West DFW News

Of the 1,141 students at Aledo Middle School in Aledo, 639 (56%) "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 Aledo Middle 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, Aledo Middle School's student population was made up of 1,141 students, of which 408 were White, 61 Hispanic, 24 Multiracial, five African American, three Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 50% of Aledo Middle School six Asian students, 48% (408) of its 851 white students, 40% (24) of its 60 multiracial students, 32% (61) of its 193 Hispanic students, 25% of its five American Indian students, and 23% of its 26 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 677 Aledo Middle School students - equivalent to 62% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 56%, marking a 6% 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Aledo High School	1,524	60%
Aledo Middle School	1,141	56%
Annetta Elementary School	734	59%
Coder Elementary School	614	60%
Don R. Daniel Ninth Grade Campus	575	62%
McAnally Intermediate School	565	58%
McCall Elementary School	504	56%
Stuard Elementary School	552	43%
Vandagriff Elementary School	650	51%
Walsh Elementary School	466	50%

Source: Texas Education Agency.