Events & Announcements
August 28, 2024
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The vision of the IDEA secondary program is for every student at IDEA to graduate from high school ready to succeed in college.
Vision: All IDEA students are confident, capable, life-long learners who use their skills and knowledge to engage in citizenship and leadership. We will prepare ALL IDEA students to be:
IDEA’s English/Language Arts approach prepares all scholars for college and beyond using high-quality, equitable, and accessible literacy curriculum and intentionally designed professional development and support.
Students in grade 6-12 will participate ELA, Pre-AP ELA, AP English Language Composition, and AP English Literature and Composition. See below for details around the curriculum utilized in each course.
IDEA’s Science curriculum is designed to teach students a variety of critical thinking skills they will use throughout their secondary and post-secondary careers. Students will master state standards in various science disciplines, including life science, earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics. While mastering these standards, students perform laboratory experiments, read, write, and solve problems. Upon graduation, students not only have a strong grasp of basic science knowledge, but also a core set of skills they can apply in college and beyond. Please see below for grade level & AP offerings.
IDEA’s social studies curriculum is designed to teach students a variety of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills they will use throughout high school, college, and beyond, including graduate school and their professional careers. Students master state standards in a variety of social science disciplines, such as world cultures, geography, history (state, national, and world), government, and economics. While mastering these standards, students read primary documents, conduct research, and write analytical and research essays. Upon graduation, students not only have a strong grasp of various social studies themes and concepts, but also a core set of skills they can apply in college and beyond. Please see below for course details.
IDEA’s Spanish curriculum is designed to teach students a variety of Spanish skills they will use throughout their secondary and post-secondary careers. Students master state and national standards focusing on the four major skills: reading, speaking, listening, and writing. While mastering these standards, students learn to answer document-based questions that integrate the four basic skills, write analytical essays, and initiate and maintain conversations. By the time they graduate from IDEA, students have taken and passed at least one of the AP Spanish exams, enabling them earn college credit and acquire concepts and skills they can apply in college and beyond. See curriculum information below:
IDEA’s Math curriculum is designed to create students ready for college-level math courses without the need for any remediation classes. Students master state mathematics standards in pre-algebra through pre-calculus and study college-level math courses through the AP courses. While mastering these standards, students develop various math proficiencies: understanding, computing, applying, reasoning, and engaging. Focusing on these math proficiencies prepares students for rigorous math instruction in college and beyond. See below for grade level curriculum information & AP offerings:
College application season can be an anxious time for students and their families. Even for those students who have worked hard throughout high school and done their best, many are not sure if they have acquired the academic skills and experiences that colleges are looking for.
By taking AP courses, high school students signal two things to college admissions officers. First, students demonstrate that they have undertaken the most rigorous classes their high school has to offer. Second, students show that they have what it takes to succeed in an undergraduate environment. In the increasingly competitive admissions process, taking AP courses is an effective way that students can differentiate themselves from other applicants.
Importantly, AP courses offer college admissions officers a consistent measure of course rigor across high schools, districts, states, and countries—because all AP teachers, no matter where they are teaching, must provide a curriculum that meets college standards. When admissions officers see “AP” on students’ transcripts, they have a good understanding of what those students experienced in a particular class and how well the course prepared the students for the increased challenges of college.
As college costs grow each year, the prospect of higher education becomes more daunting for many high school students. By completing an AP course and scoring well on the related AP exam, students can reduce their college expenses. Currently more than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the country offer college credit, advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP exam scores. These credits can potentially save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition, fees, and textbook costs. These savings can make the difference between being able to afford college or not.
You can see specific colleges’ guidelines on accepting AP scores for credit and placement by searching our AP Credit Policy database. This resource shows how many credits your AP scores will earn you and which courses you may be able to place out of at your future college.
If you know which major you want to pursue in college, taking an AP course related to that major and earning a qualifying score on the AP exam can help you gain advanced placement out of introductory courses. As a result, you can place out of crowded required courses, and move directly into upper-level classes where you can focus on topics that interest you the most.
Even if you take an AP exam unrelated to your major—or if you’re not sure what you want to major in—AP courses can often help you place out of your colleges’ general education requirements. With this additional time on your class schedule, you can earn a minor or even a second major, take exciting electives, or pursue additional topics of interest.
Following are links to helpful information about AP courses:
AP: Work Toward College Success | AP Central | AP Credit and Placement | The ACT | The International Baccalaureate
2115 W. Pike Blvd.
Weslaco, TX 78596
Main: (956) 377-8000
Fax: (956) 447-3796
IDEA Public Schools National Board Members: Collin Sewell – Chair, Ed Rivera – Vice-Chair & Secretary, Erich Holmsten – Treasurer, Gary Lindgren, Theresa Barrera-Shaw, Dr. Nanette Cocero, Connie Miner.