2021-22 School Year: 72% of the 800 students at Judith L. Harlow Elementary School not on "college track"

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

Of the 800 students at Judith L. Harlow Elementary School in Anna, 576 (72%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Collin 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 Judith L. Harlow 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, Judith L. Harlow Elementary School's student population was made up of 800 students, of which 114 were White, 80 Hispanic, 15 African American, 13 Multiracial, and two Asian students.

Data shows that 43% (13) of Judith L. Harlow Elementary School 31 multiracial students, 37% (114) of its 310 white students, 25% of its nine Asian students, 22% (80) of its 366 Hispanic students, and 19% (15) of its 79 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 532 Judith L. Harlow Elementary School students - equivalent to 80% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 72%, marking an 8% 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
Anna High School	1,209	80%
Anna Middle School	1,028	80%
Joe K. Bryant Elementary School	696	79%
Judith L. Harlow Elementary School	800	72%
Sue Evelyn Rattan Elementary School	593	77%

Source: Texas Education Agency.