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Sunday, December 22, 2024

Report: 92% of the 1,289 students at Willowridge High 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 1,289 students at Willowridge High School in Houston, 1,186 (92%) "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 Willowridge 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, Willowridge High School's student population was made up of 1,289 students, of which 61 were Hispanic, 39 African American, one Multiracial, one Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 25% of Willowridge High School five American Indian students, 14% of its four Asian students, 9% (61) of its 687 Hispanic students, 7% (39) of its 565 African American students, and 4% of its 17 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 1,189 Willowridge High School students - equivalent to 93% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 92%, marking a 1% 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 Willowridge High School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350400450500550600HispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialWhiteAmerican IndianAsian6161626626393952652611161600111111441133On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School1,12037%
Arizona Fleming Elementary School51083%
Austin Parkway Elementary School62063%
Barbara Jordan Elementary School49869%
Barrington Place Elementary School48268%
Billy Baines Middle School1,24567%
Blue Ridge Elementary School24684%
Brazos Bend Elementary School70667%
Briargate Elementary School35185%
Carolyn and Vernon Madden Elementary School83948%
Christa McAuliffe Middle School83391%
Clements High School2,48549%
Colony Bend Elementary School51963%
Colony Meadows Elementary School61148%
Commonwealth Elementary School93426%
Cornerstone Elementary School81036%
David Crockett Middle School1,13077%
Donald Leonetti Elementary School1,02256%
Dr. Lynn Armstrong Elementary School45791%
Dulles Elementary School62384%
Dulles High School2,39066%
Dulles Middle School1,36071%
E. A. Jones Elementary School50386%
Edgar Glover Junior Elementary School39474%
First Colony Middle School1,22958%
Fort Settlement Middle School1,38535%
George Bush High School2,51382%
Heritage Rose Elementary School1,10283%
Highlands Elementary School56257%
Hightower High School2,35692%
Hodges Bend Middle School91984%
Hunters Glen Elementary School20679%
James Bowie Middle School1,53463%
James C. Neill Elementary School1,05371%
James Patterson Elementary School75481%
Jan Schiff Elementary School84460%
Juan Seguin Elementary School79075%
Kempner High School1,96078%
Lake Olympia Middle School1,20086%
Lakeview Elementary School28372%
Lantern Lane Elementary School44882%
Lawrence E. Elkins High School2,56569%
Lexington Creek Elementary School49064%
Lula Belle Goodman Elementary School68185%
Macario Garcia Middle School1,40157%
Malala Yousafzai97751%
Mary Austin Holley Elementary School62481%
Meadows Elementary School38980%
Mission Bend Elementary School32284%
Mission Glen Elementary School34683%
Mission West Elementary School55577%
Missouri City Middle School95687%
Oakland Elementary School86762%
Oyster Creek Elementary School76968%
Palmer Elementary School67872%
Pecan Grove Elementary School73771%
Quail Valley Elementary School50578%
Quail Valley Middle School1,08052%
Ridge Point High School3,04870%
Ridgegate Elementary School42282%
Ridgemont Elementary School28883%
Rita Drabek Elementary School67270%
Ronald Thornton Middle School1,46469%
Rosa Parks Elementary School62283%
Sartartia Middle School1,35846%
Scanlan Oaks Elementary School91459%
Settlers Way Elementary School78359%
Sienna Crossing Elementary School94244%
Stephen F. Austin High School2,25665%
Sugar Land Middle School1,06573%
Sugar Mill Elementary School52570%
Thurgood Marshall High School1,54794%
Townewest Elementary School53484%
Walker Station Elementary School72440%
Walter Moses Burton Elementary School41385%
William B. Travis High School3,09669%
Willowridge High School1,28992%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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