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Saturday, November 23, 2024

Report: 59% of the 448 students at Jefferson Elementary 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 448 students at Jefferson Elementary School in Edinburg, 265 (59%) "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 Jefferson 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, Jefferson Elementary School's student population was made up of 448 students, of which 171 were Hispanic, five Asian, and two White students.

Data shows that 60% of Jefferson Elementary School nine Asian students, 40% (171) of its 429 Hispanic students, and 40% of its five white 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 309 Jefferson Elementary School students - equivalent to 68% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 59%, 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 Jefferson Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250HispanicAsianWhite17117125825855442233On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Edinburg CISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Alfonso Ramirez Elementary School58961%
Anne L. Magee Elementary School39372%
Austin Elementary School36057%
B. L. Garza Middle School1,01973%
Betts Elementary School53178%
Betty Harwell Middle School1,37985%
Brewster Elementary School31076%
Cano-Gonzalez Elementary School38174%
Canterbury Elementary School60849%
Carmen V. Avila Elementary School65181%
Cavazos Elementary School36668%
De La Vina Elementary School53872%
Dr. Kay Teer Crawford Elementary School62769%
Dr. Thomas Esparza Elementary School37579%
Economedes High School2,70089%
Edinburg High School2,43686%
Edinburg North High School2,69385%
Eisenhower Elementary School57980%
Elias Longoria Senior Middle School80679%
Escandon Elementary School65767%
Francisco Barrientes Middle School1,28877%
Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School41667%
Guerra Elementary School44677%
Hargill Elementary School44681%
JJAEP10100%
Jefferson Elementary School44859%
John F. Kennedy Elementary School44082%
L. B. Johnson Elementary School35380%
Lee Elementary School36782%
Lincoln Elementary School37577%
Macaria Dela Garza Gorena Elementary School51077%
Memorial Middle School1,09879%
Monte Cristo Elementary School67279%
R. C. Flores-Mark A. Zapata Elementary School47571%
Robert R. Vela High School2,18881%
San Carlos Elementary School39072%
South Middle School1,22772%
Travis Elementary School30580%
Trevino Elementary School62560%
Truman Elementary School62377%
Villarreal Elementary School45784%
Zavala Elementary School47489%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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