San Antonio Standard

Of the 757 students at Mary Lou Hartman in San Antonio, 629 (83%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to San Antonio Standard's 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 Mary Lou Hartman 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, Mary Lou Hartman's student population was made up of 757 students, of which 78 were Hispanic, 20 African American, 16 White, seven Asian, two Multiracial, and one Pacific Islander students.

Data shows that 37% of Mary Lou Hartman 19 Asian students, 33% (16) of its 50 white students, 22% of its 13 multiracial students, 20% of its eight Pacific Islander students, 19% (20) of its 108 African American students, and 14% (78) of its 559 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 692 Mary Lou Hartman students - equivalent to 93% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 83%, marking a 10% 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Candlewood Elementary School	523	91%
Converse Elementary School	567	88%
Copperfield Elementary School	846	81%
Coronado Village Elementary School	403	82%
Crestview Elementary School	634	63%
Education Franz Elementary School	360	82%
Elolf Elementary School	587	81%
Escondido Elementary School	628	81%
Henry Metzger Middle School	1,000	87%
Hopkins Elementary School	734	84%
James L. Masters	653	83%
Judson Care Academy	82	100%
Judson Early College Academy	392	71%
Judson High School	2,715	93%
Judson Learning Academy	106	93%
Judson Middle School	1,250	78%
Karen Wagner High School	2,207	90%
Kirby Middle School	619	90%
Kitty Hawk Middle School	1,277	80%
Mary Lou Hartman	757	83%
Miller Point Elementary School	559	81%
Olympia Elementary School	466	74%
Park Village Elementary School	442	92%
Ricardo Salinas Elementary School	719	77%
Rolling Meadows Elementary School	863	77%
Spring Meadows Elementary School	659	84%
Veterans Memorial High School	1,677	89%
William Paschall Elementary School	698	86%
Woodlake Elementary School	557	84%
Woodlake Hills Middle School	827	84%
Wortham Oaks Elementary School	708	58%

Source: Texas Education Agency.