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Mid City Times

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Report: 85% of the 670 students at Townley 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 670 students at Townley Elementary School in Irving, 570 (85%) "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 Townley 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, Townley Elementary School's student population was made up of 670 students, of which 71 were Hispanic, 22 White, six Asian, and one African American students.

Data shows that 80% of Townley Elementary School eight Asian students, 24% (22) of its 93 white students, 14% (71) of its 510 Hispanic students, and 3% of its 32 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 662 Townley Elementary School students - equivalent to 93% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 85%, 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 Townley Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350400HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanAmerican IndianAsian7171439439222271711131310019196622On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Austin Middle School91187%
Barbara Cardwell Career Preparatory Center24094%
Barton Elementary School85992%
Bowie Middle School82187%
Brandenburg Elementary School88483%
Britain Elementary School58290%
Brown Elementary School67784%
Crockett Middle School93791%
Davis Elementary School79988%
Elliott Elementary School55582%
Farine Elementary School87284%
Gilbert F. M. Elementary School70681%
Good Elementary School72490%
Haley Junior Elementary School71988%
Haley T. Elementary School82082%
Hanes Elementary School63887%
Houston Middle School92885%
Irving High School2,73194%
Jack E. Singley Academy1,63788%
Jackie Mae Townsell Elementary School82786%
John W. and Margie Stipes Elementary School61179%
Johnston Elementary School80092%
Keyes Elementary School66585%
Lady Bird Johnson Middle School91986%
Lamar Middle School72184%
Lee Elementary School69089%
Lively Elementary School75791%
Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School88380%
Macarthur High School2,72090%
Nimitz High School2,47791%
Schulze Elementary School64788%
Townley Elementary School67085%
Travis Middle School99184%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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