IDEA Public Schools is celebrating a record-breaking achievement: 131 IDEA schools have been named to Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s 2026 list of America’s Healthiest Schools, joining 1,376 K–12 schools across 35 states recognized for advancing the health and well-being of students, staff, and families.
This marks a 4% increase from last year’s 126 recognized IDEA schools and sets a record for IDEA Public Schools and our Healthy Kids Here initiative.
Even more, 43 IDEA schools earned the prestigious All-Star Award, the highest distinction available through the recognition process. All-Star schools demonstrate best practices across all nine areas of Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment.
Creating Healthier Schools, Together
America’s Healthiest Schools recognizes campuses that demonstrate excellence in one or more of nine areas that contribute to a healthy school environment:
- Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning
- Cultivating Staff Well-Being
- Increasing Family & Community Engagement
- Improving Nutrition & Food Access
- Implementing Local School Wellness Policy
- Bolstering Physical Education & Activity
- Enriching Health Education
- Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools
- Supporting School Health Services
This year, 43 IDEA schools earned the prestigious All-Star Award, the highest recognition available through Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s America’s Healthiest School program. These schools demonstrated best practices across all nine areas of the Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment, reflecting their commitment to creating healthier environments where students, staff, and families can thrive.
Congratulations to our 2026 All-Star Awardees:
Rio Grande Valley
51 healthy schools, including 26 All-Stars
- IDEA Donna Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Edinburg Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Frontier Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Harlingen Academy
- IDEA Los Encinos Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA McAllen Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Mission Academy
- IDEA North Mission Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Owassa Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Palmview Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Quest College Preparatory
- IDEA Rio Grande City College Preparatory
- IDEA Robindale College Preparatory
- IDEA San Benito Academy
- IDEA San Juan Academy
- IDEA Tres Lagos Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Weslaco Pike Academy
San Antonio
24 healthy schools, including 9 All-Stars
- IDEA Burke Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Carver Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Judson Academy and College Preparatory
- IDEA Mays College Preparatory
- IDEA Monterrey Park College Preparatory
- IDEA Walzem Academy
Austin
14 healthy schools, including 1 All-Star
- IDEA Pflugerville College Preparatory
Permian Basin
4 healthy schools, including 1 All-Star
- IDEA Yukon College Preparatory
Tarrant County
8 healthy schools, including 1 All-Star
- IDEA Southeast Academy
El Paso
10 healthy schools, including 2 All-Stars
- IDEA Horizon Vista Academy and College Preparatory
Greater Houston
6 healthy schools, including 1 All-Star
- IDEA Lake Houston College Preparatory
Cincinnati
4 healthy schools, including 2 All-Stars
- IDEA Price Hill Academy
- IDEA Valley View College Preparatory
This year also brought another exciting accomplishment: every IDEA campus in El Paso, Greater Houston, Tarrant County, and Cincinnati earned recognition as one of America’s Healthiest Schools.
Healthy Kids Here
For more than 10 years, IDEA’s Healthy Kids Here initiative has worked toward one ambitious goal: helping make IDEA one of the healthiest school districts in the country.
Healthy Kids Here focuses on three key priorities: providing nutritious food, promoting physical fitness, and building lifelong healthy habits.
Across IDEA, students have access to nutritious meals and snacks, opportunities to stay physically active, health education, and programming designed to support their overall well-being. IDEA’s campus farm programs also help bring fresh, locally grown produce into our school communities while giving students opportunities to learn more about nutrition and where their food comes from.
The success of Healthy Kids Here is made possible by collaboration across our schools. Campus Health and Wellness teams work alongside IDEA’s Child Nutrition Program, physical education coaches, school leaders, and families to make healthy choices part of the everyday student experience.
“At IDEA Public Schools, our commitment extends beyond the classroom—we strive to support every student’s academic journey by prioritizing their physical and mental well-being,” said Eva Rodriguez, Sr. Vice President of Student Health and Wellness for IDEA Public Schools. “Through comprehensive health services, nutritious meals, regular physical activity, and education on lifelong healthy habits, we create an environment where students can thrive. This recognition from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation affirms the dedication of our staff and the success of our Healthy Kids Here program in fostering healthier school communities.”
About Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Alliance for a Healthier Generation works with schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, communities, and families to create environments where young people can lead healthier lives.
Through Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, IDEA Public Schools continues to strengthen wellness practices and policies that support the whole child—from nutrition and physical activity to mental health, staff well-being, family engagement, and school health services.
Congratulations to all 131 IDEA schools recognized this year and to our 43 All-Star Awardees for helping create healthier school communities where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
Learn more about IDEA’s Healthy Kids Here initiative on our Health Services webpage.
