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IDEA Public Schools is proud to celebrate a historic milestone: 25 years of delivering a college-bound, tuition-free education to thousands of students from underserved communities. On March 3, 2025, IDEA Public Schools will celebrate its 25th anniversary preparing students for college and in life. Since 2000, IDEA has grown from a small school of 150 students in the Rio Grande Valley to 145 schools serving 87,000 students across Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, and Florida.
“For 25 years, IDEA has transformed lives by reaffirming our mission to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the tools and support needed to prepare them for success in college and in life,” said Dr. Jeff Cottrill, CEO and Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools. “We are immensely grateful to our teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners who have contributed to our legacy, as we renew our commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come.”
From its humble beginnings, IDEA has become a national leader in college access. For the past 17 years, IDEA has achieved nearly 100% college acceptance among seniors and enrolls 95% of graduates in college, more than twice the national rate for low-income students. So far, IDEA has supported over 13,000 graduates in their journey to & through college and will have supported nearly 50,000 graduates by 2030.
At the core of IDEA’s mission is the commitment to create opportunities and provide access to high-quality education to every student. Through the unique curriculum and college support model, IDEA aims to close the opportunity gap and increase levels of achievement by preparing students for success. IDEA is committed to a mission of “College for ALL children,” ensuring more students from low-income backgrounds, students who would be the first generation in their families to attend college, and students who come from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, have access to realizing their dreams.
As IDEA Public Schools commemorates its 25th anniversary, schools across the network are celebrating in a variety of ways, including spirit days, read-a-thons, or essays and art contests. More importantly, the celebrations will include demonstrations of gratitude to teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners for being part of the journey. IDEA encourages its alumni, families, and community members to join us in celebrating this milestone by sharing their IDEA stories on social media, attending campus events, and supporting IDEA’s mission to expand educational opportunities for all.
| While IDEA Public Schools has many reasons to celebrate, here is a list of some of the significant accomplishments over the past 25 years: |
| College Acceptance: Nearly 100 percent college acceptance among seniors for 17 consecutive years. |
| National Recognition: Enrolling 95 percent of graduates in college, more than twice the national rate for low-income students. |
| Academic Excellence: Recognized among the top high schools in the nation, IDEA continues to set the standard for academic excellence, with 22 high schools ranking in the top 8% nationwide in 2024, by the U.S. News & World Report. |
| Student Enrollment: Currently, IDEA serves 87,000 students in 145 schools in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Florida. |
| Health Recognition: In 2024, 133 IDEA campuses were honored on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s list of “America’s Healthiest Schools.” |
| Energy Efficient: In 2024, the White House named IDEA Public Schools as a national leader in Efficient and Healthy Schools Program |
| Broad Prize Winner: IDEA Public Schools was named the 2016 Broad Prize Winner, a prestigious award in public education that recognizes strong student academic achievement to prepare students for college. |
| College Signing Day: In its longstanding tradition, IDEA Public Schools has celebrated thousands of graduating seniors as they reveal the college of their choice to classmates, families, teachers, staff, and community members. Watch the magic here. |
| Top Rankings: IDEA Public Schools has been recognized in national rankings for The Washington Post and the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Blue Ribbon Schools. |
As IDEA Public Schools looks ahead, the organization remains committed to expanding its reach, developing innovative educational practices, and further strengthening its college-readiness programs to serve even more students across the nation.
For more information on IDEA Public Schools please visit www.ideapublicschools.org. If you would like to request an interview with IDEA leadership, please contact Lynnette Montemayor at lynnette.montemayor@ideapublicschools.org
