145 Tuition-Free Public Schools
99.8% College Matriculation
+ 80,000 Students Served
18 Years of 99.9% College Acceptance
IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received nationa rankings on U.S. News & World Report s Top High Schools lists and Jay Mathews Challenge Index High School Rankings formerly known as America’s Most Challenging High Schools published in The Washington Post.
Look ng back on 2024, we are fi led with gratitude and pr de in the progress made and the mi estones achieved throughout our organ zation The year was transformative, pushing us to adapt, innovate, and strengthen our commitment to prov ding every student with access to a co lege-ready education.
As we reflect on this journey, we celebrate the successes, big and sma l, that have def ned this year Together, we have created moments of oy inspiration, and achievement that rem nd us of our purpose and fuel our asp rations for the future Here are some of the h ghl ghts that made this year unforgettable:
DEA welcomed over 87,000 students and more than 11,000 staff for the first day of school across 11 regions n 4 states.
The class of 2024 ncluded 2,218 seniors earning 14,264 acceptances to colleges and univers ties
73 2% of 2024 seniors were first-generat on col ege students
88 DEA E ementary & Middle Schools Ranked in the top 25% in a l of Texas by U S News & World Report
27 IDEA high schools ranked among the most cha leng ng in the nat on by the Jay Matthew s Chal enge Index
DEA was recogn zed as a Top Performing District by the Educat ona Resu ts Partnersh p. n add tion 21 of our campuses made the prest gious honor rol ist
IDEA Schools in El Paso serve nearly 6 000 students across 10 schools
The reg on continues to thrive n its academics and extracurr culars, with IDEA Mesquite Hi ls earning the State Champ onship in flag football after an undefeated season
133 IDEA schools network-w de earned a spot on the Alliance for a Hea thier Generation s 2024 list of “America’s Health est Schoo s ”
IDEA has ach eved over 13,000 alumni
IDEA announced new leadership: Dolores Gonzalez Deputy Super ntendent Kathleen Z mmerman Ch ef F nancial Off cer, Adam M l er, National Executive D rector of IPS, Dr Col een Stearns, Chief Academic Officer, Matthew Robinson, Executive D rector for IDEA C ncinnati, and Dr. Annette Macias, Execut ve D rector for Permian Basin
Look ng ahead, we are fi led w th oy and optimism and remain deep y committed to our mission vis on, and values
As a Team & Fami y we w l continue to bui d upon our academic successes, student achievements and innovative learn ng experiences whi e nurtur ng a co laborative and thriving community working toward a s ngle mission of co lege for al
Let us embrace the possib l ties that l e ahead. Thank you for being a vita part of this commun ty.
Sincere y,
Jeff Cottrill CEO & Super ntendent
The IDEA Austin Class of 2024 was compr sed of 166 sen ors who earned 1 401 co lege acceptances Out of our three Texas reg ons, Austin had the highest percentage of first-generation col ege students at 87%
65.10% Accepted into the nation’s top colleges (top tier 1 or 2)
73.2% First-generation ll e students
IDEA Lake Houston has been recognized by the Educational Resu ts Partnersh p as a topperforming school in Texas on the annua “Honor Roll” st The region cont nues to grow, w th nearly 3,900 students across 6 schools
DEA campuses in the Permian Basin are thriving w th IDEA Yukon being recogn zed by the Educational Results Partnersh p and IDEA Trav s earning a spot on the Ch ldren at Risk list In addition the reg on ce ebrated a groundbreaking for a new campus, DEA Lopez, open ng ts doors n Odessa TX
11 Ivy League college-bound students
DEA commemorated new school openings w th ribbon cutting ceremon es in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex IDEA Southeast and DEA A W Brown In addit on to this, IDEA Ach eve opened the reg on s f rst-ever hydroponic farm for hands-on student earning
Valley
The R o Grande Va ey's c ass of 2024 graduated 1,481 seniors from 19 campuses Students received near y 9,000 acceptances, ncluding 10 from prestigious Ivy League schools In addition, out of only 61 students nationwide 4 DEA scholars were selected as National Math Stars
571 seniors in San Antonio's c ass of 2024 earned 3,916 acceptances Amongst these 58 7% were from highly selective co leges and universities, ncluding an vy League school
The Class of 2024 included 2,218 seniors, 14,264 acceptances to colleges and universities.
