Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – IDEA Public Schools is excited to announce that, in addition to 100 percent of the Class of 2021 gaining admission to college, they are also celebrating the class matriculating to college.
Since 2007, IDEA has achieved a nearly perfect college matriculation rate as it pursues its unwavering commitment of College for All children, ensuring graduates are prepared to succeed in college, career, and life. The network has maintained these extraordinary results as it has grown to serve more than 75,000 students, across 137 schools in Texas and Louisiana, since 2000—more than any other charter school network during this time period.
This year, 61% of the Class of 2021 were accepted into the country’s best colleges or universities, a 13% increase from last year. The Class of 2021 received 7,484 national acceptances to colleges and universities with 2,068 acceptances into selective and highly selective colleges, including 14 Ivy League acceptances. In addition, 25% of students are currently attending the country’s best colleges, up 4% from last year.
The class also received more than $85 million in scholarships and grants and 74% are the first in their family to attend college.
“Despite unprecedented challenges, the Class of 2021 has set record-setting results, proven themselves by working hard, and defined their success,” says Al Lopez, Acting CEO and Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools. “They spent their junior and senior year amidst a global pandemic and faced learning curves but were still able to come out on top. These students are a unique bunch, and we are very proud of them.”
IDEA’s promise to our students doesn’t end when they are accepted to college, nor matriculate to college. College for All Children is made possible by talented staff, innovative programs, and cultivating a college-going culture.
Through IDEA’s College Support Model, our staff partners with families to see every student to and through college. They provide a wide range of services and support while for students in college. IDEA’s alumni team plays the primary role of ensuring graduates have the resources they need to succeed. They check in with alumni regularly via person-to-person meetings, phone calls, text messages, emails, and more, providing students on-the-spot coaching related to success in college.
“Through the continuous support of our team, staff, and families, IDEA Public Schools has stayed committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure all of graduates matriculate to college,” says Phillip Garza, Chief College Officer for IDEA Public Schools. “For the fifteenth year, we achieved our 100% acceptance goal, and we achieved our college matriculation goal, and this is certainly something to celebrate.”
