Quantcast

West DFW News

Friday, November 22, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 86% of the 295 students at Albert C. Williams Elementary 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 295 students at Albert C. Williams Elementary School in Commerce, 254 (86%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to West DFW 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 Albert C. Williams 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, Albert C. Williams Elementary School's student population was made up of 295 students, of which 21 were White, seven African American, seven Hispanic, three Multiracial, and one Asian students.

Data shows that 50% of Albert C. Williams Elementary School three Asian students, 20% (21) of its 107 white students, 14% of its 25 multiracial students, 10% of its 70 Hispanic students, and 9% of its 85 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 261 Albert C. Williams Elementary School students - equivalent to 86% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This continued with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 86%.

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 Albert C. Williams Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

01020304050607080WhiteAfrican AmericanHispanicMultiracialPacific IslanderAsian2121868677787877636333222200551122On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Albert C. Williams Elementary School29586%
Commerce High School44790%
Commerce Middle School32684%
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

MORE NEWS