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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Analysis: 275 of 490 students at Grace Hartman 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 490 students at Grace Hartman Elementary School in Rockwall, 275 (56%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to East DFW 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 Grace Hartman 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, Grace Hartman Elementary School's student population was made up of 490 students, of which 149 were White, 36 Hispanic, nine Multiracial, eight African American, and seven Asian students.

Data shows that 58% of Grace Hartman Elementary School 13 Asian students, 46% (149) of its 325 white students, 45% of its 21 multiracial students, 39% (36) of its 93 Hispanic students, and 23% of its 36 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 327 Grace Hartman Elementary School students - equivalent to 68% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 56%, 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 Grace Hartman Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsian149149176176363657578828289912127766On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Amanda Rochell Elementary School46778%
Amy Parks-Heath Elementary School61953%
Billie Stevenson Elementary School70366%
Celia Hays Elementary School48855%
Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School58571%
Dorothy Smith Pullen Elementary School54163%
Dorris A. Jones Elementary School58475%
Grace Hartman Elementary School49056%
Herman E. Utley Middle School87261%
Howard Dobbs Elementary School57270%
J. W. Williams Middle School78657%
Linda Lyon Elementary School74857%
Lupe Garcia Elementary School62569%
Maurine Cain Middle School1,10462%
Nebbie Williams Elementary School44141%
Ouida Springer61867%
Rockwall High School2,93368%
Rockwall Quest Academy4085%
Rockwall-Heath High School2,82372%
Sharon Shannon Elementary School58061%
Sherry and Paul Hamm Elementary School56859%
Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School63170%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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