Bringing the Joy with IDEA’s Winter Wonderland Event!
Looking for a free holiday event for families in the Rio Grande Valley? Join us on Monday, December 22 from 7-10 pm for IDEA’s Winter Wonderland event at Hidalgo’s Festival of Lights! Located in the Payne Arena (2600 N 10th St Hidalgo, TX 78557), this free event is open to IDEA and non-IDEA families. What to Expect This year’s Winter Wonderland event features a mix of festive activities and interactive zones that families of […]
Countdown to Winter Break: 5 Reasons to be in School Before the Holidays
The Winter Break is around the corner, can you believe it? This time of year, brings along so much excitement as we prepare to spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy the holidays. As we approach the last few weeks of school before the break, it’s important for our scholars to remain consistent and engaged until the final day. Here are 5 reasons why our scholars should be in school leading […]
IDEA Launches First-Ever National Alumni Advisory Council
The Alumni Engagement team at IDEA Public Schools is proud to announce the official launch of the IDEA Alumni Advisory Council! This inaugural group is composed of 15 IDEA alumni, representing graduating classes from 2013 onward. Their diverse experiences, leadership, and commitment to IDEA’s mission make them uniquely positioned to help shape the future of alumni engagement across […]
Crayons to and Through College: The Path to College Starts with the Arts
IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley are empowering creativity, confidence, and college readiness through its newest elementary Fine Arts elective. Crayons to and Through College (CTTC) is a regionally developed elective curriculum that nurtures creativity and collaboration through four content areas: Art, Theater, Music, and Robotics. Mission Crayons to and Through College ignites […]
33 IDEA Seniors Awarded Full Scholarships to Top Colleges Through QuestBridge
33 Seniors from IDEA’s upcoming graduating class of 2026 have been matched through QuestBridge’s National College Match Program. With 55 current college partners, the QuestBridge National College Match program provides its recipients with full four-year scholarships. Students are selected based on academic achievement, financial qualifications, and demonstrating certain personal qualities like determination, resilience, and integrity. This year, we have 33 IDEA QuestBridge National College Match […]
Healthy Kids Here Launches the Charlie Cart Project at IDEA Eastside
This fall, IDEA’s Healthy Kids Here Program introduced The Charlie Cart Project at IDEA Eastside in San Antonio, Texas. The Charlie Cart Project is a mobile kitchen and comprehensive food education program with curriculum designed by chefs and educators. The Charlie Cart Project aims to make food education accessible to students so that they have […]
25 Things We Are Grateful For
Our story started in the year 2000 when IDEA (Individuals Dedicated to Excellence and Achievement) began as a small but determined charter in Donna, Texas. What started as a bold vision to prove that College for All was possible has grown into a network of 145 campuses serving more than 88,000 students across Texas and […]
81 IDEA Elementary and Middle Schools Rank Among the Top 25% in Texas by U.S. News and World Report
IDEA Public Schools is excited to announce that 81 IDEA Elementary and Middle Schools Rank Among the Top 25% in Texas by U.S. News and World Report. In this year’s addition, nearly 47,000 elementary schools and 23,000 middle schools were ranked at the state and district levels. Ranking factors are weighted by 25% each for […]
22 IDEA Campuses Recognized in 2024-2025 Children at Risk School Rankings
IDEA Public Schools is proud to announce that 22 campuses from our Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Austin, Tarrant County, and El Paso regions have been recognized as top schools in the 2024-2025 Children at Risk rankings. For the past 20 years, Children at Risk has ranked and graded Texas public schools to help […]
Alumni Spotlight: Marcy Peña
For Marcy Peña, IDEA has always been home. From her very first day of Pre-K to the moment she crossed the graduation stage at IDEA McAllen in 2022, Marcy experienced the full IDEA journey—shaped by caring teachers, her family’s deep ties to the IDEA community, and a belief in the power of education to transform […]