Idea Public Schools

Compiled from official source data by PlainSchools Editorial. · Updated June 2026

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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Weslaco, Texas - 123 schools

An equity score of 47/100 ranks Idea Public Schools #571 of 1044 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,912 per pupil, Idea Public Schools ranks #804 of 1202 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

74,217

Total Enrollment

123

Schools

$11,912

Per-Pupil Spending

Combined, Elementary

School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Idea Public Schools operates 123 public schools serving 74,217 students, placing it among the largest districts in Texas. The school portfolio breaks down into 69 combined, 38 elementary, 15 middle, 1 high schools, giving families in a major system a clear picture of grade-band coverage across a large portfolio before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Hidalgo County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,912 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1202 Texas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Texas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 2.8% local, 76.8% state, and 20.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 47/100, ranked #571 of 1044 in Texas against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 38 of 123 schools offering Advanced Placement (386 AP courses district-wide), a 622.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 27.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% African American, 5.3% White across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Idea Round Rock Tech Academy, with a diversity index of 67.3/100.

Its largest campus is Idea College Preparatory Pharr, enrolling 848 students (1% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Idea Ambrose and Freda Robinson College Preparator, at 111 students, a 8x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Idea Public Schools school enrollment varies 7.6× across entities

Idea Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 111 students (lowest) to 848 students (highest), a spread of 737 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data Accessed 2026-06-10

Idea Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 77.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system Accessed 2026-06-10

Idea Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 622:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection Accessed 2026-06-10

Idea Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 27.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Idea Public Schools is typically wider than the Idea Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 Accessed 2026-06-10

Where does the funding come from?

20.4%

Federal

76.8%

State

2.8%

Local

Funding Equity

Equity Score

571 / 1044

State Rank

State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

View all Texas equity rankings →

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 123 schools in Idea Public Schools.

White 5.3%

Hispanic or Latino 85.2%

African American 7.5%

Asian 1.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Idea Public Schools's schools, below the Texas average of 44.7.

Most mixed schools

1 Idea Round Rock Tech Academy 67.3
2 Idea Rise Academy 62.4
3 Idea Round Rock Tech College Preparatory 59.3
4 Idea Edgecliff Academy 57.8
5 Idea Edgecliff College Preparatory 56.5

