Of the 356 students at Downs Fine Arts Academy in San Benito, 288 (81%) weren’t on track for college in the 2023-24 school year, according to East RGV News’ analysis of STAAR scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The TEA considers students to be on track for college if they demonstrate mastery of the course content through the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Students who meet, but do not master their grade level are “prepared to progress to the next grade,” but not yet on college track.
In the 2023-24 school year, Downs Fine Arts Academy’s student population was made up of 356 students, of which 345 were Hispanic and 10 white students.
Data shows that 18.8% of Downs Fine Arts Academy’s Hispanic students (65) and 10% of its white students (1) had “mastered” their grade level that year and were “on track for college and career readiness,” as measured by state academic standards.
In the 2022-23 school year, the TEA noted that 289 Downs Fine Arts Academy students – equivalent to 79% of the student population – were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2023-24, when the percentage stood at 81%, marking a 2% increase from the previous year.
A recent study by WalletHub classified Texas as one of the least-educated states in the U.S., ranking it 41st out of 50 in educational quality and student outcomes.
Underfunding is a frequently cited challenge facing the state’s school district. According to a 2024 report from the Texas Education Agency, per-pupil funding has not increased since 2019, despite inflation rates rising by more than 20% since then.
“As a result, many districts in our very own Central Texas region are being forced to cut back on essential programs, services, consider school closures, and adopt deficit budgets just to provide students with the education that they deserve,” Hutto ISD Trustee James Matlock stated in an interview.
| School | Total Students | % On College Track |
|---|---|---|
| Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary School | 356 | 13% |
| Berta Cabaza Middle School | 741 | 9% |
| Cameron County JJAEP | 50 | 0% |
| Cash Elementary School | 629 | 19% |
| Downs Fine Arts Academy | 356 | 19% |
| Fred Booth | 449 | 9% |
| Gateway to Graduation Academy | 64 | 0% |
| Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary School | 235 | 9% |
| La Encantada Elementary School | 482 | 20% |
| La Paloma Elementary School | 479 | 9% |
| Miller Jordan Middle School | 590 | 6% |
| Rangerville Elementary School | 197 | 13% |
| Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy | 425 | 18% |
| Roberts Elementary School | 306 | 4% |
| San Benito High School | 1,938 | 7% |
| San Benito Riverside Middle School | 498 | 8% |
| San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy | 685 | 8% |
| Sullivan Environmental Science Academy | 386 | 8% |
Source: Texas Education Agency.
