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Lovejoy High School: 55% of the 1,637 students not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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By Collin Times | Jun 14, 2024

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

Of the 1,637 students at Lovejoy High School in Lucas, 901 (55%) "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 Lovejoy 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, Lovejoy High School's student population was made up of 1,637 students, of which 509 were White, 95 Asian, 69 Hispanic, 42 Multiracial, 19 African American, and two American Indian students.

Data shows that 69% (95) of Lovejoy High School 139 Asian students, 53% (42) of its 80 multiracial students, 43% (69) of its 162 Hispanic students, 43% (509) of its 1,185 white students, 32% (19) of its 61 African American students, and 23% of its 10 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 862 Lovejoy High School students - equivalent to 55% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This continued with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 55%.

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 Lovejoy High School in 2021-22 School Year

0100200300400500600WhiteHispanicAsianMultiracialAfrican AmericanAmerican Indian509509676676696993939595444442423838191942422288On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Joe V. Hart Elementary School59345%
Lovejoy High School1,63755%
Robert L. Puster Elementary School66239%
Sloan Creek Intermediate School65844%
Willow Springs Middle School78538%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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Organizations in this Story

Texas State Executive - State Board of EducationLovejoy High School

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