SE Texas Times

Of the 538 students at Smith Middle School in Beaumont, 522 (97%) "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 Smith 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, Smith Middle School's student population was made up of 538 students, of which seven were African American and six Hispanic students.

Data shows that 4% of Smith Middle School 153 Hispanic students, and 2% of its 374 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 576 Smith Middle School students - equivalent to 99% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 97%, marking a 2% 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Amelia Elementary School	530	91%
Beaumont ISD Early College High School	293	79%
Beaumont United High School	2,117	96%
Blanchette Elementary School	523	92%
Caldwood Elementary School	516	93%
Charlton-Pollard Elementary School	501	93%
Curtis Elementary School	521	78%
Dishman Elementary School	514	87%
Dr. Mae E. Jones-Clark Elementary School	490	97%
Fehl-Price Elementary School	452	98%
Fletcher Elementary School	457	84%
Guess Elementary School	566	77%
Homer Dr. Elementary School	584	93%
Marshall Middle School	757	88%
Martin Elementary School	511	92%
Martin Luther King Middle School	566	96%
Odom Middle School	724	70%
Pathways Learning Center	88	100%
Paul A. Brown Alternative Center	98	100%
Pietzsch/Mac Arthur Elementary School	982	96%
Regina Howell Elementary School	678	71%
Smith Middle School	538	97%
Vincent Middle School	789	95%
West Brook Senior High School	2,256	91%

Source: Texas Education Agency.