We’re IDEA
Tuition-Free Public Schools Open To All Students
Pre-K
LEARNING HOW TO BE A STUDENT In Pre-K at IDEA, your child will learn how to read by building letter sound awareness, and blending letters and sounds – the foundation to reading!
ACADEMIC JOURNEY
Our Approach Is Different – And It Works.
K-2
From the first day students set foot on an IDEA Public Schools campus, we begin preparing them for success in college and in life. We achieve our record of 100% college acceptance through a focus on personalized learning, and character and leadership development.
MASTERING THE FUNDAMENTALS Each student will become an exceptional reader, writer and mathematician through a blend of tried and true instructional methods and personalized technology.
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ACADEMICS & BEYOND
*International Baccalaureate courses are available at select IDEA Public Schools campuses.
Your child will transform from a student who is learning to read, to one who is reading to learn. Increasingly complex books, expressive writing, and challenging math are hallmarks of our 3-5 grade program.
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ON THE PATH TO COLLEGE
Middle school students begin structured and rigorous coursework, mastering strategies that prepare them for the next phase of our college prep program, high school.
COLLEGE PREPARATION Campuses offer Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate* courses to prepare students for the rigors of college.
COLLEGE BOUND 100% of our graduating seniors are accepted to college and our commitment doesn’t end there. We provide every student with college counseling, support, and resources to ensure they graduate from college.
AC A D E M I C J O U R N E Y
9 - 12
WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT At IDEA, one of our primary goals is to instill children with the meaningful skills needed to have a competitive edge as they progress through life. Because of our commitment to developing intellectually, emotionally, and physically well-rounded children, IDEA students stand out from their peers, and blossom into
leaders, critical thinkers, and changemakers.
*Athletics and elective programming vary by campus. Please contact your campus of interest to confirm programs offered.
SPORTS & AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Our athletic programs help each student athlete advance, both on and off the playing field. Our programs are competitive and award-winning, instilling in students a strong work ethic, dedication, and accountability.*
EREN KIRKSEY
Athletic Director, IDEA Public Schools
CAMPUS ELECTIVES In addition to sports, IDEA offers a variety of clubs that span the interests of our students, enhancing their overall development on the road to success in college and beyond. Each campus offers unique enrichment programming, such as robotics team, gardening, art, band, cooking, and photography.*
W H O L E C H I L D D E V E LO P M E N T
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At IDEA Public Schools, we believe in developing the whole child, and for many students, that comes in the form of athletic competition. Not only are we fostering world-class scholar athletes on the field, we are also teaching students how to apply the lessons gained from teamwork and sportsmanship to everyday life in school, at home, and as they progress to and through college.�
S TAT E - O F - T H E - A R T FACILITIES IDEA campuses are constructed with care, providing a space where students will learn and grow, from Academy to College Prep.
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CAMPUS SAFET Y
Your child's safety is our highest priority. We know that students cannot learn and grow if they do not feel secure. IDEA families rest easy knowing that their campus is equipped with a single-entry, coded gate or door.
COVID RESPONSE
Due to COVID-19, we’ve implemented a number of new safety protocols to ensure that all campuses are safe, clean and following all CDC guidelines. We encourage you to contact your local campus representative to discuss campus protocols or if you have questions. Visit ideapublicschools.org/ enrollment-coordinators for school contact information.
CLASSROOMS Whether in a classroom or virtual setting, our teachers create joyful environments in every classroom and help students maximize their developmental strengths and curiosity.
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR ALL
GRADES PRE-K & KINDER Chromebook Tablet with Case & Stylus
GRADES 1st – 8th Chromebook
GRADES 9th – 12th
Dell Latitude Windows Laptop
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Our students work hard, both in and out of the classroom. Each day students participate in innovative physical education programs, where they set goals and measure progress toward them. Even in distance learning scenarios, we continue to emphasize physical activity and wellness. IDEA is on track to becoming the healthiest school district in the nation!
S TAT E - O F -T H E -A R T FAC I L I T I E S
We are strengthening our commitment to support students on the path to and through college by providing personal technology devices to all scholars enrolled at IDEA Pre-K through 12.
R E S U LT S We are committed to building upon our track record of success to ensure that each and every IDEA student achieves stellar results on the path to and through college. And our commitment doesn’t stop at graduation either – we continue to support IDEA students as they progress through their college experience through an alumni mentor program, internship placement, and emergency loans provided by IDEA employees themselves!
Since our first graduating class in 2007, IDEA students have achieved amazing results, including 100% college acceptance for fourteen consecutive years.
