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Friday, November 1, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 72% of the 900 students at Central 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 900 students at Central Middle School in Weslaco, 648 (72%) "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 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 900 students, of which 245 were Hispanic and nine White students.

Data shows that 43% of Central Middle School 21 white students, and 28% (245) of its 877 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 794 Central Middle School students - equivalent to 85% 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 13% 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

050100150200250300350400450500550600HispanicWhite245245632632991212On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
A. N. Rico Elementary School69578%
Airport Elementary School64178%
Armando Cuellar Middle School65785%
Beatriz G. Garza Middle School1,00580%
Central Middle School90072%
Cleckler/Heald Elementary School84878%
Dr. R. E. Margo Elementary School84178%
Horton Disciplinary Alternative Education Program48100%
Mary Hoge Middle School91286%
Memorial Elementary School93368%
North Bridge Elementary School66384%
PFC Mario Ybarra Elementary School47778%
Raul A. Gonzalez Junior Elementary School56577%
Rodolfo Rudy Silva Junior Elementary School48885%
Sam Houston Elementary School69478%
South Palm Gardens High School6693%
Weslaco 21ST Century Cte Early College High School25876%
Weslaco East High School1,95292%
Weslaco High School2,49988%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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