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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Analysis: 227 of 324 students at Western Hills 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 324 students at Western Hills Elementary School in El Paso, 227 (70%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to El Paso Standard'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 Western Hills 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, Western Hills Elementary School's student population was made up of 324 students, of which 69 were Hispanic, 18 White, five Asian, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 78% of Western Hills Elementary School seven Asian students, 44% (18) of its 42 white students, 29% of its five multiracial students, and 26% (69) of its 266 Hispanic 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 284 Western Hills Elementary School students - equivalent to 86% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 70%, marking a 16% 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 Western Hills Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150HispanicWhiteAsianMultiracial69691971971818242455221144On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Andress High School1,49091%
Aoy Elementary School24682%
Armendariz Middle School37492%
Austin High School1,26294%
Barron Elementary School37180%
Bassett Middle School59589%
Bliss Elementary School50978%
Bowie High School1,24296%
Brown Middle School84780%
Burges High School1,51986%
Canyon Hills Middle School59688%
Chapin High School1,68787%
Charles Middle School57477%
Cielo Vista Elementary School27868%
Clardy Elementary School48990%
Clendenin Elementary School40081%
Coach Archie Duran Elementary School73581%
Coldwell Elementary School48279%
Colin L. Powell Elementary School53481%
College Career Technology Academy (Ccta)16496%
Collins Elementary School35473%
Cooley Elementary School40984%
Coronado High School2,50880%
Crockett Elementary School45283%
Delta Academy37100%
Don Haskins PK-81,59980%
Douglass Elementary School50186%
Dr. Joseph Torres Elementary School60877%
El Paso High School1,58683%
Franklin High School3,10781%
General Douglas Macarthur PK-888576%
Green Elementary School38072%
Guerrero Elementary School44376%
Guillen Middle School49693%
H. R. Moye Elementary School32089%
Hart Elementary School39589%
Hawkins Elementary School28377%
Henderson Middle School67289%
Hillside Elementary School42680%
Hornedo Middle School1,26059%
Hughey Elementary School56963%
Irvin High School1,09294%
Jefferson High School1,16892%
Johnson Elementary School31287%
Kohlberg Elementary School43873%
Lamar Elementary School29472%
Logan Elementary School52382%
Magoffin Middle School57889%
Marguerite Junior Lundy Elementary School68356%
Mesita Elementary School94473%
Milam Elementary School81165%
Morehead Middle School46287%
Moreno Elementary School36081%
Newman Elementary School33184%
Nixon Elementary School63984%
Park Elementary School41079%
Polk Elementary School62059%
Putnam Elementary School29875%
Richardson Middle School67778%
Rivera Elementary School27577%
Ross Middle School73079%
Rusk Elementary School23983%
Silva Health Magnet58564%
Stanton Elementary School37288%
Sunrise Mountain Elementary School50984%
Terrace Hills Middle School41886%
Tippin Elementary School62052%
Tom Lea Junior Elementary School81474%
Transmountain Early College High School37863%
Travis Elementary School24086%
Western Hills Elementary School32470%
Whitaker Elementary School34974%
Wiggs Middle School82168%
William C. Herrera Elementary School56179%
Young Women's Steam Research & Preparatory Academy43576%
Zach White Elementary School37572%
Zavala Elementary School30682%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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