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Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Analysis: 408 of 491 students at Purple Sage 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 491 students at Purple Sage Elementary School in Houston, 408 (83%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to NW Houston News' 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 Purple Sage 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, Purple Sage Elementary School's student population was made up of 491 students, of which 68 were Hispanic, 10 African American, and five White students.

Data shows that 40% of Purple Sage Elementary School 13 white students, 18% (68) of its 378 Hispanic students, and 11% (10) of its 91 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 496 Purple Sage 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 83%, marking an 8% 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 Purple Sage Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300HispanicAfrican AmericanWhiteMultiracial68683103101010818155880088On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Galena Park ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Cimarron Elementary School68282%
Cloverleaf Elementary School76585%
Cobb 6TH Grade Campus1,01686%
Cunningham Middle School98681%
Dr. Shirley Junior Williamson Elementary School63181%
Galena Park Elementary School57078%
Galena Park High School1,87182%
Galena Park ISD Career & Technical Echs45683%
Galena Park Middle School98578%
Green Valley Elementary School63586%
Jacinto City Elementary School69674%
James B. Havard Elementary School63476%
Macarthur Elementary School62171%
Normandy Crossing Elementary School59575%
North Shore Elementary School1,00377%
North Shore Middle School1,33775%
North Shore Senior High School4,51886%
Purple Sage Elementary School49183%
Pyburn Elementary School47978%
Sam Houston Elementary School71779%
Tice Elementary School69479%
Woodland Acres Elementary School44472%
Woodland Acres Middle School57073%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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