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Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Analysis: 646 of 734 students at Youens Elementary School not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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 734 students at Youens Elementary School in Houston, 646 (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 Youens 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, Youens Elementary School's student population was made up of 734 students, of which 62 were Hispanic, 14 African American, 12 Asian, and one White students.

Data shows that 24% (12) of Youens Elementary School 53 Asian students, 15% (14) of its 95 African American students, 11% (62) of its 566 Hispanic students, and 4% of its 19 white 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 747 Youens Elementary School students - equivalent to 96% 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 an 8% 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 Youens Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350400450500HispanicAfrican AmericanAsianWhite62625045041414818112124141111818On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Alief ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Albright Middle School1,11873%
Alexander Elementary School64884%
Alief Early College High School41258%
Alief Middle School89783%
Best Elementary School76594%
Boone Elementary School63984%
Budewig Intermediate School1,13787%
Bush Elementary School83482%
Chambers Elementary School50288%
Chancellor Elementary School74977%
Collins Elementary School81780%
Cummings Elementary School55283%
Elsik High School4,11688%
Hastings High School3,96688%
Hearne Elementary School82480%
Heflin Elementary School64678%
Hicks Elementary School71282%
Holmquist Elementary School90272%
Holub Middle School81882%
Horn Elementary School82178%
Kennedy Elementary School64380%
Kerr High School79054%
Killough Middle School80276%
Klentzman Intermediate School81190%
Landis Elementary School60688%
Liestman Elementary School70284%
Mahanay Elementary School53468%
Martin Elementary School79280%
Mata Intermediate School80887%
Miller Intermediate School82479%
O'Donnell Middle School1,31178%
Olle Middle School1,05385%
Outley Elementary School94674%
Owens Intermediate School81489%
Petrosky Elementary School57170%
Rees Elementary School52271%
Smith Elementary School65084%
Sneed Elementary School1,00688%
Taylor High School2,85289%
Youens Elementary School73488%
Youngblood Intermediate School86382%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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