HUTTO – The number of Hutto students graduating high school ready for college or careers is rising after a pandemic-related dip, according to Dr. Robert Sormani, Hutto ISD Associate Superintendent of Instruction and Innovation.
“We’re in the top 10% of similar high schools statewide, so I think we’re doing pretty good,” Sormani said, speaking of Hutto ISD’s College, Career and Military Readiness outcomes.
In 2020, Texas approved the CCMR Outcomes Bonus to reward schools financially for helping students take the next step in post-graduate life, either by enrolling in post-secondary education or completing an industry-based training certificate while in school.
CCMR success is also factored into a district’s A-F grade from the state.
Hutto’s overall percentage of students who met a CCMR requirement slipped from 81% for the class of 2020 to 67% during the pandemic. It has climbed back to 74% for 2022’s graduating class, but Sormani says there are still some challenges related to remote learning that happened during the 2020 school year.
“Texas universities dropped the SAT requirement for enrollment, and now they’re slowly bringing it back, but a lot of financial aid and scholarships are still linked to SAT scores,” Sormani said. “Students opted out of taking the tests and many stopped trying as hard, so they aren’t scoring as well.”
Sormani added that remote learning during a time when important concepts were being taught has also affected some students’ foundational knowledge. Lower test scores and missed opportunities for financial aid can derail a student’s college plans.
The CCMR program is designed to provide equity by ensuring opportunities exist for economically disadvantaged students and students in special education programs.
“Looking at our different student groups, they’re not too far from each other. It’s a point of pride. The numbers speak for themselves that we’re working to dramatically increase opportunities in all different ways,” the assistant superintendant said.
In the class of 2022, 71.4% of students taking special education courses and 70.2% of economically disadvantaged students graduated ready to continue their education or start their careers.
Industry-based certifications allow a student to jump into a skilled career right after graduation in most cases. Hutto ISD offers 33 different certifications.
“Our certification number in Hutto has exploded,” Sormani said. “Last year 450 students earned certificates. Our auto tech program is phenomenal. A student graduates already able to change the oil on a car and can go down the street and get a job at Christian Brothers by showing the certification they earned here.”
The recently passed school bond included funding to increase the space for the popular automotive and welding certification courses, so that more students can enroll.
Felix Chavez is a Hutto ISD school board trustee. He said both of his daughters graduated from Hutto High School with Certified Medical Assistant certifications that helped them get jobs in the medical field after graduation.
“The greatest part is when they talk to the doctors, they can speak the industry language, and they’ve done hands-on work, and they are well-versed in what they learned,” Chavez said. “And of course the certification is a huge benefit for the doctors.”
As a school board trustee and as a father, Chavez says the certifications are extremely important.
“We want kids to graduate with the opportunity to go straight to college or straight to the work field, if that’s what they want to do,” he said.
