Quantcast

San Antonio Corridor News

Thursday, November 21, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 81% of the 622 students at Watts Elementary 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 622 students at Watts Elementary School in Cibolo, 504 (81%) "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 Watts 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, Watts Elementary School's student population was made up of 622 students, of which 57 were White, 40 Hispanic, 11 African American, and eight Multiracial students.

Data shows that 23% (57) of Watts Elementary School 252 white students, 20% (11) of its 58 African American students, 19% of its 46 multiracial students, and 16% (40) of its 252 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 500 Watts Elementary School students - equivalent to 81% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This continued with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 81%.

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 Watts Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsian4040212212575719519511114747883838001313On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Schertz-Cibolo-U City ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Allison L. Steele Early Learning Center11798%
Barbara Jordan Intermediate School78674%
Byron P. Steele II High School2,65973%
Cibolo Valley Elementary School83681%
Dobie Junior High School1,39672%
Elaine School Schlather Intermediate78278%
Green Valley Elementary School65875%
John A. Sippel Elementary School74979%
Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate School77776%
Norma Junior Paschal Elementary School65070%
Ray D. Corbett Junior High School1,20972%
Rose Garden Elementary School79585%
Samuel Clemens High School2,56875%
Schertz Elementary School66886%
Watts Elementary School62281%
Wiederstein Elementary School60376%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS