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Saturday, November 16, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 63% of the 849 students at Cathey Middle 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 849 students at Cathey Middle School in Mcallen, 535 (63%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to West RGV 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 Cathey 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, Cathey Middle School's student population was made up of 849 students, of which 268 were Hispanic, 21 White, 14 Asian, and eight African American students.

Data shows that 70% of Cathey Middle School 12 African American students, 69% (14) of its 21 Asian students, 49% (21) of its 44 white students, and 35% (268) of its 767 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 715 Cathey Middle School students - equivalent to 74% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 63%, marking an 11% 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 Cathey Middle School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350400450HispanicWhiteAsianAfrican American268268499499212123231414778844On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Achieve Early College High School40154%
Alvarez Elementary School41582%
Blanca E. Sanchez48764%
Brown Middle School57881%
Castaneda Elementary School49170%
Cathey Middle School84963%
De Leon Middle School81777%
Dr. Pablo Perez53163%
Escandon Elementary School50779%
Fields Elementary School47579%
Garza Elementary School45768%
Gonzalez Elementary School78148%
Houston Elementary School41777%
Instr/Guid Center35100%
Jackson Elementary School51477%
Lamar Academy7687%
Lucile Hendricks Elementary School38368%
McAllen High School2,17583%
McAuliffe Elementary School40276%
Memorial High School2,11280%
Michael E. Fossum Middle School82965%
Milam Elementary School78155%
Morris Middle School1,01058%
Rayburn Elementary School48261%
Roosevelt Elementary School42481%
Rowe High School1,93082%
Seguin Elementary School56482%
Thigpen-Zavala Elementary School46971%
Travis Middle School49382%
Wilson Elementary School39781%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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