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Saturday, May 18, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 67% of the 618 students at Ouida Springer 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 618 students at Ouida Springer in Rockwall, 415 (67%) "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 Ouida Springer 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, Ouida Springer's student population was made up of 618 students, of which 118 were White, 53 Hispanic, 11 Asian, six Multiracial, five African American, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 58% (11) of Ouida Springer 19 Asian students, 40% (118) of its 297 white students, 30% of its 23 multiracial students, 24% (53) of its 221 Hispanic students, 13% of its eight American Indian students, and 11% of its 50 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 530 Ouida Springer students - equivalent to 74% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 67%, marking a 7% 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 Ouida Springer in 2021-22 School Year

050100150WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsianAmerican Indian11811817917953531681685545456617171111881177On 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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