San Antonio Standard

Of the 1,030 students at Hill Middle School in San Antonio, 649 (63%) "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 Hill Middle 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, Hill Middle School's student population was made up of 1,030 students, of which 155 were Hispanic, 142 White, 46 Asian, 22 Multiracial, and 12 African American students.

Data shows that 60% (46) of Hill Middle School 78 Asian students, 44% (22) of its 50 multiracial students, 39% (142) of its 366 white students, 32% (155) of its 487 Hispanic students, and 27% (12) of its 47 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 808 Hill Middle School students - equivalent to 73% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 63%, 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
Academy of Creative Education	86	83%
Bradley Middle School	1,161	69%
Bulverde Creek	976	64%
Bush Middle School	1,015	56%
Camelot Elementary School	467	83%
Canyon Ridge Elementary School	549	62%
Castle Hills Elementary School	458	55%
Churchill High School	2,638	77%
Cibolo Green	803	59%
Clear Spring Elementary School	328	88%
Coker Elementary School	748	67%
Colonial Hills Elementary School	629	88%
Dellview Elementary School	419	83%
Driscoll Middle School	632	80%
East Terrell Hills Elementary School	571	84%
Eisenhower Middle School	857	81%
Elementary Dorado Elementary School	541	83%
Encino Park Elementary School	665	52%
Fox Run Elementary School	692	70%
Garner Middle School	848	83%
Hardy Oak Elementary School	648	42%
Harmony Hills Elementary School	430	76%
Harris Middle School	928	80%
Hidden Forest Elementary School	552	59%
Hill Middle School	1,030	63%
Huebner Elementary School	517	57%
International School of America	468	66%
Jackson Middle School	688	81%
Jackson-Keller Elementary School	580	78%
Johnson High School	3,256	58%
Krueger Middle School	813	75%
Larkspur Elementary School	894	90%
Las Lomas Elementary School	524	66%
Legacy of Educational Excellence High School	2,418	82%
Longs Creek Elementary School	614	73%
Lopez Middle School	1,386	49%
Macarthur High School	2,112	81%
Madison High School	2,968	84%
Montgomery Elementary School	272	84%
Nimitz Middle School	1,134	81%
Northern Hills Elementary School	530	83%
Northwood Elementary School	370	65%
Oak Grove Elementary School	368	89%
Oak Meadow Elementary School	370	60%
Olmos Elementary School	555	74%
Reagan High School	3,364	58%
Redland Oaks Elementary School	381	64%
Regency Place Elementary School	439	82%
Ridgeview Elementary School	558	80%
Roan Forest Elementary School	816	50%
Roosevelt High School	2,571	83%
Royal Ridge Elementary School	451	78%
Serna Elementary School	373	90%
Stahl Elementary School	617	80%
Steubing Ranch Elementary School	885	67%
Stone Oak Elementary School	841	52%
Tejeda Middle School	1,130	59%
Thousand Oaks Elementary School	616	74%
Tuscany Heights	717	60%
Vineyard Ranch Elementary School	792	48%
Walzem Elementary School	614	86%
Wetmore Elementary School	493	73%
White Middle School	1,079	77%
Wilderness Oak Elementary School	653	49%
Wilshire Elementary School	247	80%
Windcrest Elementary School	502	85%
Wood Middle School	761	84%
Woodstone Elementary School	517	78%

Source: Texas Education Agency.