Houston Republic

Of the 835 students at Clear Lake Intermediate School in Houston, 635 (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 Clear Lake Intermediate 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, Clear Lake Intermediate School's student population was made up of 835 students, of which 88 were White, 74 Hispanic, 16 Asian, 11 Multiracial, and 10 African American students.

Data shows that 32% (16) of Clear Lake Intermediate School 53 Asian students, 31% (88) of its 285 white students, 27% (11) of its 42 multiracial students, 21% (74) of its 353 Hispanic students, and 11% (10) of its 99 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 698 Clear Lake Intermediate 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
Arlyne & Alan Weber Elementary School	756	63%
Armand Bayou Elementary School	512	69%
Art and Pat Goforth Elementary School	797	61%
Bay Elementary School	623	67%
Bayside Intermediate School	975	73%
Brookside Intermediate School	945	72%
Brookwood Elementary School	766	62%
C. D. Landolt Elementary School	718	68%
Campbell Elementary School	690	66%
Clear Brook High School	2,420	74%
Clear Creek High School	2,343	74%
Clear Creek Intermediate School	763	83%
Clear Falls High School	2,497	75%
Clear Horizons Early College High School	416	71%
Clear Lake City Elementary School	506	66%
Clear Lake High School	2,485	67%
Clear Lake Intermediate School	835	76%
Clear Springs High School	2,773	67%
Clear View High School	144	76%
Creekside Intermediate School	884	75%
Darwin L. Gilmore Elementary School	692	62%
Education High White Elementary School	613	63%
Falcon Pass Elementary School	528	60%
G. H. Whitcomb Elementary School	552	75%
G. W. Robinson	529	66%
Henry Bauerschlag Elementary School	805	68%
I. W. and Eleanor Hyde Elementary School	671	56%
James High Ross Elementary School	553	70%
John F. Ward Elementary School	573	65%
Lavace Stewart Elementary School	693	77%
League City Elementary School	711	70%
League City Intermediate School	1,103	45%
Lloyd R. Ferguson Elementary School	662	62%
Margaret School McWhirter Elementary	779	83%
North Pointe Elementary School	661	66%
P. H. Greene Elementary School	598	69%
Ralph Parr Elementary School	712	61%
Sandra Mossman Elementary School	779	69%
Seabrook Intermediate School	941	67%
Space Center Intermediate	884	76%
Victory Lakes Intermediate School	955	70%
Walter Hall Elementary School	492	61%
Wedgewood Elementary School	630	78%
Westbrook Intermediate School	1,156	48%

Source: Texas Education Agency.