We are thrilled to announce we will be bringing a new campus featuring two schools, IDEA Lopez Academy and College Preparatory, to the families of Odessa in the 2025-26 school year. IDEA Lopez will serve Kindergarten through second and sixth-grade levels in its first year and continue to add a grade level each year until it is fully scaled from kindergarten through grade 12.   

IDEA Lopez is named in honor of IDEA’s late Acting CEO and Superintendent, Al Lopez, a first-generation college student who dedicated his life to empowering students to unlock their full potential.

Mr. Lopez joined IDEA in 2012, during the planning of the first Austin campus, and over the next decade, he played a pivotal role in the organization. He joined the national board in 2015, served as its chair in 2020, and stepped into the role of Acting CEO and Superintendent in 2021 until his passing in 2022.

“I am grateful Al’s incredible legacy will continue to live on through our new school in Odessa,” Dr. Jeff Cottrill, CEO and Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools said. “By continuing our partnership with families, educators, and Odessa’s community, IDEA aims to empower students with the tools they need to prepare them for a bright future to college and beyond.” 

This new campus will be the third in the IDEA Permian Basin region and will be located at 3401 W. 5th Street, Odessa, TX 79763. IDEA Lopez will offer a unique curriculum and a college support model encompassing people, programs, and culture, aiming to close the opportunity gap and elevate student achievement, particularly for those from underserved communities. 

“Al was an instrumental part of IDEA for many years and his work in education changed many students’ lives,” said Collin Sewell, Chair of the Board of Directors for IDEA Public Schools. “We are grateful to be able to honor our friend and colleague through this new campus to ensure his passion for education lives on for generations to come.”   

Interested in learning more about our latest campus in Odessa? Follow our Facebook here and visit us on our website here.