Mid City Times

Of the 383 students at Iltexas Arlington Middle School in Arlington, 318 (83%) "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 Iltexas Arlington Middle 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, Iltexas Arlington Middle School's student population was made up of 383 students, of which 37 were Hispanic, 15 African American, seven White, three Asian, and one Multiracial students.

Data shows that 41% of Iltexas Arlington Middle School 19 white students, 36% of its nine Asian students, 17% of its eight multiracial students, 16% (15) of its 97 African American students, and 15% (37) of its 249 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 353 Iltexas Arlington Middle School students - equivalent to 91% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 83%, 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Iltexas Aggieland High School	149	75%
Iltexas Arlington Elementary School	726	87%
Iltexas Arlington Middle School	383	83%
Iltexas Arlington-Grand Prairie High School	675	90%
Iltexas College Station Elementary	944	73%
Iltexas College Station Middle	447	71%
Iltexas East Fort Worth Elementary School	757	93%
Iltexas East Fort Worth Middle School	405	92%
Iltexas Garland Elementary School	965	81%
Iltexas Garland High School	557	86%
Iltexas Garland Middle School	480	77%
Iltexas Grand Prairie Elementary School	947	87%
Iltexas Grand Prairie Middle School	466	85%
Iltexas Houston Orem Elementary School	849	92%
Iltexas Houston Orem Middle School	457	94%
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes Elementary School	829	92%
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes Middle School	443	91%
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes Orem High School	490	95%
Iltexas Katy Elementary School	941	79%
Iltexas Katy Middle School	424	77%
Iltexas Katy Westpark High School	711	86%
Iltexas Keller Elementary School	943	67%
Iltexas Keller Middle School	427	70%
Iltexas Keller Saginaw High School	752	87%
Iltexas Lancaster Desoto High School	216	94%
Iltexas Lancaster Elementary School	775	92%
Iltexas Lancaster Middle School	422	92%
Iltexas North Richland Hills Elementary School	881	91%
Iltexas North Richland Hills Middle School	430	90%
Iltexas Saginaw Elementary School	934	87%
Iltexas Saginaw Middle School	429	88%
Iltexas Westpark Elementary School	846	73%
Iltexas Westpark Middle School	435	85%

Source: Texas Education Agency.