Tyler Reporter

Of the 594 students at Douglas Elementary School in Tyler, 470 (79%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Tyler 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 Douglas 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, Douglas Elementary School's student population was made up of 594 students, of which 111 were Hispanic, seven African American, and four White students.

Data shows that 29% of Douglas Elementary School 17 white students, 23% (111) of its 486 Hispanic students, and 9% of its 80 African American 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 483 Douglas Elementary School students - equivalent to 84% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 79%, marking a 5% 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
Alvin V. Anderson Rise Academy	90	97%
Bell Elementary School	535	81%
Birdwell School	441	61%
Bonner Elementary School	426	83%
Boulter Middle School	837	89%
Caldwell Arts Academy	577	61%
Clarkston Elementary School	392	80%
Dixie Elementary School	576	84%
Douglas Elementary School	594	79%
Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School	721	63%
Griffin Elementary School	655	82%
Hogg Middle School	275	85%
Hubbard Middle School	739	71%
Jones Elementary School	352	81%
Moore Mst Magnet School	1,080	75%
Orr Elementary School	697	85%
Owens Elementary School	675	61%
Peete Elementary School	417	91%
Ramey Elementary School	547	88%
Rice Elementary School	635	71%
T. J. Austin Elementary School	332	89%
Three Lakes Middle School	842	79%
Tyler High School	2,126	90%
Tyler ISD Early College High School	372	67%
Tyler Legacy High School	2,486	81%
Woods Elementary School	707	69%

Source: Texas Education Agency.