Dallas City Wire

Of the 606 students at Long Middle School in Dallas, 534 (88%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Dallas City Wire'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 Long Middle 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, Long Middle School's student population was made up of 606 students, of which 46 were Hispanic, 17 African American, seven White, two Multiracial, one Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 19% of Long Middle School 14 multiracial students, 17% of its 44 white students, 13% (46) of its 361 Hispanic students, 13% of its four American Indian students, 10% (17) of its 170 African American students, and 9% of its 13 Asian 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 581 Long Middle School students - equivalent to 92% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 88%, marking a 4% 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
Blair Elementary School	500	70%
Blalack Middle School	932	70%
Blanton Elementary School	448	85%
Bush Middle School	763	77%
Carrollton Elementary School	493	82%
Central Elementary School	450	84%
Country Place Elementary School	405	73%
Creekview High School	1,690	84%
Davis Elementary School	464	78%
Early College High School	335	69%
Farmers Branch Elementary School	511	82%
Field Middle School	969	83%
Freeman Elementary School	725	68%
Furneaux Elementary School	477	78%
Good Elementary School	474	82%
Grimes Education Center	65	96%
Kent Elementary School	499	58%
La Villita Elementary School	855	62%
Landry Elementary School	520	70%
Las Colinas Elementary School	535	70%
Long Middle School	606	88%
McCoy Elementary School	452	37%
McKamy Elementary School	494	84%
McLaughlin Strickland Elementary School	657	89%
McWhorter Elementary School	702	92%
Perry Middle School	857	73%
Polk Middle School	1,018	82%
Rainwater Elementary School	337	75%
Ranchview High School	948	85%
Riverchase Elementary School	449	64%
Rosemeade Elementary School	457	65%
Sheffield Elementary School	466	90%
Smith High School	2,033	87%
Stark Elementary School	693	79%
Thompson Elementary School	428	72%
Turner High School	2,089	87%

Source: Texas Education Agency.