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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Analysis: 309 of 428 students at Thompson 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 428 students at Thompson Elementary School in Carrollton, 309 (72%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to North Texas 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 Thompson 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, Thompson Elementary School's student population was made up of 428 students, of which 85 were Hispanic, 18 White, nine African American, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 44% of Thompson Elementary School nine Asian students, 43% (18) of its 42 white students, 33% of its 30 African American students, and 25% (85) of its 340 Hispanic 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 392 Thompson Elementary School students - equivalent to 86% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 72%, 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 Thompson Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanAsian8585255255181824249921213366On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Blair Elementary School50070%
Blalack Middle School93270%
Blanton Elementary School44885%
Bush Middle School76377%
Carrollton Elementary School49382%
Central Elementary School45084%
Country Place Elementary School40573%
Creekview High School1,69084%
Davis Elementary School46478%
Early College High School33569%
Farmers Branch Elementary School51182%
Field Middle School96983%
Freeman Elementary School72568%
Furneaux Elementary School47778%
Good Elementary School47482%
Grimes Education Center6596%
Kent Elementary School49958%
La Villita Elementary School85562%
Landry Elementary School52070%
Las Colinas Elementary School53570%
Long Middle School60688%
McCoy Elementary School45237%
McKamy Elementary School49484%
McLaughlin Strickland Elementary School65789%
McWhorter Elementary School70292%
Perry Middle School85773%
Polk Middle School1,01882%
Rainwater Elementary School33775%
Ranchview High School94885%
Riverchase Elementary School44964%
Rosemeade Elementary School45765%
Sheffield Elementary School46690%
Smith High School2,03387%
Stark Elementary School69379%
Thompson Elementary School42872%
Turner High School2,08987%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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