Mid City Times

Of the 659 students at Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary in Grand Prairie, 534 (81%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Mid City Times' 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 Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary 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, Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary's student population was made up of 659 students, of which 99 were Hispanic, 14 African American, 11 White, two Multiracial, and one Asian students.

Data shows that 43% (11) of Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary 27 white students, 42% of its seven multiracial students, 33% of its four Asian students, 22% (14) of its 65 African American students, and 18% (99) of its 553 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 620 Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary students - equivalent to 90% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 81%, marking a 9% 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
Andrew Jackson Middle School	926	87%
Colin Powell Elementary School	486	56%
Crosswinds Accelerated High School	388	98%
David Daniels Elementary Academy of Science & Math	361	88%
Delmas F. Morton Elementary School	459	85%
Digital Arts & Technology Academy at Adams Middle	660	85%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School	582	79%
Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary	659	81%
Ervin C. Whitt Elementary School	547	77%
Florence Hill Elementary School	485	74%
Garner Fine Arts Academy	837	72%
Global Leadership Academy at Barbara Bush Elementary	397	85%
Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute	361	56%
Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy	848	65%
Grand Prairie High School	2,947	93%
Harry School Truman Middle	557	86%
Hector P. Garcia Elementary School	517	82%
Hobbs Williams Elementary School	590	86%
James Bowie Fine Arts Academy	574	84%
James Fannin Middle School	704	88%
John A. Dubiski Career High School	1,521	78%
Juan N. Seguin Elementary School	384	87%
Lorenzo De Zavala Environmental Science Academy	725	79%
Mike Moseley Elementary School	628	70%
Ronald W. Reagan Middle School	884	73%
Sallye R. Moore College & Career Preparatory	673	72%
Sam Rayburn Elementary Steam Academy	496	84%
School for the Highly Gifted	128	22%
South Grand Prairie High School	3,413	90%
Stephen F. Austin Environmental Science Academy	581	70%
Suzanna Dickinson Montessori Academy	388	84%
Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy	631	71%
William B. Travis World Language Academy	721	87%
Young Men's Leadership Academy at John F. Kennedy Middle School	550	87%
Ywla at Bill Arnold	762	88%

Source: Texas Education Agency.