Interesting change since I graduated from Texarkana Arkansas School District (TASD) in 1974. All six top administrators are Black Americans.
The make-up of the staff confirms my position that much progress has been made and we “ain’t” going back no matter what is going on in Washington D.C. or people think is going on in Washington D.C. I am not afraid at all. This great nation of America has come too far to turn around. We have problems. It is going to take both Blackish and Whiteish and Otherish to be honest within our respective communities about our respective communities as well as about those in other communities. We all need to do better especially morally.
Stats below are for 2022-2023 School Year which is the latest report available on the tasd7.net website and is before Dr. Jackson became Superintendent in May 2024. He and staff definitely have their work cut out for them.
Student population of TASD was:
Total Enrollment: 3710
*** 71% Low Income ***
54.9 % African American
34.1% White
5.6% Hispanic/Latino
4.5% Two or More Races
0.5% Asian
0.4% Native American
0.1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Ready or Exceeding Academic Standards:
Blacks: 10.26% (State Average: 17.33%)
Whites: 25.77% (State Average: 40.36%)
That racial gap regarding academic standards ought not be. It is just outrightly disrespectful and demeaning. As you can see it is state-wide so that is not just TASD problem. Yet the gap between TASD and State overall is TASD problem I think.
It is way past time for us as a community, city, county, state, and nation to find out what is really going on.
Is the problem at the Federal level? Or State level? Or Local level? Or All levels?
We need to find out what is really going on.
If Not Now When? — Is there something the community can do to help turn it all around especially given the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education that is going on?
For a more comprehensive look at TASD click here.
