Winter Garden Today

Of the 275 students at Benavides Heights Elementary School in Eagle Pass, 226 (82%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Winter Garden Today's 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 Benavides Heights 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, Benavides Heights Elementary School's student population was made up of 275 students, of which 49 were Hispanic students.

Data shows that 18% (49) of Benavides Heights Elementary School 274 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 276 Benavides Heights Elementary School students - equivalent to 94% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 82%, marking a 12% 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
Armando Cerna Elementary School	512	68%
Benavides Heights Elementary School	275	82%
C. C. Winn High School	2,045	85%
DAEP	15	100%
Dena Kelso Graves Elementary School	452	82%
Eagle Pass High School	2,277	76%
Eagle Pass Junior High School	1,005	79%
Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School	344	91%
Juan N. Seguin Elementary School	273	89%
Liberty Elementary School	467	60%
Maude Mae Kirchner Elementary School	116	79%
Memorial Junior High School	1,007	83%
Nellie Mae Glass Elementary School	425	82%
Perfecto Mancha Elementary School	479	78%
Pete Gallego Elementary School	347	81%
Ray High Darr Elementary School	388	82%
Rosita Valley Elementary School	393	85%
Sam Houston Elementary School	420	89%
San Luis Elementary School	323	87%
Seco Mines Elementary School	282	84%

Source: Texas Education Agency.