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Saturday, May 4, 2024

R. C. Barton Middle School: 60% of the 758 students 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 758 students at R. C. Barton Middle School in Buda, 455 (60%) "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 R. C. Barton 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, R. C. Barton Middle School's student population was made up of 758 students, of which 142 were Hispanic, 125 White, 10 Multiracial, nine African American, nine Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 74% of R. C. Barton Middle School 13 Asian students, 50% of its two American Indian students, 44% (125) of its 286 white students, 40% (10) of its 27 multiracial students, 36% (142) of its 395 Hispanic students, and 29% of its 33 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 533 R. C. Barton Middle School students - equivalent to 72% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 60%, marking a 12% 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 R. C. Barton Middle School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsianAmerican Indian1421422532531251251611619924241010171799441111On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Hays CISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Alter Impact Center85100%
Armando Chapa Middle School67179%
Blanco Vista Elementary School71074%
Buda Elementary School67868%
Camino Real Elementary School77484%
Carpenter Hill Elementary School60656%
D. J. Red Simon Middle School71890%
Dr. T. C. McCormick Junior Middle School1,01378%
Elm Grove Elementary School75860%
Eric Dahlstrom Middle School95564%
Hemphill Elementary School42879%
Jack C. Hays High School1,93778%
Kyle Elementary School57876%
Laura B. Negley Elementary School91367%
Laura B. Wallace Middle School79178%
Lehman High School2,02388%
Live Oak Academy25995%
Moe and Gene Johnson High School2,45276%
R. C. Barton Middle School75860%
Ralph Pfluger Elementary School77171%
Science Hall Elementary School60784%
Susie Fuentes Elementary School65478%
Tobias Elementary School64676%
Tom Green Elementary School83084%
Uhland Elementary School73088%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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