Upper East Texas News

Of the 1,218 students at Sulphur Springs High School in Sulphur Springs, 999 (82%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Upper East Texas News' 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 Sulphur Springs High 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, Sulphur Springs High School's student population was made up of 1,218 students, of which 149 were White, 42 Hispanic, 10 African American, seven Multiracial, and six Asian students.

Data shows that 41% of Sulphur Springs High School 16 Asian students, 23% (149) of its 648 white students, 12% (42) of its 353 Hispanic students, 12% of its 60 multiracial students, and 8% (10) of its 135 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 948 Sulphur Springs High School students - equivalent to 76% 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 6% increase 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
Austin Academic Center	24	96%
Barbara Bush Primary School	336	84%
Bowie Primary School	317	78%
Rowena Johnson Primary School	301	84%
Sulphur Springs Elementary School	620	73%
Sulphur Springs High School	1,218	82%
Sulphur Springs Middle School	1,017	69%
Travis Primary School	272	81%

Source: Texas Education Agency.