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Amarillo Gazette

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

2021-22 School Year: 87% of the 2,107 students at Caprock High School not on "college track"

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 2,107 students at Caprock High School in Amarillo, 1,834 (87%) "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 Caprock High 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, Caprock High School's student population was made up of 2,107 students, of which 176 were Hispanic, 70 White, 14 Asian, nine African American, three Multiracial, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 33% (14) of Caprock High School 43 Asian students, 16% (70) of its 441 white students, 12% (176) of its 1,473 Hispanic students, 10% of its 95 African American students, 8% of its 40 multiracial students, and 7% of its 14 American Indian 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 2,024 Caprock High 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 87%, marking a 3% 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 Caprock High School in 2021-22 School Year

05001,000HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanAsianMultiracialAmerican Indian1761761,2971,297707037137199868614142929333737111313On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Amarillo High School2,16875%
Austin Middle School75270%
Avondale Elementary School56074%
Belmar Elementary School36357%
Bivins Elementary School46475%
Bonham Middle School85164%
Bowie 6TH Grade Campus34890%
Bowie Middle School80982%
Caprock High School2,10787%
Coronado Elementary School43373%
Crockett Middle School86866%
Eastridge Elementary School66181%
Emerson Elementary School49071%
Fannin Middle School69585%
Forest Hill Elementary School48379%
George Washington Carver Elementary Academy34474%
Glenwood Elementary School43469%
Hamlet Elementary School28596%
Houston Middle School70782%
Humphrey's Highland Elementary School52081%
Johnny N. Allen-6th Grade Campus20588%
Lamar Elementary School31278%
Landergin Elementary School21275%
Lawndale Elementary School36288%
Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School41858%
Mann Middle School46583%
Mesa Verde Elementary School36582%
North Heights Alter90100%
Oak Dale Elementary School38285%
Olsen Park Elementary School42071%
Palo Duro High School1,89587%
Paramount Terrace Elementary School34369%
Park Hills Elementary School26982%
Pleasant Valley Elementary School23370%
Puckett Elementary School32057%
Ridgecrest Elementary School41773%
Rogers Elementary School47778%
San Jacinto Elementary School48587%
Sanborn Elementary School42085%
Sleepy Hollow Elementary School52755%
South Georgia Elementary School37172%
South Lawn Elementary School34179%
Sunrise Elementary School26978%
Tascosa High School2,18587%
Tradewind Elementary School72875%
Travis 6TH Grade Campus31589%
Travis Middle School65286%
Western Plateau Elementary School41675%
Whittier Elementary School47470%
Wills Elementary School48572%
Windsor Elementary School44463%
Wolflin Elementary School32864%
Woodlands Elementary School43347%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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