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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

2021-22 school year: 84% of the 14,557 students at Yes Prep Public Schools Inc not on "college track"

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Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath (2024) | Ballotpedia

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath (2024) | Ballotpedia

Of the 14,557 students in Yes Prep Public Schools Inc's schools, 12,228 (84%) 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).

In the 2020-21 school year, the TEA noted that 11,975 students at Yes Prep Public Schools Inc - equivalent to 89% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with the 2021-22 school year, where the percentage stood at 84%, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year.

Data shows that 36% (38) of Yes Prep Public Schools Inc's 108 Asian students, 24% (11) of its 47 American Indian students, 20% (29) of its 146 white students, 17% (2,017) of its 11,866 Hispanic students, one of its five Pacific Islander students, 11% (133) of its 1,217 African American students, and 10% (116) of its 1,168 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.

Primary data on overall student readiness in Yes Prep Public Schools Inc 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.

The TEA says students who meet their grade level, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

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 Yes Prep Public Schools Inc in 2021-22 School Year

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000HispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialWhiteAsianAmerican IndianPacific Islander2,0172,0179,8499,8491331331,0841,0841161161,0521,052292911711738387070111136361144On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by Race at Yes Prep Public Schools Inc in 2021-22 School Year

RaceNumber of Students on College Track% of Students On College Track% of Total Student Population
Asian3836%0.3%
American Indian1124%0.1%
White2920%0.2%
Hispanic2,01717%13.9%
Pacific Islander114%less than 0.1%
African American13311%0.9%
Multiracial11610%0.8%

Source: Texas Education Agency.

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