Amarillo Gazette

Of the 453 students at Arden Road Elementary School in Amarillo, 254 (56%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Amarillo Gazette'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 Arden Road 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, Arden Road Elementary School's student population was made up of 453 students, of which 144 were White, 40 Hispanic, five Asian, four African American, and two Pacific Islander students.

Data shows that 67% of Arden Road Elementary School three Pacific Islander students, 50% of its 11 Asian students, 48% (144) of its 300 white students, 40% of its 12 African American students, and 35% (40) of its 115 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 322 Arden Road Elementary School students - equivalent to 66% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 56%, 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.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Arden Road Elementary School	453	56%
Canyon High School	1,168	73%
Canyon Intermediate School	530	57%
Canyon Junior High School	661	63%
City View Elementary School	584	67%
Crestview Elementary School	466	58%
Gene Howe Elementary School	362	71%
Greenways Intermediate School	574	64%
Heritage Hills Elementary School	331	72%
Hillside Elementary School	335	59%
Lakeview Elementary School	359	74%
Midway Alternative High School	58	91%
Pinnacle Intermediate School	561	72%
Randall High School	1,787	80%
Reeves-Hinger Elementary School	633	63%
Spring Canyon Elementary School	370	68%
Sundown Lane Elementary School	335	73%
Westover Park Junior High School	1,041	66%

Source: Texas Education Agency.