San Antonio Corridor News

Of the 64 students at Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center in Seguin, 57 (88%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to San Antonio Corridor 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 Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center 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, Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center's student population was made up of 64 students, of which six were Hispanic and two White students.

Data shows that 17% of Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center 13 white students, and 13% of its 47 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 66 Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center students - equivalent to 93% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 88%, marking a 5% 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
Briesemeister Middle School	720	90%
Jefferson Ave Elementary School	379	87%
Jim Barnes Middle School	853	86%
Koennecke Elementary School	511	79%
McQueeney Elementary School	307	80%
Mercer & Blumberg Learning Center	64	88%
Oralia R. Rodriguez Elementary School	492	83%
Patlan Elementary School	446	78%
Seguin High School	2,065	90%
Vogel Elementary School	374	80%
Weinert Elementary School	455	77%

Source: Texas Education Agency.