San Antonio Standard

Of the 359 students at Vestal Elementary School in San Antonio, 306 (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 Vestal 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, Vestal Elementary School's student population was made up of 359 students, of which 52 were Hispanic and one White students.

Data shows that 20% of Vestal Elementary School five white students, and 15% (52) of its 353 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 332 Vestal 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 85%, marking a 5% 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
A. Leal Junior Middle School	681	86%
Bellaire Elementary School	455	91%
Carroll Bell Elementary School	400	85%
Collier Elementary School	379	80%
Columbia Heights Elementary School	311	93%
E. H. Gilbert Elementary School	461	90%
Frank M. Tejeda Academy	157	98%
Gillette Elementary School	503	86%
H. W. Schulze Elementary School	571	85%
Hac DAEP High School	18	100%
Harlandale High School	1,651	91%
Harlandale ISD STEM Echs-Alamo Colleges at Pac	404	83%
Harlandale Middle School	811	88%
Kingsborough Middle School	566	84%
McCollum High School	1,496	92%
Morrill Elementary School	355	86%
Rayburn Elementary School	351	91%
Stonewall/Flanders Elementary School	459	87%
Tejeda Junior Academy	18	96%
Terrell Wells Middle School	690	84%
V. M. Adams Elementary School	579	90%
Vestal Elementary School	359	85%
Wright Elementary School	365	87%

Source: Texas Education Agency.