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Thursday, October 31, 2024

South Belt Elementary School: 71% of the 723 students 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 723 students at South Belt Elementary School in Houston, 514 (71%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to SE Houston 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 South Belt 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, South Belt Elementary School's student population was made up of 723 students, of which 108 were Hispanic, 65 Asian, 15 African American, 12 White, and three Multiracial students.

Data shows that 55% (65) of South Belt Elementary School 119 Asian students, 38% of its 10 multiracial students, 28% (108) of its 388 Hispanic students, 18% (12) of its 68 white students, and 12% (15) of its 133 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 578 South Belt Elementary School students - equivalent to 85% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 71%, marking a 14% 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 South Belt Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250HispanicAfrican AmericanAsianWhiteMultiracial108108280280151511811865655454121256563377On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Atkinson Elementary School44473%
Bailey Elementary School62374%
Beverly Hills Intermediate School88778%
Bobby Shaw Middle School68190%
Bondy Intermediate School96172%
Burnett Elementary School50189%
Carter Lomax Middle School63681%
De Zavala Middle School55893%
Dobie High School3,87083%
Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School1,45876%
Earnesteen Milstead Middle School68489%
Fisher Elementary School56085%
Frazier Elementary School42475%
Fred Roberts Middle School56484%
Freeman Elementary School43889%
Gardens Elementary School47384%
Garfield Elementary School55983%
Genoa Elementary School55686%
Golden Acres Elementary School37182%
Jackson Intermediate School66280%
Jensen Elementary School57377%
Jessup Elementary School56089%
Keller Middle School64690%
Kruse Elementary School45287%
L. F. Smith Elementary School58982%
Laura Welch Bush Elementary School59778%
Mae Smythe Elementary School70888%
Marshall Kendrick Middle School72786%
Matthys Elementary School49790%
McMasters Elementary School37789%
Meador Elementary School46875%
Melillo Middle School60677%
Miller Intermediate School88074%
Moore Elementary School37775%
Morales Elementary School40286%
Morris Middle School71480%
Nelda Sullivan Middle School53484%
Park View Intermediate School60984%
Parks Elementary School40585%
Pasadena High School2,17887%
Pasadena Memorial High School2,97274%
Pearl Hall Elementary School53185%
Pomeroy Elementary School78480%
Queens Intermediate School62881%
Red Bluff Elementary School47777%
Richey Elementary School50587%
Rick Schneider Middle School66489%
Sam Rayburn High School2,62884%
San Jacinto Intermediate School63082%
South Belt Elementary School72371%
South Houston Elementary School44889%
South Houston High School2,31185%
South Houston Intermediate School68886%
South Shaver Elementary School53280%
Southmore Intermediate School70985%
Sparks Elementary School35478%
Stuchbery Elementary School62082%
Teague Elementary School73782%
Tegeler Career Center33588%
The Summit (High School)152100%
The Summit (Intermediate)65100%
Thomas Hancock Elementary School40281%
Thompson Intermediate School90278%
Turner Elementary School55077%
Williams Elementary School47085%
Young Elementary School62690%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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