Quantcast

East Central Texas News

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Analysis: 512 of 639 students at Story Intermediate 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 639 students at Story Intermediate School in Palestine, 512 (80%) "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 Story Intermediate 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, Story Intermediate School's student population was made up of 639 students, of which 52 were Hispanic, 49 White, 18 African American, three Multiracial, and two Asian students.

Data shows that 45% of Story Intermediate School five Asian students, 29% (49) of its 169 white students, 19% (52) of its 274 Hispanic students, 17% of its 20 multiracial students, and 11% (18) of its 167 African American 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 631 Story Intermediate School students - equivalent to 87% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 80%, marking a 7% 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 Story Intermediate School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsian5252222222494912012018181491493317172233On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Palestine High School1,04084%
Palestine Junior High School50276%
Southside Elementary School46876%
Story Intermediate School63980%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate