Ft Worth Times

Of the 396 students at Roy Johnson STEM Academy in Everman, 317 (80%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Ft Worth 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 Roy Johnson STEM Academy 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, Roy Johnson STEM Academy's student population was made up of 396 students, of which 57 were Hispanic, 13 African American, four Multiracial, two White, and two Asian students.

Data shows that 83% of Roy Johnson STEM Academy three Asian students, 33% of its 14 multiracial students, 23% (57) of its 252 Hispanic students, 21% of its 14 white students, and 12% (13) of its 112 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 404 Roy Johnson STEM Academy students - equivalent to 89% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 80%, marking a 9% 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
Bishop Elementary School	375	79%
Charles Baxter Junior High School	827	86%
E. Ray Elementary School	385	83%
Everman Academy High School	70	100%
Everman High School	1,753	88%
Hommel Elementary School	311	80%
John and Polly Townley Elementary School	356	83%
Roy Johnson STEM Academy	396	80%
Souder Elementary School	384	83%

Source: Texas Education Agency.