Waco Reporter

Of the 21 students at Challenge Academy in Waco, 20 (94%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Waco Reporter'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 Challenge Academy 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.

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.

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
Alta Vista Elementary School	504	92%
Bell's Hill Elementary School	757	81%
Bill Logue Detention Center	17	100%
Brazos High School	105	99%
Brook Avenue Elementary School	364	93%
Cedar Ridge Elementary School	486	92%
Cesar Chavez Middle School	876	90%
Challenge Academy	21	94%
Crestview Elementary School	448	87%
Dean Highland Elementary School	662	90%
G. L. Wiley Opportunity Center	107	100%
G. W. Carver Middle School	444	93%
Hillcrest Pds Magnet	439	80%
Indian Spring Middle School	513	93%
Junior High Hines Elementary School	411	96%
Kendrick Elementary School	471	91%
Lake Air Montessori School	717	82%
Mountainview Elementary School	388	90%
Parkdale Elementary School	588	88%
Provident Heights Elementary School	371	91%
South Waco Elementary School	480	94%
Tennyson Middle School	958	81%
University High School	1,671	89%
Waco High School	1,964	90%
West Avenue Elementary School	304	90%

Source: Texas Education Agency.