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Saturday, November 23, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 78% of the 628 students at High Point 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 628 students at High Point Elementary School in Temple, 490 (78%) "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 High Point 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, High Point Elementary School's student population was made up of 628 students, of which 93 were White, 26 Hispanic, seven Multiracial, three African American, two Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 67% of High Point Elementary School four Asian students, 27% of its 28 multiracial students, 23% (93) of its 406 white students, 20% of its four American Indian students, 18% (26) of its 149 Hispanic students, and 13% of its 30 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 463 High Point Elementary School students - equivalent to 78% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This continued with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 78%.

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 High Point Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialPacific IslanderAmerican IndianAsian93933133132626123123332727772121007711332222On 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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