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Thursday, November 7, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 91% of the 523 students at Candlewood Elementary School not on "college track"

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 523 students at Candlewood Elementary School in San Antonio, 476 (91%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to North San Antonio 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 Candlewood 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, Candlewood Elementary School's student population was made up of 523 students, of which 22 were Hispanic, 11 African American, and seven White students.

Data shows that 25% of Candlewood Elementary School 30 white students, 8% (11) of its 142 African American students, and 7% (22) of its 326 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 579 Candlewood Elementary School students - equivalent to 96% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 91%, 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 Candlewood Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300HispanicAfrican AmericanWhite22223043041111131131772323On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Candlewood Elementary School52391%
Converse Elementary School56788%
Copperfield Elementary School84681%
Coronado Village Elementary School40382%
Crestview Elementary School63463%
Education Franz Elementary School36082%
Elolf Elementary School58781%
Escondido Elementary School62881%
Henry Metzger Middle School1,00087%
Hopkins Elementary School73484%
James L. Masters65383%
Judson Care Academy82100%
Judson Early College Academy39271%
Judson High School2,71593%
Judson Learning Academy10693%
Judson Middle School1,25078%
Karen Wagner High School2,20790%
Kirby Middle School61990%
Kitty Hawk Middle School1,27780%
Mary Lou Hartman75783%
Miller Point Elementary School55981%
Olympia Elementary School46674%
Park Village Elementary School44292%
Ricardo Salinas Elementary School71977%
Rolling Meadows Elementary School86377%
Spring Meadows Elementary School65984%
Veterans Memorial High School1,67789%
William Paschall Elementary School69886%
Woodlake Elementary School55784%
Woodlake Hills Middle School82784%
Wortham Oaks Elementary School70858%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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