IDEA Quest College Preparatory named 2019 National Blue Ribbon School

Rio Grande Valley, Texas (September 26, 2019) – IDEA Quest College Preparatory has been designated an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing National Blue Ribbon School for 2019 by U. S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. IDEA Quest is one of 362 schools in the nation and one of twenty-seven schools from Texas to be recognized in 2019. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. 

“We are extremely proud to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School”, says Jose Luis De Leon, Principal of IDEA Quest College Preparatory. “This is a reflection of our staff’s commitment to our students and their dedication to excellent instruction in every classroom. This could not have been achieved without the hard work of our staff in preparing and ensuring our scholars make it to and through college.” 

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. 

Now in its 37th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program has bestowed recognition on more than 9,000 schools.  

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates: 

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. 
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students. 

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).