CLASS OF 2020 STATS
1,143
857
College-Bound Seniors
Graduates Are the First in Their Family to Attend College
6,314
$26M
National Acceptances to Colleges and Universities
Received In Grants and Scholarships
CLASS OF 2020 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Jay Mathews Challenge Index In the latest rankings of Jay Mathews Challenge Index High School Rankings (formerly known as America’s Most Challenging High Schools), 15 of IDEA’s eligible College Preparatory high schools were ranked in the top 1% nationally: IDEA McAllen
IDEA Mission
IDEA San Juan
IDEA Pharr
IDEA Alamo
IDEA Frontier
IDEA Carver
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
3RD
7TH
IDEA IDEA San Benito Montopolis
9TH 10TH 11TH 13TH 19TH
IDEA Weslaco
IDEA Edinburg
IDEA Quest
IDEA Donna
IDEA Toros
IDEA Brownsville
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
in the nation
22ND 23RD 24TH 25TH 36TH 59TH 63RD 105TH in the nation
in the nation
IDEA Frontier
IDEA Quest
IDEA Toros
IDEA San Juan
IDEA Mission
IDEA Edinburg
in Texas
in Texas
in Texas
in Texas
in Texas
in Texas
14TH 16TH 23RD 25TH 29TH 33RD IDEA Donna
IDEA San Benito
IDEA Weslaco
IDEA Alamo
IDEA Pharr
of Charter Schools Nationwide
of Charter Schools Nationwide
of Charter Schools Nationwide
of Charter Schools Nationwide
of Charter Schools Nationwide
TOP 10% TOP 10% TOP 10% TOP 25% TOP 25%
R E S U LT S
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 ranking of best high schools in the nation, eleven IDEA high schools received rankings on the list. More than 17,700 public high schools across the country were analyzed in order to determine the rankings. The IDEA Public Schools’ high schools that received a ranking as a 2020 Best High School from U.S. News & World Report include:
P R E - K AT IDEA
Where the Road to College Begins IDEA’s Pre-K program* offers so much more than a traditional Pre-K classroom. It’s a learning-intensive half-day program that gradually develops the tools children need to engage with and retain the lessons they’re exposed to. When it’s time for a full day at school in kindergarten, they will be more than ready. *A Pre-K program may not be available at the campus of your choice. Visit ideapublicschools.org/our-schools to find your preferred campus and speak with an IDEA campus representative.
MATH MASTERY Students learn their numbers, their shapes, how to count, add, subtract, and more in our math Pre-K curriculum. Our math lessons provide the practice needed to achieve mastery.
LANGUAGE FOUNDATION Students learn basic vocabulary, sentence forms, and more in our English language Pre-K curriculum. For non-native English speakers, our Español to English program teaches the skills Spanish-speaking students need to gradually transition fully into our English language program.
THE JOY OF LEARNING One of the greatest feelings a parent can have is to watch their children grow and take pride in their own personal development. Nothing gets children more excited about learning than having fun and enjoying the process, so we infuse a joy of learning into our Pre-K classrooms.
CITIZENSHIP, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL SKILLS Beyond reading, language, and math, our teachers guide Pre-K students through science lessons, field trips, and activities that promote academic, social, and emotional growth.
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I am very excited because my daughter, Madelyn, is learning how to write. At home, if something is written on a bag, a tag, or a book, she sits down with a pencil and paper and writes it on her own. She is coming home and applying the knowledge she learned at school every day in front of my eyes. These kind of results are why I choose IDEA.” SAMANTHA SANCHEZ
The Overall Impact of Classroom-Based Pre-K1 The data shows that students who enter school in Pre-K, as opposed to Kindergarten, have a competitive advantage over their peers and are: • More likely (by 11.4%) to graduate from high school
• Less likely (by 8.3%) to be retained in a grade
PRE-K
Pre-K Parent at IDEA South Flores Academy
EXCEPTIONAL EARLY ELEMENTARY TEACHING Our youngest scholars are exposed to a detailed and systematic approach to learning that allows them to build on their skills in each grade level.
IDEA’S CULTURE OF READING
E L E M E N TA RY S C H O O L AT I D E A
A Balanced Approach with High Expectations Our Pre-K - 5 academy curriculum provides a foundation that puts students on the path to graduation and success in college. All elementary students focus on core subjects including reading, writing and math. Our unique approach also provides every student with opportunities to develop problem-solving and social skills.
In IDEA’s Pre-K - 5 academy environment, we create a culture of reading to help students master the art of reading fluency and comprehension that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
MASTERING MATH Students are learning how to solve real-world problems, not just memorize math facts. Every day, students learn new skills to apply in the real-world and different strategies for problem-solving using hands-on tools and models.
Matter, Mixtures, Solutions,
And...Dinosaurs!
By Jared Cardenas
My name is Jared Cardenas, and I love science. We get to learn about new things!
I love matter, and I love learning about dinosaurs, which I have learned a lot about while reading books in the Accelerated Reader Zone. Do you know the difference between a tiborasaurusrex and a tyrannosaurus rex? Let me tell you. Tiborasaurusrex lived in Asia, ate different foods, like plants when they were sick (even though they were carnivores), and had different features in their fossils than the tyrannosaurus. The tyrannosaurus rex had shorter arms and lived in North America. Cool, right? I want to become a paleontologist once I graduate from college in 2031. I know my science class at IDEA Public Schools will help me get there.
