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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Perkins Middle School: 85% of the 666 students 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 666 students at Perkins Middle School in Brownsville, 567 (85%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to East RGV 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 Perkins Middle 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, Perkins Middle School's student population was made up of 666 students, of which 92 were Hispanic and one White students.

Data shows that 50% of Perkins Middle School three white students, and 14% (92) of its 661 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 692 Perkins Middle School students - equivalent to 95% 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 10% 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 Perkins Middle School in 2021-22 School Year

0100200300400500HispanicWhite92925695691122On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Aiken Elementary School54781%
Benavides Elementary School82867%
Besteiro Middle School58583%
Breeden Elementary School56771%
Brite Elementary School48577%
Brownsville Early College High School35265%
Burns Elementary School59575%
Cameron County JJAEP11100%
Canales Elementary School67987%
Castaneda Elementary School46678%
Champion Elementary School69179%
Cromack Elementary School47288%
Del Castillo Elementary School25888%
Egly Elementary School53377%
Elementary Jardin Elementary School34079%
Faulk Middle School1,05983%
Gallegos Elementary School41876%
Garcia Middle School94882%
Garden Park Elementary School41675%
Garza Elementary School26862%
Gonzalez Elementary School64374%
Hanna Early College High School2,33680%
Hudson Elementary School65370%
Keller Elementary School52274%
Lopez Early College High School1,89685%
Lucio Middle School74581%
Manzano Middle School90376%
Martin Elementary School46080%
Morningside Elementary School41484%
Oliveira Middle School82781%
Ortiz Elementary School50842%
Pace Early College High School1,93983%
Palm Grove Elementary School34283%
Paredes Elementary School78364%
Pena Elementary School46676%
Perez Elementary School62986%
Perkins Middle School66685%
Porter Early College High School1,84488%
Pullam Elementary School79268%
Putegnat Elementary School47282%
Rivera Early College High School2,30687%
Russell Elementary School51279%
Sharp Elementary School45178%
Skinner Elementary School33782%
Southmost Elementary School31477%
Stell Middle School81982%
Stillman Middle School1,11475%
Vela Middle School63977%
Vermillion Road Elementary School62982%
Veterans Memorial Early College High School2,01673%
Villa Nueva Elementary School37483%
Yturria Elementary School54372%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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