Missing The Bus On Math?

With the start of a new school year, many Texas kids are missing the bus on math and science.

Last week, the ACT released its results for the 2006 graduating class. Of Texas test-takers, only 22% demonstrated they are ready for college-level biology, and only 40% are ready for college algebra. With such bleak results, it is no wonder that half of entering freshmen in Texas’ public colleges require remedial coursework.

The legislature’s recent decision to add a fourth year of math and science to the Recommended High School Program (the state’s default graduation plan) will certainly help improve college readiness. In fact, Texas will be the first state in the country to expect graduates to complete four years of each of the four core subjects. Students will begin graduating under the plan in 2011.

But there are some schools in Texas already ahead of the curve in stressing math and science education.

Consider the Science Academy of South Texas, an open enrollment charter school in Mercedes. The Science Academy requires freshmen and sophomores to take two science classes each year, so students often graduate high school with six science credits in four years. And by offering geometry in the summer, the Science Academy also enables its students to graduate with five math credits.

Research produced by the U.S. Department of Education indicates the likelihood of attaining a college degree is increased by 50 percent when students complete at least one advanced math course beyond Algebra II. So it is no surprise that more than 90% of Science Academy graduates eventually attain a four-year college degree. By comparison, only 63% of Texas high school graduates transition directly to college, with only about half of them earning a degree within six years.

The Science Academy makes room for additional classes by forgoing inter-varsity athletics. However, other schools have achieved similar results by increasing the amount of time students spend in school.

YES College Preparatory Schools, a system of charter schools in the Houston area, has lengthened the traditional school day, added a three-week summer session, and requires students to attend school one Saturday each month. As a result, YES students spend 65% more time in school than do their Houston ISD counterparts. Additionally, YES students can access their teachers by cell phone for homework help outside school hours.

Some schools have found that the best way to improve achievement is to set higher expectations for students. Carver High School is a non-selective engineering and arts magnet school in Aldine ISD, outside of Houston. Principal Willie Pickens sets an expectation of excellence whenever students compete in any activity: “Everything we sign our name to, we plan to win it.” Two years ago, Carver’s engineering team won second place in the world, after beating out teams from highly selective private and magnet schools to win the United States championship.

Carver also constantly highlights student accomplishments. Graduation pictures adorn the school walls, and profiles of successful alumni are prominently displayed. One example: a Carver graduate who received a full scholarship to Stanford University. Such simple measures help create a college-going culture at Carver.

YES Schools go a step further in encouraging excellence: they require it. Students must first be accepted to a four-year college, and must take at least one Advanced Placement or college dual credit course, before they can graduate high school. As a result, 100% of YES graduates have matriculated into four-year colleges and universities. Even more impressive: 86% of those students are the first in their families to do so.

The autonomy offered to charter and magnet schools has enabled many of them to discover unique formulas for student success. Longer school days, rigorous coursework, and high expectations have proven beneficial in the schools mentioned here. And because these are schools of choice, they typically enjoy increased parental involvement as well.

The math and science performance of Texas students is not where it needs to be, but schools such as the Science Academy, YES, and Carver High School are helping ensure that Texas is moving in the right direction.

Jamie Story is an education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.