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South San Antonio News

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Analysis: 1,436 of 1,613 students at Southside High 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 1,613 students at Southside High School in San Antonio, 1,436 (89%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to South San Antonio 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 Southside High 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, Southside High School's student population was made up of 1,613 students, of which 163 were Hispanic, 17 White, three African American, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 30% of Southside High School 13 African American students, 22% of its nine multiracial students, 18% (17) of its 95 white students, and 11% (163) of its 1,490 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 1,589 Southside High School students - equivalent to 94% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 89%, marking a 5% 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 Southside High School in 2021-22 School Year

05001,000HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsianAmerican Indian1631631,3271,32717177878331010118800440022On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Freedom Elementary School49382%
Heritage Elementary School43868%
Julian C. Gallardo Elementary School49179%
Julius L. Matthey Middle School68482%
Losoya Middle School64184%
Southside High School1,61389%
W. M. Pearce Primary School42183%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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