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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Report: 84% of the 557 students at Epps Island 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 557 students at Epps Island Elementary School in Houston, 468 (84%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to NW Houston 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 Epps Island 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, Epps Island Elementary School's student population was made up of 557 students, of which 78 were Hispanic, five African American, five White, and four Asian students.

Data shows that 25% of Epps Island Elementary School 20 white students, 19% of its 23 Asian students, 17% (78) of its 461 Hispanic students, and 12% of its 47 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 523 Epps Island Elementary School students - equivalent to 88% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 84%, marking a 4% 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 Epps Island Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300350HispanicAfrican AmericanAsianWhiteMultiracial78783833835542424419195515150055On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Benfer Elementary School79669%
Benignus Elementary School60558%
Bernshausen Elementary School82578%
Blackshear Elementary School78864%
Brill Elementary School83772%
Doerre Intermediate School1,34751%
Ehrhardt Elementary School74172%
Eiland Elementary School54880%
Epps Island Elementary School55784%
Fox Elementary School74362%
Frank Elementary School60249%
French Elementary School85851%
Greenwood Forest Elementary School68082%
Hassler Elementary School67648%
Haude Elementary School65267%
Hildebrandt Intermediate School1,06074%
Hofius Intermediate School1,21262%
Kaiser Elementary School68380%
Kleb Intermediate School1,43872%
Klein Cain High School3,80976%
Klein Collins High School3,33379%
Klein Forest High School3,40990%
Klein High School3,18470%
Klein Intermediate School1,04082%
Klein Oak High School3,57372%
Klenk Elementary School71676%
Kohrville Elementary School72574%
Krahn Elementary School79774%
Kreinhop Elementary School70368%
Krimmel Intermed1,31863%
Kuehnle Elementary School75360%
Lemm Elementary School63670%
Mahaffey Elementary School88062%
McDougle Elementary School51682%
Metzler Elementary School88865%
Mittelstadt Elementary School76574%
Mueller Elementary School61870%
Nitsch Elementary School62969%
Northampton Elementary School67371%
Roth Elementary School75875%
Schindewolf Intermediate School1,13775%
Schultz Elementary School54766%
Strack Intermediate School1,21670%
Theiss Elementary School75365%
Ulrich Intermediate School1,32675%
Wunderlich Intermediate School1,36483%
Zwink Elementary School87776%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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