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Saturday, November 2, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 86% of the 693 students at Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston 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 693 students at Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston in Houston, 596 (86%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Houston Republic's 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 Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston 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, Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston's student population was made up of 693 students, of which 42 were Hispanic, 37 African American, eight White, six Asian, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 50% of Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston 16 white students, 29% of its 24 Asian students, 13% (37) of its 286 African American students, 12% (42) of its 352 Hispanic students, and 6% of its 11 multiracial 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 659 Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston students - equivalent to 91% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 86%, 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.

Students On and Off College Track by Race at Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300HispanicAfrican AmericanAsianWhiteMultiracial424231031037372492496618188888111010On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Harmony Science Academy in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Harmony School of Exploration- Houston62571%
Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston69386%
Harmony School of Ingenuity-Houston71590%
Harmony School of Innovation - Houston51164%
Harmony School of Science-Houston32776%
Harmony Science Academy-Houston69377%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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