementary School89450%
Kathleen Joerger Lindsey Elementary School83061%
Lamar Cons High School1,76982%
Lamar Junior High School1,26079%
Manford Williams Elementary School38754%
Meyer Elementary School62485%
Reading Junior High School1,60855%
Smith Elementary School34575%
Stephen F. Austin Elementary School57067%
Susanna Dickinson Elementary School51847%
T. L. Pink Elementary School49283%
Tamarron Elementary School78871%
Taylor Ray Elementary School54767%
Thomas R. Culver Elementary School89669%
Travis Elementary School40181%
William Velasquez48071%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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