Houston Republic

Of the 4,116 students at Elsik High School in Houston, 3,623 (88%) "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 Elsik High 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, Elsik High School's student population was made up of 4,116 students, of which 225 were Hispanic, 150 African American, 80 Asian, 16 White, two American Indian, one Multiracial, and one Pacific Islander students.

Data shows that 22% (80) of Elsik High School 367 Asian students, 14% (150) of its 1,078 African American students, 13% (16) of its 124 white students, 13% of its seven Pacific Islander students, 10% of its 20 American Indian students, 9% (225) of its 2,502 Hispanic students, and 7% of its 18 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 3,844 Elsik High School 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 88%, marking a 3% 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
Albright Middle School	1,118	73%
Alexander Elementary School	648	84%
Alief Early College High School	412	58%
Alief Middle School	897	83%
Best Elementary School	765	94%
Boone Elementary School	639	84%
Budewig Intermediate School	1,137	87%
Bush Elementary School	834	82%
Chambers Elementary School	502	88%
Chancellor Elementary School	749	77%
Collins Elementary School	817	80%
Cummings Elementary School	552	83%
Elsik High School	4,116	88%
Hastings High School	3,966	88%
Hearne Elementary School	824	80%
Heflin Elementary School	646	78%
Hicks Elementary School	712	82%
Holmquist Elementary School	902	72%
Holub Middle School	818	82%
Horn Elementary School	821	78%
Kennedy Elementary School	643	80%
Kerr High School	790	54%
Killough Middle School	802	76%
Klentzman Intermediate School	811	90%
Landis Elementary School	606	88%
Liestman Elementary School	702	84%
Mahanay Elementary School	534	68%
Martin Elementary School	792	80%
Mata Intermediate School	808	87%
Miller Intermediate School	824	79%
O'Donnell Middle School	1,311	78%
Olle Middle School	1,053	85%
Outley Elementary School	946	74%
Owens Intermediate School	814	89%
Petrosky Elementary School	571	70%
Rees Elementary School	522	71%
Smith Elementary School	650	84%
Sneed Elementary School	1,006	88%
Taylor High School	2,852	89%
Youens Elementary School	734	88%
Youngblood Intermediate School	863	82%

Source: Texas Education Agency.