E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L
SO FAR, IN 3RD GRADE AT IDEA MONTOPOLIS ACADEMY, we’ve been learning about matter. You know—liquids, solids, and gasses. What’s fascinating is how a solid can change to a liquid, and liquid, to a gas! If you leave an ice cube out in the heat, before long, it will be water, and if you let it stay out longer in the hot sun, it will evaporate. Everything around us — and I mean everything — is matter!
PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE PREPARATORY
MIDDLE SCHOOL AT I D E A Ensuring a Successful Transition Middle School at IDEA may seem challenging because students take courses to prepare for the Advancement Placement program and engage in more comprehensive study areas. Still, IDEA provides students with the support, guidance, and instruction they need to ensure each student reaches their highest potential. This includes access to college counselors, expert teachers, college field lessons, and variety of extracurricular, community-based and leadership opportunities beyond the classroom.
Challenging coursework is built specifically for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade IDEA scholars. Through these courses, students learn to master strategies that prepare them for the next phase of IDEA’s college preparatory program—high school. Rigorous courses prepare students for Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the 9th grade and ultimately improves college readiness. Our academic model at IDEA ensures students are preparing for college at the start of middle school.
A RESPONSE TO LITERATURE
Hi, I'm Oscar Cantu, and I'm Daniela Martinez. We’re 8th graders at IDEA College Preparatory North Mission. We want to tell you about the connections we’ve been making with great books in our Pre-AP English class. It’s called a “Response to Literature” essay. IN A RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ESSAY, WE: • Closely read a text and analyze the literary elements within the piece. • Address a prompt that asks us to explore a literary element within a text. • Use examples from the text to connect our analysis to the meaning of the work. The Response to Literature essay is getting us ready for the AP Literature exam in the years to come. For the work we want to show you, we addressed the wonderful novel, I Am Malala.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
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HIGH SCHOOL AT I D E A
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College For All IDEA has a proven program that guarantees that 100% of students are accepted to college. Our students work hard and are never alone on the road to and through college.
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CHALLENGING COURSES
Through Advanced Placement (AP) for all*, scholars prepare for the academic demands of college, have the opportunity to skip introductory college classes, stand out in the admissions process, and reduce overall college cost. Some schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB), an equally challenging program.
COLLEGE COUNSELORS
Our college counselors work with students starting in the 6th grade to ensure they transition successfully into college and stay enrolled.
COLLEGE FIELD LESSONS
College field lessons, which begin for our students as early as 1st grade, are just one of many ways we strive to create an environment that teaches students to dream big and understand that they can attend the college of their choice.
THE ROAD TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE COURSE
Students will take The Road To and Through College course in all four years of high school. In this class, they’ll define their own passion and purpose, and align them with the college or university that is the best fit for them.
THE COLLEGIATE SUMMER AWAY PROGRAM
In 11th grade, students will be encouraged to participate in the IDEA Collegiate Summer Away Program (CSAP). Through CSAP, they will attend summer programs at colleges and universities across the country before they start their senior year.
COLLEGE SIGNING DAY
College Signing Day is an event where students reveal their college choice to IDEA staff, friends, and family. It’s a time to commemorate their hard work as they transition to college! See for yourself at ideapublicschools.org/csd2020!
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SUPPORT THROUGH COLLEGE
Students receive the financial and personal assistance they need to succeed in and graduate from college. IDEA staff helped the Class of 2020 to secure more than $26M million in grants and scholarships, and offers zero-interest emergency loans funded entirely by our staff. Our counselors and alumni team also offer personal connection and support throughout each student’s college commitment—from start to finish.
NEXT STOP, COLLEGE DEGREE
JACQUELYNN WALKER
2019 IDEA Montopolis Graduate
HIGH SCHOOL
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I’m excited that I got accepted to UT nursing school and that I get to follow my dream to become a nurse practitioner – becoming a nurse is all I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl.”
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A P P L I C AT I O N & ENROLLMENT PROCESS
Tuition-Free Public Schools Open to All Students Like a traditional public school, any child can attend IDEA without paying tuition. Prospective students are not required to take an entrance exam to be considered for admission–meaning anyone can apply and all students are eligible. Within each of our regions, lotteries are held every year to select students to fill spots at each of our schools. Lotteries are held to randomly select students to fill spots for the upcoming school year. To learn more about your region’s lottery, visit ideapublicschools.org/lottery or contact your preferred school to speak with an IDEA campus representative. If you’re ready to complete an IDEA application, visit ideapublicschools.org/apply.
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SCHOOLS
OUR REGIONS 1
Rio Grande Valley
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San Antonio
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Austin
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El Paso
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Southern Louisiana
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Tarrant County
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Greater Houston
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Permian Basin
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Tampa Bay
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Visit ideapublicschools.org/our-schools to find a school and available grade levels near you.
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