Programs & Resources

38 / 123

Schools with AP

386 AP courses total

622.2:1

Student-Counselor Ratio

27.4%

Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Idea Public Schools

School	Level	Enrollment	Student:Teacher
Idea College Preparatory Pharr Charter	combined	848	17.7:1
Idea Montopolis College Preparatory Charter	combined	835	19.4:1
Idea College Prep Charter	combined	823	15.5:1
Idea Mcallen College Preparatory Charter	combined	820	17.8:1
Idea Riverview College Preparatory Charter	combined	813	15.6:1
Idea College Preparatory Mission Charter	combined	798	16:1
Idea Edinburg College Preparatory Charter	combined	795	16.6:1
Idea Rundberg College Preparatory Charter	combined	790	16.5:1
Idea Edgemere Academy Charter	combined	788	18.3:1
Idea Brownsville College Preparatory Charter	combined	783	16.3:1
Idea Frontier College Preparatory Charter	combined	781	15.9:1
Idea College Preparatory San Benito Charter	combined	780	17:1
Idea Los Encinos Academy Charter	combined	770	25.7:1
Idea Weslaco Pike College Preparatory Charter	combined	758	15.8:1
Idea North Mission College Preparatory Charter	combined	756	16.4:1
Idea Los Encinos College Preparatory Charter	combined	753	29:1
Idea Mays College Preparatory Charter	combined	748	14.4:1
Idea Judson College Preparatory Charter	combined	747	15.6:1
Idea Academy Charter	combined	744	23.3:1
Idea Monterrey Park College Preparatory Charter	combined	743	17.7:1
Idea Converse Academy Charter	elementary	743	35.4:1
Idea Horizon Vista Academy Charter	combined	742	32.3:1
Idea College Preparatory San Juan Charter	combined	741	13.5:1
Idea Mcallen Academy Charter	combined	738	22.4:1
Idea College Preparatory Alamo Charter	combined	737	16.8:1
Idea Elsa College Preparatory Charter	combined	737	20.5:1
Idea Yukon Academy Charter	elementary	736	35:1
Idea Weslaco Pike Academy Charter	combined	734	22.2:1
Idea Burke Academy Charter	elementary	730	29.2:1
Idea College Prep Weslaco Charter	combined	728	16.5:1
Idea Edinburg Academy Charter	combined	728	22.1:1
Idea Spears Academy Charter	elementary	728	24.3:1
Idea Walzem College Preparatory Charter	combined	724	16.8:1
Idea North Mission Academy Charter	combined	719	17.5:1
Idea Lake Houston Academy Charter	elementary	719	39.9:1
Idea Elsa Academy Charter	combined	718	23.2:1
Idea Round Rock Tech Academy Charter	elementary	718	23.2:1
Idea Academy Pharr Charter	combined	717	22.4:1
Idea Rio Grande City Academy Charter	combined	717	19.9:1
Idea South Flores College Preparatory Charter	combined	715	15.9:1
Idea Riverview Academy Charter	combined	714	21:1
Idea Edgecliff Academy Charter	elementary	708	24.4:1
Idea Hardy Academy Charter	elementary	705	26.1:1
Idea Palmview Academy Charter	elementary	705	25.2:1
Idea Ewing Halsell Academy Charter	elementary	704	22.7:1
Idea Brownsville Academy Charter	elementary	702	22.6:1
Idea Judson Academy Charter	elementary	701	24.2:1
Idea Owassa Academy Charter	combined	699	20.6:1
Idea Robindale Academy Charter	elementary	699	20.6:1
Idea Academy Alamo Charter	combined	698	20.5:1
Idea Southeast Academy Charter	elementary	698	34.9:1
Idea Rio Vista Academy Charter	combined	696	20.5:1
Idea Rio Grande City College Preparatory Charter	combined	695	17.4:1
Idea Tres Lagos Academy Charter	combined	695	19.3:1
Idea Montopolis Academy Charter	elementary	694	22.4:1
Idea Rundberg Academy Charter	elementary	694	23.1:1
Idea Robindale College Preparatory Charter	combined	693	28.9:1
Idea Bluff Springs College Preparatory Charter	combined	689	13.3:1
Idea Owassa College Preparatory Charter	combined	689	19.7:1
Idea Academy San Benito Charter	combined	685	20.1:1
Idea Tres Lagos College Preparatory Charter	combined	685	16.7:1
Idea Kyle College Preparatory Charter	combined	681	20:1
Idea Rise Academy Charter	elementary	681	22.7:1
Idea South Flores Academy Charter	elementary	680	21.3:1
Idea Frontier Academy Charter	combined	675	19.9:1
Idea Brackenridge College Preparatory Charter	combined	671	19.7:1
Idea Pflugerville College Preparatory Charter	combined	669	21.6:1
Idea Quest College Preparatory Charter	combined	667	14.8:1
Idea Pflugerville Academy Charter	elementary	665	19.6:1
Idea Academy Mission Charter	combined	664	20.1:1
Idea Mays Academy Charter	elementary	663	19.5:1
Idea Carver College Preparatory Charter	combined	661	15.4:1
Idea La Joya Academy Charter	elementary	656	32.8:1
Idea Harlingen Academy Charter	elementary	651	22.4:1
Idea Academy Weslaco Charter	elementary	649	22.4:1
Idea Mesa Hills Academy Charter	combined	643	22.2:1
Idea Mesquite Hills Academy Charter	combined	641	29.1:1
Idea Kyle Academy Charter	elementary	637	22.8:1
Idea Hardy College Preparatory Charter	middle	635	52.9:1
Idea Brackenridge Academy Charter	elementary	631	23.4:1
Idea Parmer Park College Preparatory Charter	combined	624	25:1
Idea Parmer Park Academy Charter	elementary	621	21.4:1
Idea Burke College Preparatory Charter	combined	620	27:1
Idea Edgemere College Preparatory Charter	combined	619	18.2:1
Idea Academy San Juan Charter	combined	617	18.7:1
Idea Spears College Preparatory Charter	middle	617	44.1:1
Idea Walzem Academy Charter	elementary	611	21.1:1
Idea Ewing Halsell College Preparatory Charter	combined	611	18.5:1
Idea Hidden Meadow Academy Charter	elementary	608	30.4:1
Idea Monterrey Park Academy Charter	elementary	607	23.3:1
Idea Edgecliff College Preparatory Charter	middle	604	43.1:1
Idea Rise College Preparatory Charter	combined	598	23:1
Idea Quest Academy Charter	combined	592	19.7:1
Idea Rio Vista College Preparatory Charter	combined	590	17.9:1
Idea Ingram Hills Academy Charter	elementary	588	20.3:1
Idea Achieve Academy Charter	elementary	585	19.5:1
Idea Sports Park Academy Charter	elementary	571	21.1:1
Idea Ingram Hills College Preparatory Charter	combined	543	17.5:1
Idea Najim Academy Charter	elementary	540	20:1
Idea Mesa Hills College Preparatory Charter	combined	533	25.4:1
Idea Bluff Springs Academy Charter	elementary	521	16.3:1
Idea Round Rock Tech College Preparatory Charter	middle	504	29.6:1
Idea Yukon College Preparatory Charter	middle	503	55.9:1
Idea Lake Houston College Preparatory Charter	middle	499	41.6:1
Idea Southeast College Preparatory Charter	middle	475	47.5:1
Idea Najim College Preparatory Charter	combined	474	20.6:1
Idea Eastside College Preparatory Charter	combined	469	11.4:1
Idea Carver Academy Charter	elementary	468	18:1
Idea Achieve College Preparatory Charter	combined	466	23.3:1
Idea Converse College Preparatory Charter	middle	462	35.5:1
Idea Sports Park College Preparatory Charter	high	457	21.8:1
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory Charter	middle	457	28.6:1
Idea Palmview College Preparatory Charter	middle	446	26.2:1
Idea Ambrose and Freda Robinson Academy Charter	elementary	423	32.5:1
Idea Horizon Vista College Preparatory Charter	middle	402	28.7:1
Idea Eastside Academy Charter	elementary	392	17.8:1
Idea Health Professions College Preparatory Charter	combined	376	17.1:1
Idea Mesquite Hills College Preparatory Charter	middle	352	35.2:1
Idea La Joya College Preparatory Charter	middle	344	31.3:1
Idea Hidden Meadow College Preparatory Charter	middle	336	24:1
Idea Health Professions Academy Charter	elementary	294	16.3:1
Idea Toros College Preparatory Charter	combined	258	13.6:1
Idea Ambrose and Freda Robinson College Preparator Charter	middle	111	18.5:1

