Panhandle Times

Of the 406 students in Wheeler ISD's only school, 321 (79%) weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Panhandle Times' analysis of test scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

In the 2020-21 school year, the TEA noted that 334 students at Wheeler ISD's only school - equivalent to 80% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with the 2021-22 school year, where the percentage stood at 79%, marking a 1% decrease from the previous year.

Data shows that 26% (42) of Wheeler ISD's 163 white students, 18% (41) of its 231 Hispanic students, and one of its nine multiracial 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.

Primary data on overall student readiness in Wheeler ISD 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.

The TEA says students who meet their grade level, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

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.

Race	Number of Students on College Track	% of Students On College Track	% of Total Student Population
White	42	26%	10.3%
Hispanic	41	18%	10.1%
Multiracial	1	6%	0.2%

Source: Texas Education Agency.