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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Analysis: 171 of 189 students at Premier High School of Arlington 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 189 students at Premier High School of Arlington in Lewisville, 171 (90%) "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 Premier High School of Arlington 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, Premier High School of Arlington's student population was made up of 189 students, of which 12 were Hispanic, four African American, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 20% of Premier High School of Arlington eight multiracial students, 14% (12) of its 88 Hispanic students, and 6% of its 75 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 221 Premier High School of Arlington students - equivalent to 98% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 90%, 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 Premier High School of Arlington in 2021-22 School Year

010203040506070HispanicAfrican AmericanWhiteMultiracial121276764471710016161177On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Premier High Schools in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Premier High School - Corpus Christi59100%
Premier High School - Houston - Hobby20100%
Premier High School - San Angelo13395%
Premier High School Houston Gallery North13597%
Premier High School Odessa97100%
Premier High School Online2,47090%
Premier High School of Abilene15886%
Premier High School of Amarillo26888%
Premier High School of Arlington18990%
Premier High School of Brownsville13086%
Premier High School of Comanche/Early9081%
Premier High School of Dayton7193%
Premier High School of Del Rio6890%
Premier High School of Fort Worth16296%
Premier High School of Granbury16089%
Premier High School of Huntsville9985%
Premier High School of Laredo10987%
Premier High School of Lubbock19585%
Premier High School of Midland15391%
Premier High School of Mission11783%
Premier High School of New Braunfels10482%
Premier High School of Palmview12593%
Premier High School of Pflugerville8985%
Premier High School of San Juan10091%
Premier High School of South Irving3487%
Premier High School of Texarkana15595%
Premier High School of Tyler10393%
Premier High School of Waco14993%
Premier High School of Weslaco6993%
Premier High School-Austin South Campus11982%
Premier High School-Austin Wells Branch10892%
Premier High School-Canyon6084%
Premier High School-El Paso Eastpointe12496%
Premier High School-El Paso Mesa9578%
Premier High School-Houston (Champions)10187%
Premier High School-San Antonio Ingram11685%
Premier High School-San Antonio Windcrest12589%
Premier High Schools - Edinburg Career & Technical13087%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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