IDEA Public Schools learned in January that its network of 51 schools serving nearly 30,000 students has earned three As and one B on the TEA’s new A-F Accountability Ratings System. This makes IDEA one of the highest-performing school districts in the state of Texas, as only 16 districts earned equally high ratings.

“The ratings validate IDEA’s commitment to recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining the best teachers and leaders so that IDEA students have incredible educators encouraging their academic growth each and every day. This is the best thing we can do for our students,” said Tom Torkelson, IDEA Public Schools CEO and Founder.

The A-F ratings come on the heels of IDEA’s Best Year Yet, during which more of its schools were named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools list. The network also made its debut on The Washington Post’s America’s Most Challenging High Schools list, and it was named America’s Best Charter School Network by the Broad Foundation.

“The impact IDEA is having on students makes me very proud. What they have done, and continue to do for kids throughout Texas is amazing.”- David Robinson, NBA legend and IDEA San Antonio Board Member

High Schools ranked Top 50 in the

nation by The Washington Post:

IDEA:

Brownsville ISD:

Donna ISD:

Harlingen CISD:

San Benito CISD:

South Texas ISD:

Weslaco ISD:

6000030

High Schools ranked Top 60 in Texas by U.S. News & World Report:

IDEA: Brownsville ISD:Donna ISD: Harlingen CISD: San Benito CISD:South Texas ISD:Weslaco ISD:

51

00040

Percentage of Schools that Received All Eligible 2016 Distinctions in the RGV

80%18%0% 7%0%

50%0%

Did Your Child’s District Make the Grade?

IDEA Public Schools is providing the Highest Quality Education in the Rio Grande Valley

A-F Accountability Ratings

IDEA:

IDEA Frontier College Preparatory:

Brownsville ISD:

Donna ISD:

Harlingen CISD:

San Benito CISD:

South Texas ISD:

Weslaco ISD:

B AA A

C AA C

C BB C

A AA A

A AB AD BB B

F BC F

D CF C

Since its first graduating class 10 years ago, IDEA has achieved a 100% college acceptance rate and a 99.6% matriculation rate. The school has maintained its near-perfect matriculation rate despite statewide growth since 2000 - more than any other charter school district in the nation during this time period. IDEA’s Class of 2016 was accepted to more than 290 colleges and universities across the nation and received more than $25 million in scholarships. What’s more, IDEA announced last week that the Class of 2017 is poised to follow suit as they just achieved 100% College Acceptance.

Rounding out the incredible year, IDEA learned that 20 schools received all distinctions that they were eligible for in 2016. The Texas Education Agency awards annual designations for outstanding performance in student achievement, student progress and postsecondary readiness. Earning a distinction from the state of Texas means you’re the very best, and distinctions are a direct indicator of the remarkable education a school provides.

Contributing to IDEA’s Best Year Yet was the celebration of a decade of 100% college acceptance!

These collective successes reflect IDEA’s continued progress toward its mission of College For All Children. IDEA is committed to ensuring that each of its graduates is prepared to succeed in college through a focus on a rigorous and high-quality Pre-K-12 education that includes individualized instruction, college-level courses, college counseling, workshops, and college campus experiences throughout high school.

IDEA: Brownsville ISD:Donna ISD: Harlingen CISD: San Benito CISD:South Texas ISD:Weslaco ISD:

At IDEA, Our Best Teachers Make Top Dollar

Recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining the best teachers and leaders is the most important

thing we can do as a school district.In 2015, IDEA launched the Teacher Career Pathway, a differentiated reward, recognition, and retention program for teachers at IDEA Public Schools. The Teacher Career Pathway synthesizes multiple components of a teacher’s performance in order to place him or her on a five-tier pathway. Each pathway level provides opportunities for earning differentiated rewards and recognitions in the categories of: public recognition, increased compensation, network-wide influence, personalized professional development, and more. Independent of years of experience, IDEA’s best teachers make top dollar.

Teach At IDEA and Start Your Journey Toward Becoming a Master Teacher

Armando VelaElementary Math

“I am honored and truly humbled to have been named a Master Teacher at IDEA Public Schools.”

Nadya ZamarripaAP Calculus

“Teaching requires constant self-reflection and innovation and as an IDEA teacher, I am not alone in these endeavors.”

Caleb SwaringenPre-AP English Language Arts

“Teaching is my passion and my calling, and at IDEA I am seen as more than just a teacher. I am grateful that IDEA continues to elevate the teaching profession to the elite status it deserves.”

Highest Salaries in the RGV! • Robust Benefits! • Earn Thousands in Stipends!

Apply Todayjobs.ideapublicschools.org

IDEA BRINGS HOME FIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPSIDEA students excel in academics and extracurricular activities.

IDEA athletic programs include basketball, baseball, cross-country, cheerleading, flag football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field, among others. IDEA students continue to excel in academics and extracurricular opportunities, with state championships in track and field (IDEA Quest and IDEA Allan), flag football (IDEA Donna), soccer (IDEA McAllen), and baseball (IDEA South Flores). In addition to a thriving sports scene, IDEA also offers a variety of clubs that span many student interests - art, chess, cooking, dance, community service, farm and garden, languages, music, photography, politics, yearbooks, and much more.

IDEA’s budding scientists advance to State Science Fair, earning half of the Rio Grande Valley’s available spots!IDEA’s science curriculum is designed to teach students a variety of critical thinking skills through doing. At IDEA, students are introduced to scientific principles early in Academy and build their knowledge all the way through College Prep to master a variety of science disciplines, including life science, earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Martin Villicana, a 9th grader at IDEA Mission, has won special awards and prizes at the regional science fair for the last two years. He will be attending the State Science Fair for the fourth consecutive year as he presents his project on water conservation.

Congratulations to IDEA’s scientists. We look forward to seeing you represent IDEA Public Schools and the Rio Grande Valley.

JOIN IDEA. ENROLL TODAY.Limited Spots Available Across the Rio Grande Valley

ideapublicschools.org/apply1-888-490-0393

IDEA ALAMOGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA BROWNSVILLEGRADES K-11

IDEA DONNAGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA EDINBURGGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA FRONTIERGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA MCALLENGRADES PRE-K-11

IDEA SAN BENITOGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA SAN JUANGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA TOROSGRADES 6-12

IDEA TRES LAGOSGRADES PRE-K-1 & 6

IDEA WESLACOGRADES K-12

IDEA WESLACO PIKEGRADES PRE-K-9

IDEA MISSIONGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA NORTH MISSIONGRADES PRE-K-3 & 6-8

IDEA PHARRGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA QUESTGRADES PRE-K-12

IDEA RIO GRANDE CITYGRADES PRE-K-1 & 6

IDEA RIVERVIEWGRADES PRE-K-3 & 6-8

IDEA Students Thrive in Pre-K ProgramIDEA Public Schools believes the road to college starts at a young age. Our philosophy: Children excel in high school, college, and beyond if they’re fundamentally-sound readers, writers, mathematicians and thinkers. IDEA’s groundbreaking Pre-K program helps ensure that every student is prepared to thrive from Kindergarten onwards and never left behind.

WHAT MAKES IDEA’S PRE-K PROGRAM SPECIAL:• Ninety-four percent of our young Pre-K learners finished the

year beginning kindergarten work.• Students begin to learn the building blocks of literacy at 4 years

of age.• Beyond fundamental instruction in reading, language, and math,

our Pre-K curriculum also includes science lessons, field trips, and activities that promote the development of problem-solving and social skills.

• It’s a half-day program that lends itself to small, intimate learning groups.

IDEA will offer Pre-K at 15 campuses in the Rio Grande Valley in August.