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Saturday, November 23, 2024

Report: 55% of the 844 students at Barbers Hill Middle South 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 844 students at Barbers Hill Middle South in Mont Belvieu, 465 (55%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to East Houston 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 Barbers Hill Middle South 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, Barbers Hill Middle South's student population was made up of 844 students, of which 248 were White, 112 Hispanic, nine African American, six Multiracial, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 57% of Barbers Hill Middle South six Asian students, 53% of its 13 multiracial students, 48% (248) of its 518 white students, 40% (112) of its 280 Hispanic students, and 35% of its 26 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 484 Barbers Hill Middle South students - equivalent to 60% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 55%, 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 Barbers Hill Middle South in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsian24824827027011211216816899171766773333On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Alternative School22100%
Barbers Hill Elementary North97547%
Barbers Hill Elementary South1,08156%
Barbers Hill High School1,92066%
Barbers Hill Middle North73259%
Barbers Hill Middle South84455%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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