SE Texas Times

Of the 725 students at Hardin-Jefferson High School in Sour Lake, 522 (72%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to SE Texas Times' 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 Hardin-Jefferson High 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, Hardin-Jefferson High School's student population was made up of 725 students, of which 171 were White, 16 African American, 13 Hispanic, four Multiracial, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 67% of Hardin-Jefferson High School five Asian students, 34% (171) of its 504 white students, 21% of its 20 multiracial students, 16% (16) of its 105 African American students, and 16% (13) of its 87 Hispanic 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 467 Hardin-Jefferson High School students - equivalent to 67% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 72%, marking a 5% increase 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
China Elementary School	551	78%
Hardin-Jefferson High School	725	72%
Henderson Middle School	569	69%
Sour Lake Elementary School	752	82%

Source: Texas Education Agency.