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San Antonio Standard

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Report: 76% of the 430 students at Harmony Hills 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 430 students at Harmony Hills Elementary School in San Antonio, 327 (76%) "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 Harmony Hills 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, Harmony Hills Elementary School's student population was made up of 430 students, of which 56 were Hispanic, 24 White, eight African American, eight Multiracial, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 50% of Harmony Hills Elementary School six Asian students, 44% of its 20 multiracial students, 39% (24) of its 63 white students, 20% of its 42 African American students, and 19% (56) of its 298 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 422 Harmony Hills Elementary School students - equivalent to 91% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 76%, marking a 15% 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 Harmony Hills Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanMultiracialAsian5656242242242439398834348812123333On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Academy of Creative Education8683%
Bradley Middle School1,16169%
Bulverde Creek97664%
Bush Middle School1,01556%
Camelot Elementary School46783%
Canyon Ridge Elementary School54962%
Castle Hills Elementary School45855%
Churchill High School2,63877%
Cibolo Green80359%
Clear Spring Elementary School32888%
Coker Elementary School74867%
Colonial Hills Elementary School62988%
Dellview Elementary School41983%
Driscoll Middle School63280%
East Terrell Hills Elementary School57184%
Eisenhower Middle School85781%
Elementary Dorado Elementary School54183%
Encino Park Elementary School66552%
Fox Run Elementary School69270%
Garner Middle School84883%
Hardy Oak Elementary School64842%
Harmony Hills Elementary School43076%
Harris Middle School92880%
Hidden Forest Elementary School55259%
Hill Middle School1,03063%
Huebner Elementary School51757%
International School of America46866%
Jackson Middle School68881%
Jackson-Keller Elementary School58078%
Johnson High School3,25658%
Krueger Middle School81375%
Larkspur Elementary School89490%
Las Lomas Elementary School52466%
Legacy of Educational Excellence High School2,41882%
Longs Creek Elementary School61473%
Lopez Middle School1,38649%
Macarthur High School2,11281%
Madison High School2,96884%
Montgomery Elementary School27284%
Nimitz Middle School1,13481%
Northern Hills Elementary School53083%
Northwood Elementary School37065%
Oak Grove Elementary School36889%
Oak Meadow Elementary School37060%
Olmos Elementary School55574%
Reagan High School3,36458%
Redland Oaks Elementary School38164%
Regency Place Elementary School43982%
Ridgeview Elementary School55880%
Roan Forest Elementary School81650%
Roosevelt High School2,57183%
Royal Ridge Elementary School45178%
Serna Elementary School37390%
Stahl Elementary School61780%
Steubing Ranch Elementary School88567%
Stone Oak Elementary School84152%
Tejeda Middle School1,13059%
Thousand Oaks Elementary School61674%
Tuscany Heights71760%
Vineyard Ranch Elementary School79248%
Walzem Elementary School61486%
Wetmore Elementary School49373%
White Middle School1,07977%
Wilderness Oak Elementary School65349%
Wilshire Elementary School24780%
Windcrest Elementary School50285%
Wood Middle School76184%
Woodstone Elementary School51778%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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