13 IDEA seniors were selected as QuestBridge National College Match program finalists
IDEA's Child Nutrition Program farms have harvested 120,000 pounds of produce that has made its way to over 500,000 student meals.
IDEA McAllen, IDEA Quest, IDEA Frontier, IDEA Carver, IDEA Rundberg, IDEA Alamo, and IDEA Riverview ranked within the top 1% nationally.
Four IDEA high schools ranked in the top 20 high schools in Texas.
IDEA Carver was ranked the #3 Best High School in the San Antonio area.
IDEA Rundberg was ranked the #3 Best High School in the Austin area.
IDEA McAllen was ranked the #1 Best High School in the McAllen area
22 IDEA high schools ranked among the top 10% in Texas.
Dashiell Young-Saver, an IDEA South Flores AP Statistics teacher, landed a spot on the prestigious 2024 Forbes 30 under 30 list. In his second year of teaching at IDEA, his engaging lesson plans earned nationwide recognition.
In 2024, IDEA Public Schools celebrated a year of growth and expansion. From the ceremonial Ribbon Cutting of IDEA Southeast College Prep in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, to the Groundbreaking of IDEA Lopez in Odessa, TX, and the addition of a brand new campus, IDEA A. W. Brown, each milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and access. These events not only symbolize tangible growth of IDEA, but the collective efforts of educators, families, and supporters in transforming lives through education.
Tatiana Govan IDEA Wa zem - San Antonio TX DEA s Faci ities Scho arsh p is funded by CPS Energy’s Demand Response Program This init at ve teaches scho ars n our San Antonio and Aust n regions the mportance of energy conservation, espec ally during t mes of high stra n on the power grid
Catalina Pena
IDEA Brackenridge - San Anton o, TX
Kylea Chavez
IDEA Carver - San Antonio TX
Syncere Sanchez
IDEA Eastside - San Anton o, TX
Mia Guerra
IDEA Ewing Ha sel - San Antonio TX
Kenneth Haynes
Christian Ramos DEA Mays - San Antonio, TX
Anecia Deanna Dixon
IDEA Monterrey Park - San Antonio TX
Daiana Jones IDEA Najim - San Antonio, TX
Amy Hernandez Granillo
IDEA Rundberg - Austin TX
Gamez
IDEA South Flores - San Antonio TX
Chief Financial Officer Profile
Maria Fernanda Puente Barrera
The Regions Bank and McGr ff Scholarships provide crucial f nancial support to IDEA students pursu ng h gher education These scholarships empower students to ach eve their academic dreams by easing the f nancial burden of co lege tuition and related expenses We are deeply grateful for the support of our donors and their commitment to education. The r investment in our students futures makes a asting impact, helping them reach the r ful potent al and positively transform their communities
Jacqueline Estrada IDEA Rundberg - Austin, TX
The A and Judy Lopez Scho arship Endowment was establ shed to honor Judy and Al s unwavering servant leadership, passion to create more equ tab e educat ona opportunities for al students and the incred b e mpact Al Lopez had during h s decade- ong service to IDEA
Regina Cavazos Cantu
"I am excited to contribute to IDEA's mission of empowering students and transforming education. I am passionate about leveraging financial strategies to ensure IDEA’s long-term growth and sustainability. My vision for the future includes expanding opportunities for students while enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring that IDEA continues to provide an exceptional education to more communities across the country. I am committed to driving innovation and fostering partnerships that align with IDEA's core values and goals."