West RGV News

Of the 738 students at Veterans Middle School in Rio Grande City, 628 (85%) "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 Veterans 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, Veterans Middle School's student population was made up of 738 students, of which 109 were Hispanic and one Asian students.

Data shows that 63% of Veterans Middle School three Asian students, and 15% (109) of its 732 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 707 Veterans Middle School students - equivalent to 89% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 85%, 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Alberto and Celia Barrera Elementary School	438	91%
Alto Bonito Elementary School	478	89%
Dr. Mario E. Ramirez Elementary School	430	81%
General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary School	635	81%
Grulla Elementary School	398	80%
Grulla High School	718	91%
Grulla Middle School	549	87%
John & Olive Hinojosa Elementary School	425	88%
La Union Elementary School	282	89%
Preparatory for Early College High School	455	79%
Ringgold Elementary School	399	78%
Ringgold Middle School	683	85%
Rio Grande City High School	1,752	89%
Roque Guerra Junior Elementary School	627	84%
Veterans Middle School	738	85%

Source: Texas Education Agency.