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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Report: 74% of the 555 students at Charter Oak Elementary School not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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 555 students at Charter Oak Elementary School in Temple, 411 (74%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Centroplex 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 Charter Oak 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, Charter Oak Elementary School's student population was made up of 555 students, of which 87 were White, 41 Hispanic, 11 Multiracial, three African American, and two Asian students.

Data shows that 34% (87) of Charter Oak Elementary School 257 white students, 31% (11) of its 37 multiracial students, 25% of its 11 Asian students, 19% (41) of its 221 Hispanic students, and 14% of its 26 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 366 Charter Oak Elementary School students - equivalent to 77% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 74%, marking a 3% 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 Charter Oak Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150WhiteHispanicMultiracialAfrican AmericanAsian87871701704141180180111126263323232299On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Belton ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Belton High School2,55387%
Belton Middle School71978%
Charter Oak Elementary School55574%
Chisholm Trail Elementary School87786%
High Point Elementary School62878%
Joe M. Pirtle Elementary School63071%
Lake Belton High School1,59381%
Lake Belton Middle School81866%
Lakewood Elementary School68856%
Leon Heights Elementary School22874%
Miller Heights Elementary School27687%
North Belton Middle School89077%
South Belton Middle School66687%
Southwest Elementary School40090%
Sparta Elementary School62665%
Tarver Elementary School73282%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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