- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Donna, TX
Idea Academy
Federal NCES profile for Idea Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 480021111804Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 7
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Idea Academy earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Texas schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #13 of 13
- schools in Donna · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.3:1
- large classes for Texas
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Idea Academy has class sizes larger than 96% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Idea Academy ranks #13 of 13 schools in Donna, TX.
School address
District: Idea Public Schools · Texas
NCES ID 480021111804 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Idea Academy held near 767 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-36 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.8 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-36 students YoY 480021111804 · Donna, TX Other · MID · CHARTER
744 enr · 23.3:1 · 96.6% lunch · RII 15
Nearest enrollment peer: Idea College Preparatory Pharr (848 students)
Idea Academy held near 767 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-36 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.8 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Idea Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Idea College P
Idea College Preparatory Pharr
848 students
- Idea Montopoli
Idea Montopolis College Preparatory
835 students
- Idea College P
Idea College Prep
823 students
- Idea Mcallen C
Idea Mcallen College Preparatory
820 students
- Idea Riverview
Idea Riverview College Preparatory
813 students
- This school
Idea Academy
744 students
What this shows Idea Academy reports 744 students on the CCD universe file.
How Idea Academy compares
Idea Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.3:1 | ▲ 59% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 56% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 744 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.3:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
744
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.3:1
students per teacher
- 59% above state mean
Top 96% in Texas - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,857
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 744 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 95.6%
White 3.9%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.5, Idea Academy is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
District finance for Idea Public Schools reports $11,857 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Idea Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idea College Preparatory Pharr | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Idea Montopolis College Preparatory | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Idea College Prep | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Idea Mcallen College Preparatory | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Idea Riverview College Preparatory | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Idea Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 820
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 813
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~744 students)
Frequently asked questions about Idea Academy
How many students attend Idea Academy?
Idea Academy has 744 students enrolled. It is a public school in Donna, TX. CCD year-over-year: 803 (2022-23) → 767 (2023-24), nearly flat (-36).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Idea Academy is 23.3:1, which is 59% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 48% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Idea Academy?
96.6% of students at Idea Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Idea Academy?
The largest demographic group at Idea Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 95.6% of enrollment, in Donna, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Idea Academy?
Idea Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Idea Academy rank among schools in Donna?
By Resource Investment Index, Idea Academy ranks #13 of 13 schools in Donna, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Donna on the city page.
What other schools are in Idea Public Schools?
Besides Idea Academy, Idea Public Schools also operates Idea College Preparatory Pharr (848 students), Idea Montopolis College Preparatory (835 students), and Idea College Prep (823 students). See the Idea Public Schools district page for the complete list.