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East Houston News

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Report: 74% of the 662 students at De Zavala 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 662 students at De Zavala Elementary School in Baytown, 490 (74%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to East 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 De Zavala 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, De Zavala Elementary School's student population was made up of 662 students, of which 108 were Hispanic, 28 White, 26 African American, and five Multiracial students.

Data shows that 30% (28) of De Zavala Elementary School 96 white students, 29% (108) of its 373 Hispanic students, 20% of its 26 multiracial students, and 17% (26) of its 158 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 541 De Zavala Elementary School students - equivalent to 83% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 74%, marking a 9% 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 De Zavala Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250HispanicAfrican AmericanWhiteMultiracial108108265265262613213228286868552121On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Goose Creek CISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Alamo Elementary School79674%
Ashbel Smith Elementary School60281%
Banuelos Elementary School93380%
Baytown Junior High School80381%
Carver Elementary School65386%
Cedar Bayou Junior High School97878%
Clark Elementary School74376%
Crockett Elementary School68974%
De Zavala Elementary School66274%
E. F. Green Junior School96675%
Gentry Junior High School95377%
Goose Creek Memorial2,15481%
Harlem Elementary School71881%
Highlands Elementary School72382%
Highlands Junior High School1,00283%
Horace Mann Junior High School87980%
Impact Early College High School41467%
James Bowie Elementary School73283%
Lamar Elementary School59975%
Lee High School1,80587%
Peter E. Hyland Center14798%
San Jacinto Elementary School39777%
Stephen F. Austin Elementary School79480%
Sterling High School2,01381%
Stuart Career Tech High School41484%
Travis Elementary School92583%
Victoria Walker Elementary School77074%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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