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Analysis: 264 of 400 students at Shepard Elementary School not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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By Collin Times | Apr 14, 2024

Commissioner of education mike morath 2023
TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

Of the 400 students at Shepard Elementary School in Plano, 264 (66%) "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 Shepard 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, Shepard Elementary School's student population was made up of 400 students, of which 93 were White, 19 Asian, 16 Hispanic, and one African American students.

Data shows that 52% (19) of Shepard Elementary School 37 Asian students, 37% (93) of its 252 white students, 30% (16) of its 55 Hispanic students, and 6% of its 25 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 277 Shepard Elementary School students - equivalent to 68% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 66%, 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 Shepard Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150WhiteHispanicAsianAfrican American93931591591616393919191818112424On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Aldridge Elementary School50960%
Allan K. & Carolyn High Bird Education Center1,04657%
Andrews Elementary School40043%
Armstrong Middle School61684%
Barksdale Elementary School54241%
Barron Elementary School34890%
Bethany Elementary School25755%
Beverly Elementary School36041%
Boggess Elementary School48653%
Bowman Middle School83973%
Brinker Elementary School46848%
C. A. McMillen High School1,19578%
C. M. Rice Middle School93933%
Carlisle Elementary School50355%
Carpenter Middle School62382%
Centennial Elementary School46451%
Christie Elementary School56779%
Clark High School1,25481%
Daffron Elementary School67966%
Davis Elementary School28477%
Dooley Elementary School30277%
Forman Elementary School54781%
Frankford Middle School97371%
Gulledge Elementary School56251%
Haggard Middle School78172%
Harrington Elementary School34955%
Haun Elementary School50957%
Hedgcoxe Elementary School42664%
Hendrick Middle School64275%
Hickey Elementary School50164%
Hightower Elementary School43952%
Huffman Elementary School55771%
Hughston Elementary School33661%
Jackson Elementary School64283%
Jasper High School1,25252%
Martha Hunt Elementary School56545%
Mathews Elementary School43842%
McCall Elementary School48550%
Meadows Elementary School36382%
Memorial Elementary School41588%
Mendenhall Elementary School57888%
Miller Elementary School34857%
Mitchell Elementary School49664%
Murphy Middle School1,05247%
Otto Middle School1,02054%
Plano East Senior High School3,12350%
Plano ISD Academy High School38064%
Plano Senior High School2,44654%
Plano West Senior High School2,64043%
Rasor Elementary School46277%
Renner Middle School1,16959%
Robinson Middle School99851%
Rose Haggar Elementary School57472%
Saigling Elementary School33759%
Schell Elementary School48359%
Schimelpfenig Middle School80046%
Shepard Elementary School40066%
Shepton High School1,43778%
Sigler Elementary School44977%
Skaggs Elementary School27637%
Stinson Elementary School52253%
Thomas Elementary School61979%
Vines High School97781%
Weatherford Elementary School43779%
Wells Elementary School50465%
Williams High School1,18986%
Wilson Middle School86072%
Wyatt Elementary School33242%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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Shepard ElementaryTexas State Executive - State Board of Education

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