IDEA Public Schools’ new student applications for the 2020-21 school year will open on September 1, 2019! So that our prospective families know what to expect, we have listed answers to frequently asked questions about the application process!

Where will IDEA have schools during the 2020-21 school year? 

Beginning in August 2020, IDEA will have schools in the following eight regions across Texas and Louisiana: 

• Rio Grande Valley 

• Austin 

• San Antonio 

• Tarrant County 

• Greater Houston 

• Permian Basin 

• El Paso 

• Southern Louisiana 

What is IDEA’s application process? 

For all IDEA campuses, except those in New Orleans, applying is easy and takes just a few minutes. If you’re interested in sending your scholar to an IDEA Public Schools campus for the 2020-21 school year, please visit our application page to complete a student application between September 1, 2019 and February 14, 2020.   

A random lottery will be held on February 15, 2020 to determine which students will fill spots available at each IDEA school. If randomly selected, you will be notified and invited to attend a “Welcome to IDEA” event where we celebrate your acceptance to IDEA and orient you to IDEA’s culture, curriculum and expectations. You will also attend testing and registration events to officially enroll at IDEA Public Schools.    

Students who are not selected to attend IDEA through the lottery will be placed on a wait list, in a randomly determined order. The applications of students on the wait list will remain on file for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.  

If a spot become available, students will be selected from the wait list in sequential order, and parents will be notified of their selection and informed of next steps.  

What is IDEA’s application process in New Orleans? 

Applications for IDEA Public Schools in New Orleans will open in Fall 2019 via EnrollNOLA. This application process is only offered in the city of New Orleans and offers students the opportunity to apply to all participating schools with one application.  

Do I need to apply again if my child already attends an IDEA school? 

No, you do not have to apply again if your child already attends IDEA Public Schools. This application is for prospective students only. 

I have a child who already attends IDEA and I want their sibling to attend next year. When do sibling applications open? 

You can submit an application for a sibling as early as September 1, 2019. Just be sure to also add the current student’s name and IDEA student ID so that we know it’s an application for an IDEA sibling. 

Why does IDEA offer only certain grade levels when opening a campus?  

IDEA typically opens grades K-2 and 6 at a new campus, and gradually increases grade levels offered year-by-year. The rationale is to build a student body over time that grows in conjunction with the campus itself.   

Does IDEA require students to take an entrance exam or placement tests to be considered for the lottery?  

Prospective students are not required to take an entrance exam to be considered for the lottery. IDEA’s admission process includes an application and random lottery selection. After a student is admitted, placement testing occurs as part of the registration process to provide information needed to group scholars together based on similar instructional levels going into the new school year.   

Get ready to give your child the gift of a high-quality education that will prepare them for success in college and in life at IDEA Public School!