Amarillo Gazette

Of the 661 students at Canyon Junior High School in Canyon, 417 (63%) "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 Canyon Junior 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, Canyon Junior High School's student population was made up of 661 students, of which 185 were White, 37 Hispanic, seven Multiracial, five Asian, four African American, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 63% of Canyon Junior High School eight Asian students, 55% of its 13 multiracial students, 39% (185) of its 476 white students, 31% of its 15 African American students, 26% (37) of its 146 Hispanic students, and 17% of its two 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 490 Canyon Junior High School students - equivalent to 71% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 63%, 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.

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.