How Idea Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District	Enrollment	Spending	Funding Mix	School Count	Federal Reliance
Austin Isd	Similar size	Similar spending	More locally funded	Similar school count	Similar federal reliance
Fort Worth Isd	Similar size	Similar spending	More locally funded	More schools	Similar federal reliance
Conroe Isd	Similar size	Lower spending	More locally funded	Fewer schools	Lower federal reliance
Fort Bend Isd	Similar size	Similar spending	More locally funded	Fewer schools	Lower federal reliance
Frisco Isd	Similar size	Lower spending	More locally funded	Fewer schools	Lower federal reliance

Comparisons are relative to Idea Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Texas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Houston Isd

189,934 students · 274 schools · $12,031/pupil

Compare vs Idea Public Schools →

Dallas Isd

141,169 students · 240 schools · $12,650/pupil

Compare vs Idea Public Schools →

Cypress-Fairbanks Isd

118,010 students · 91 schools · $10,232/pupil

Compare vs Idea Public Schools →

Northside Isd

102,719 students · 124 schools · $10,615/pupil

Compare vs Idea Public Schools →

Katy Isd

92,667 students · 74 schools · $11,068/pupil

Compare vs Idea Public Schools →

Compare Idea Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Houston Isd →

Explore PlainSchools

Compare Districts → Schools in Texas → Rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Idea Public Schools?

Idea Public Schools has 123 schools, including 69 combined, 38 elementary, 15 middle, 1 high. Total enrollment is 74,217 students.

How much does Idea Public Schools spend per student?

Idea Public Schools spends $11,912 per student. The district has an equity score of 47/100, ranking #571 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Idea Public Schools?

Idea Public Schools students are 85.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% African American, 5.3% White, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 123 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Idea Public Schools?

Idea Public Schools has an equity score of 47/100, ranking #571 out of 1044 districts in Texas.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.