Quantcast

SW Dallas News

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Report: 92% of the 2,734 students at Desoto High School not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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 2,734 students at Desoto High School in Desoto, 2,516 (92%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to SW Dallas News' 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 Desoto 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, Desoto High School's student population was made up of 2,734 students, of which 165 were African American, 48 Hispanic, eight Multiracial, six White, one American Indian, and one Asian students.

Data shows that 19% of Desoto High School eight Asian students, 13% of its 50 white students, 13% of its 64 multiracial students, 9% (48) of its 534 Hispanic students, 8% (165) of its 2,067 African American students, and 8% of its 11 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 2,632 Desoto High School students - equivalent to 94% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 92%, marking a 2% 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 Desoto High School in 2021-22 School Year

05001,0001,500African AmericanHispanicMultiracialWhiteAmerican IndianAsian1651651,9021,90248484864868856566644441110101177On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Curtistene School McCowan Middle1,00087%
Desoto Alternative Education Center (DAEP)33100%
Desoto High School2,73492%
Desoto West Middle School57893%
Frank D. Moates Elementary School57689%
Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy46466%
Ruby Young Personalized Steam Academy16788%
The Meadows Elementary School41787%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS