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Friday, November 1, 2024

Analysis: 347 of 403 students at Pirrung 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 403 students at Pirrung Elementary School in Mesquite, 347 (86%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to SE Dallas 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 Pirrung 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, Pirrung Elementary School's student population was made up of 403 students, of which 20 were African American, 20 Hispanic, 10 White, three Multiracial, and two Asian students.

Data shows that 33% of Pirrung Elementary School seven Asian students, 23% of its 14 multiracial students, 20% (10) of its 52 white students, 15% (20) of its 139 Hispanic students, and 11% (20) of its 187 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 359 Pirrung Elementary School students - equivalent to 90% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 86%, marking a 4% 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 Pirrung Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150African AmericanHispanicWhiteMultiracialAsian20201671672020119119101042423311112255On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Achziger Elementary School84481%
Agnew Middle School1,15679%
Austin Elementary School32877%
Beasley Elementary School39478%
Berry Middle School60878%
Black Elementary School64379%
Cannaday Elementary School57981%
Dr. Don Woolley Middle School89685%
Dr. Linda Henrie Elementary School85085%
Florence Elementary School49276%
Floyd Elementary School46285%
Galloway Elementary School42478%
Gentry Elementary School63077%
Gray Elementary School41573%
Hanby Elementary School72273%
Hodges Elementary School52186%
Horn High School3,10186%
Kimball Elementary School21477%
Kimbrough Middle School1,19776%
Lanny Frasier Middle School1,09881%
Lawrence Elementary School26974%
Mackey Elementary School67690%
McDonald Middle School85184%
McKenzie Elementary School40774%
McWhorter Elementary School52578%
Mesquite High School2,33789%
Moss Elementary School32582%
Motley Elementary School26369%
New Middle School80883%
North Mesquite High School2,15987%
Pirrung Elementary School40386%
Porter Elementary School38674%
Poteet High School1,64285%
Price Elementary School32575%
Range Elementary School57683%
Rugel Elementary School30884%
Rutherford Elementary School68673%
Seabourn Elementary School61681%
Shands Elementary School55280%
Shaw Elementary School50581%
Smith Elementary School55783%
Terry Middle School1,06882%
Thompson Elementary School61487%
Tisinger Elementary School68681%
Tosch Elementary School60184%
Vanguard High School78779%
Vanston Middle School85779%
West Mesquite High School2,20688%
Wilkinson Middle School73780%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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