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Thursday, November 7, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 67% of the 1,051 students at Westside 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 1,051 students at Westside Elementary School in Angleton, 705 (67%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to South Brazoria 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 Westside 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, Westside Elementary School's student population was made up of 1,051 students, of which 238 were Hispanic, 69 White, 25 African American, 12 Multiracial, and two American Indian students.

Data shows that 47% (69) of Westside Elementary School 148 white students, 41% (12) of its 31 multiracial students, 40% of its five American Indian students, 31% (238) of its 768 Hispanic students, and 26% (25) of its 98 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 854 Westside Elementary School students - equivalent to 76% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 67%, marking a 9% 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 Westside Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350400450500HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAmerican Indian2382385305306969797925257373121219192233On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Angleton High School1,98486%
Angleton Junior High School1,54077%
Central Elementary School48971%
Frontier Elementary School47559%
Northside Elementary School44471%
Rancho Isabella Elementary School37670%
Southside Elementary School33871%
Westside Elementary School1,05167%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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