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Thursday, May 2, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 53% of the 1,630 students at Wells 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 1,630 students at Wells Elementary School in Cypress, 864 (53%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to West 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 Wells 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, Wells Elementary School's student population was made up of 1,630 students, of which 289 were White, 257 Asian, 134 Hispanic, 48 African American, 39 Multiracial, one American Indian, and one Pacific Islander students.

Data shows that 66% (257) of Wells Elementary School 390 Asian students, 60% of its two Pacific Islander students, 45% (289) of its 644 white students, 41% (134) of its 328 Hispanic students, 41% (39) of its 97 multiracial students, 29% (48) of its 166 African American students, and 20% of its three American Indian 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 753 Wells Elementary School students - equivalent to 61% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 53%, marking an 8% 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 Wells Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350WhiteAsianHispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialAmerican IndianPacific Islander28928935535525725713313313413419419448481181183939585811221111On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Adam Elementary School80469%
Andre Elementary School93974%
Anthony Middle School1,27658%
Aragon Middle School1,60161%
Arnold Middle School1,43766%
Ault Elementary School96158%
Bane Elementary School75587%
Bang Elementary School90477%
Birkes Elementary School1,02261%
Black Elementary School1,12965%
Bleyl Middle School1,54374%
Bridgeland High School3,44951%
Campbell Middle School1,10376%
Cook Middle School1,45168%
Copeland Elementary School93467%
Cy-Fair High School3,28771%
Cypress Creek High School3,26378%
Cypress Falls High School2,88075%
Cypress Lakes High School3,21982%
Cypress Park High School2,90583%
Cypress Ranch High School3,54857%
Cypress Ridge High School3,03779%
Cypress Springs High School2,62281%
Cypress Woods High School3,18554%
Danish Elementary School95381%
Dean Middle School1,33979%
Duryea Elementary School80980%
Emery Elementary School1,04083%
Emmott Elementary School68382%
Farney Elementary School93555%
Fiest Elementary School90780%
Francone Elementary School81383%
Frazier Elementary School59679%
Gleason Elementary School90867%
Goodson Middle School1,43154%
Hairgrove Elementary School72564%
Hamilton Elementary School1,05849%
Hamilton Middle School1,50655%
Hancock Elementary School95685%
Hemmenway Elementary School1,14077%
Holbrook Elementary School92883%
Holmsley Elementary School85276%
Hopper Middle School1,04783%
Horne Elementary School90381%
Jersey Village High School3,33576%
Jowell Elementary School62084%
Kahla Middle School1,30175%
Keith Elementary School1,13059%
Kirk Elementary School89077%
Labay Middle School1,23573%
Lamkin Elementary School89275%
Langham Creek High School2,79770%
Lee Elementary School81478%
Lieder Elementary School80582%
Lowery Elementary School83069%
Matzke Elementary School1,02483%
McFee Elementary School99778%
Metcalf Elementary School66771%
Millsap Elementary School81970%
Moore Elementary School1,00071%
Owens Elementary School76269%
Pope Elementary School1,09637%
Post Elementary School85375%
Postma Elementary School1,13260%
Reed Elementary School83779%
Rennell Elementary School1,18155%
Robinson Elementary School1,26177%
Robison Elementary School88459%
Rowe Middle School1,23976%
Salyards Middle School1,48950%
Sampson Elementary School86048%
Sheridan Elementary School1,31079%
Smith Middle School1,82035%
Spillane Middle School1,57146%
Swenke Elementary School1,00748%
Thornton Middle School1,53579%
Tipps Elementary School1,00684%
Truitt Middle School1,41975%
Walker Elementary School97577%
Warner Elementary School1,17244%
Watkins Middle School1,52079%
Wells Elementary School1,63053%
Willbern Elementary School87868%
Wilson Elementary School75176%
Woodard Elementary School1,09267%
Yeager Elementary School84581%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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