IDEA Public Schools Announces Expansion to the Coastal Bend Region 

Media Contact: Jennifer Flores

Communications Manager

P:210-551-9253

E: Jennifer.Flores2@ideapublicschools.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IDEA Public Schools Announces Expansion to the Coastal Bend Region

IDEA Coastal Bend Will Open in Corpus Christi in 2022

Corpus Christi, TX (May 29, 2020) –  IDEA Public Schools (IDEA) recently announced its planned expansion to the Corpus Christi, TX area. Earlier this month, the IDEA Board of Directors granted approval for IDEA Public Schools to begin serving students in the Coastal Bend region, starting in Corpus Christi, with plans to open four schools in 2022. IDEA will open two additional schools in subsequent years, pending TEA approval.  By 2022, IDEA projects to operate nearly 200 schools in twelve regions, educating more than 100,000 students on their road to and through college.

“We are excited to offer children and families in Corpus Christi with a high-quality, tuition-free, and college-preparatory education,” said Joán Alvarez, executive director of IDEA Coastal Bend. “I began my teaching career in Corpus Christi more than ten years ago, and this city has always held a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to see the impact IDEA is able to make for children in this area.”

Alvarez earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and was named the District Teacher of the Year for Corpus Christi ISD in 2007.  Alvarez became the Founding Principal of IDEA College Prep McAllen in 2012 and is one of two founding principals to stay in their principal role to see their students graduate and matriculate into college. IDEA McAllen College Prep has earned the highest performance ratings and 100 percent distinctions from the Texas Education Agency each year from 2012 through 2019. The school has also earned first place in student progress for closing achievement gaps and first place in student achievement in the entire state of Texas. IDEA McAllen offers Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses for all students, achieving consistently strong results. Last school year, Alvarez received the Ryan Award, a prestigious national award given to two principals of urban schools each year who have demonstrated a record of achieving accelerated results with a transformational impact over a minimum of four years.

IDEA McAllen was recently ranked third in the nation by the Jay Mathews Challenge Index High School Rankings formerly known as America’s Most Challenging High Schools published in The Washington Post.

In exploring new regions, IDEA prioritized the greater Corpus Christi area due to the stark presence of educational opportunity disparities.  Less than 11% of economically disadvantaged students in Nueces County graduate from college – under half the average for the state of Texas. This trend has occurred in part because students are taking too few college-preparatory courses. According to the TEA’s 2018-19 Texas Academic Performance Reports, only 10% of Corpus Christi students passed an AP or IB exam, which is half the Texas average. The cornerstone of IDEA’s high school program is an ambitious AP for All strategy which ensures that students are prepared to go to and through college. At IDEA, nearly three-quarters of students passed an AP or IB exam, and over 50% of the most recent cohort has graduated from college.

This year, IDEA is celebrating 20 years of impact for students, families and communities. Founded in 2000, IDEA has grown from a small school with 150 students to the largest network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools in Texas and one of the fastest-growing in the United States. Currently, the district serves nearly 53,000 college-bound students in 96 schools across Texas and Louisiana.

For the 14^th consecutive year, 100 percent of IDEA’s high school seniors have been accepted to college, and for the past 13 years, nearly 100 percent of graduating seniors have matriculated into college.

IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received national rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s Top High Schools lists for the 12^th consecutive year. IDEA believes a quality Pre-K-12 public education is the key to success in getting 100% of students to and through college. IDEA sets high expectations for every student and goes the extra mile to make sure every student realizes their own potential. Personalized learning, critical thinking skills, mastery of core subjects and continued support through college is IDEA’s recipe for success.

For more information on IDEA Public Schools, please visit http://www.ideapublicschools.org/

###

About IDEA Public Schools

This year, IDEA Public Schools celebrates 20 years of impact for students, families, staff and communities. Over the past 20 years, IDEA has grown to a family of 96 tuition-free public schools that serve more than 53,000 students across Texas and Louisiana. IDEA believes a quality Pre-K – 12 public education is the key to success in college and life.