Houston Republic

Of the 699 students at Ridgecrest Elementary School in Houston, 532 (76%) "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 Ridgecrest 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, Ridgecrest Elementary School's student population was made up of 699 students, of which 152 were Hispanic, five White, four Asian, one African American, one American Indian, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 88% of Ridgecrest Elementary School five Asian students, 33% of its 16 white students, 29% of its six multiracial students, 23% (152) of its 662 Hispanic students, 20% of its one American Indian students, and 17% of its nine African American 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 610 Ridgecrest Elementary School students - equivalent to 83% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 76%, marking a 7% 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
Buffalo Creek Elementary School	437	83%
Bunker Hill Elementary School	667	50%
Cedar Brook Elementary School	670	77%
Cornerstone Academy	371	37%
Edgewood Elementary School	518	86%
Frostwood Elementary School	759	41%
Hollibrook Elementary School	707	84%
Housman Elementary School	382	85%
Hunters Creek Elementary School	618	50%
Landrum Middle School	925	87%
Meadow Wood Elementary School	652	67%
Memorial Drive Elementary School	391	40%
Memorial High School	2,531	60%
Memorial Middle School	1,350	40%
Northbrook High School	2,622	91%
Northbrook Middle School	881	84%
Nottingham Elementary School	648	65%
Pine Shadows Elementary School	752	77%
Ridgecrest Elementary School	699	76%
Rummel Creek Elementary School	811	44%
Shadow Oaks Elementary School	499	89%
Sherwood Elementary School	426	79%
Spring Branch Academic Institute	140	9%
Spring Branch Elementary School	523	82%
Spring Branch Middle School	1,121	60%
Spring Forest Middle School	957	74%
Spring Oaks Middle School	669	85%
Spring Shadows Elementary School	617	87%
Spring Woods High School	2,091	81%
Spring Woods Middle School	871	90%
Stratford High School	2,229	69%
Terrace Elementary School	377	76%
Thornwood Elementary School	389	83%
Treasure Forest Elementary School	429	90%
Valley Oaks Elementary School	809	43%
Westchester Academy for International Studies	866	61%
Westwood Elementary School	434	86%
Wilchester Elementary School	796	35%
Woodview Elementary School	560	87%

Source: Texas Education Agency.