Quantcast

Central Texas News

Monday, December 23, 2024

Report: 66% of the 615 students at Danforth Junior High 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 615 students at Danforth Junior High School in Wimberley, 406 (66%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Central Texas 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 Danforth Junior High 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, Danforth Junior High School's student population was made up of 615 students, of which 160 were White, 39 Hispanic, three Multiracial, three American Indian, and one African American students.

Data shows that 75% of Danforth Junior High School five American Indian students, 38% (160) of its 422 white students, 24% (39) of its 164 Hispanic students, 20% of its 17 multiracial students, and 17% of its five 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 442 Danforth Junior High School students - equivalent to 71% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 66%, marking a 5% 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 Danforth Junior High School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250WhiteHispanicMultiracialAfrican AmericanAmerican Indian160160262262393912512533141411443322On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Danforth Junior High School61566%
Jacob's Well Elementary School53572%
Wimberley High School82972%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS