San Antonio Standard

Of the 235 students at Cast STEM High School in San Antonio, 200 (85%) "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 Cast STEM High 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, Cast STEM High School's student population was made up of 235 students, of which 32 were Hispanic, one White, one African American, and one Asian students.

Data shows that 40% of Cast STEM High School four Asian students, 20% of its eight African American students, 15% (32) of its 214 Hispanic students, and 14% of its eight white 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 194 Cast STEM High School students - equivalent to 81% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 85%, marking a 4% increase 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
Big Country Elementary School	604	73%
Bob Hope Elementary School	425	85%
Cast STEM High School	235	85%
Elm Creek Elementary School	655	82%
Francis R. Scobee Middle School	782	84%
Hidden Cove Steam Academy	483	86%
Indian Creek Elementary School	448	87%
Judith A. Resnik Middle School	791	87%
Kriewald Rd Elementary School	480	75%
Medio Creek Elementary School	552	79%
Ronald E. McNair Middle School	741	81%
Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle School	709	86%
Sky Harbour Elementary School	468	79%
Southwest Elementary School	592	75%
Southwest High School	2,117	88%
Southwest Legacy High School	1,945	94%
Spicewood Park Elementary School	519	88%
Sun Valley Elementary School	619	80%

Source: Texas Education Agency.