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Saturday, November 23, 2024

Analysis: 534 of 741 students at Central Middle 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 741 students at Central Middle School in Nederland, 534 (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 Central Middle 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, Central Middle School's student population was made up of 741 students, of which 91 were White, 68 Hispanic, 27 Asian, 10 African American, six Multiracial, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 47% (27) of Central Middle School 58 Asian students, 35% of its 19 multiracial students, 29% (68) of its 237 Hispanic students, 29% (91) of its 315 white students, 22% of its four American Indian students, and 10% (10) of its 107 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 581 Central Middle 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 72%, marking a 4% 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 Central Middle School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAsianMultiracialAmerican Indian9191224224686816916910109797272731316613131133On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Central Middle School74172%
Helena Park Elementary School59262%
Highland Park Elementary School41058%
Hillcrest Elementary School57870%
Langham Elementary School40864%
Nederland High School1,44873%
Wilson Middle School80668%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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