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East Central Texas News

Thursday, November 7, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 83% of the 291 students at Rice High School not on "college track"

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 291 students at Rice High School in Rice, 242 (83%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to East Central Texas News' 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 Rice 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, Rice High School's student population was made up of 291 students, of which 34 were Hispanic, 13 White, and two Multiracial students.

Data shows that 29% of Rice High School seven multiracial students, 18% (13) of its 76 white students, and 17% (34) of its 200 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 233 Rice High School students - equivalent to 79% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 83%, marking a 4% increase 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 Rice High School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracial34341661661313636300882255On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Rice Elementary School39678%
Rice High School29183%
Rice Intermediate/Middle School30676%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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