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Saturday, December 21, 2024

Analysis: 2,269 of 2,439 students at Lone Star Online Academy not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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Amy E. Bilton | nbkllaw.com

Amy E. Bilton | nbkllaw.com

Of the 2,439 students at Lone Star Online Academy in Livingston, 2,269 (93%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Abilene Times' 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 Lone Star Online 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.

In the 2021-22 school year, Lone Star Online Academy's student population was made up of 2,439 students, of which 75 were Hispanic, 44 Asian, 35 White, 20 African American, and seven Multiracial students.

Data shows that 20% (44) of Lone Star Online Academy 222 Asian students, 9% of its 84 multiracial students, 8% (35) of its 445 white students, 6% (75) of its 1,263 Hispanic students, and 5% (20) of its 419 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.

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 Lone Star Online Academy in 2021-22 School Year

05001,000HispanicWhiteAfrican AmericanAsianMultiracial75751,1881,188353541041020203993994444178178777777On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Lone Star Online Academy2,43993%
Roscoe Collegiate High School27282%
Roscoe Elementary School25886%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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