SW Dallas News

Of the 1,118 students at Lancaster Middle School in Lancaster, 973 (87%) "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 Lancaster Middle 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, Lancaster Middle School's student population was made up of 1,118 students, of which 93 were African American, 37 Hispanic, four Multiracial, two White, one American Indian, and one Asian students.

Data shows that 60% of Lancaster Middle School three Asian students, 22% of its 21 multiracial students, 17% (37) of its 221 Hispanic students, 17% of its five American Indian students, 13% of its 18 white students, and 11% (93) of its 849 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 1,017 Lancaster Middle School students - equivalent to 91% 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 4% 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
Belt Line Elementary School	469	78%
G. W. Carver 6th Grade STEM Learning Center	514	90%
Houston Elementary School	691	82%
Lancaster High School	2,179	91%
Lancaster Middle School	1,118	87%
Pleasant Run Elementary School	634	87%
Rolling Hills Elementary School	372	86%
Rosa Parks/Millbrook Elementary School	401	78%
West Main Elementary School	600	76%

Source: Texas Education Agency.