Lubbock Times

Of the 591 students at Atkins Middle School in Lubbock, 491 (83%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Lubbock 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 Atkins 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, Atkins Middle School's student population was made up of 591 students, of which 61 were Hispanic, 15 White, 13 African American, four Multiracial, one Asian, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 60% of Atkins Middle School three American Indian students, 57% of its three Asian students, 26% (15) of its 61 white students, 25% of its 18 multiracial students, 15% (61) of its 411 Hispanic students, and 14% (13) of its 95 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 514 Atkins Middle School students - equivalent to 88% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 83%, marking a 5% 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
Alderson Elementary School	479	88%
Atkins Middle School	591	83%
Bayless Elementary School	511	79%
Bean Elementary School	456	92%
Brown Elementary School	360	90%
Carmona-Harrison Elementary School	528	90%
Cavazos Middle School	513	91%
Centennial Elementary School	632	76%
Commander William C. McCool Academy	388	73%
Coronado High School	1,956	87%
Dunbar College Preparatory Academy	451	90%
Dupre Elementary School	197	86%
Ervin Elementary School	378	91%
Estacado High School	908	93%
Evans Middle School	838	78%
Hardwick Elementary School	566	77%
Harwell Elementary School	422	84%
Hodges Elementary School	275	81%
Honey Elementary School	374	56%
Hutchinson Middle School	848	64%
Irons Middle School	867	85%
Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center	45	100%
Lubbock High School	1,872	78%
Mackenzie Middle School	607	90%
Maedgen Elementary School	311	78%
Matthews Academy	64	97%
McWhorter Elementary School	547	83%
Miller Elementary School	640	54%
Monterey High School	2,103	89%
Overton Elementary School	304	80%
Parsons Elementary School	362	85%
Ramirez Elementary School	474	57%
Roberts Elementary School	515	66%
Rush Elementary School	316	72%
Slaton Middle School	384	94%
Smith Elementary School	580	58%
Stewart Elementary School	387	83%
Talkington School for Young Women Leaders	438	47%
Waters Elementary School	500	72%
Wester Elementary School	378	85%
Wheelock Elementary School	311	86%
Whiteside Elementary School	495	63%
Williams Elementary School	329	72%
Wilson Elementary School	578	52%
Wolffarth Elementary School	270	65%

Source: Texas Education Agency.