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Ab Harrison Intermediate School: 61% of the 1,006 students not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

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By Collin Times | May 12, 2024

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

Of the 1,006 students at Ab Harrison Intermediate School in Wylie, 614 (61%) "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 Ab Harrison Intermediate 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, Ab Harrison Intermediate School's student population was made up of 1,006 students, of which 203 were White, 71 Hispanic, 60 African American, 37 Asian, 16 Multiracial, and two American Indian students.

Data shows that 57% of Ab Harrison Intermediate School four American Indian students, 52% (37) of its 72 Asian students, 41% (203) of its 496 white students, 40% (60) of its 152 African American students, 38% (16) of its 43 multiracial students, and 30% (71) of its 239 Hispanic 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 601 Ab Harrison Intermediate School students - equivalent to 64% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 61%, marking a 3% 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 Ab Harrison Intermediate School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250WhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAsianMultiracialAmerican Indian20320329329371711681686060929237373535161627272222On college trackNot on college track

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

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Ab Harrison Intermediate School1,00661%
Achieve Academy13083%
Cheri Cox Elementary School60248%
Davis Intermediate School82660%
Dodd Elementary School59152%
Don Whitt Elementary School72239%
Dr. Al Draper Intermed93256%
Frank McMillan Junior High School89055%
George W. Bush Elementary School80953%
Grady Burnett Junior High School96858%
P. M. Akin Elementary School55356%
R. F. Hartman Elementary School54853%
R. V. Groves Elementary School65255%
Raymond B. Cooper Junior High School98951%
Rita Smith Elementary School47946%
T. F. Birmingham Elementary School54954%
Tibbals Elementary School60741%
Wally Watkins Elementary School86449%
Wylie East High School2,44365%
Wylie High School2,99455%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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Organizations in this Story

Ab Harrison IntermediateTexas State Executive - State Board of Education

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