Texas Border Business
Rio Grande Valley, Texas – IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley is excited to welcome 35,000 students for the upcoming 2025–26 school year at its 51 schools across the RGV. The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 14.
New this year, IDEA Robindale College Preparatory and IDEA Los Encinos College Preparatory will welcome their first senior class in school history. Both campuses opened in 2019 offering grades K-2 and 6th grade, adding a grade level each year until they are now fully scaled, K-12th grade. The graduating Class of 2026 is working to fulfill IDEA’s mission of going to and through college and will be selecting their top choice college or universities this year.
See the gallery below for images of the first day back to school at IDEA: (all images are courtesy of IDEA Public Schools)
“We are beyond excited to welcome thousands of students across the Rio Grande Valley back to our classrooms,” said Jill Dominguez, Area Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools. “This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the first-ever senior classes at two of our campuses. From their very first day at IDEA to now preparing for college applications, these students embody our mission of getting to and through college. We can’t wait to see all they will achieve.”
This year also marks a major milestone, as IDEA Public Schools officially kicks off its 25th school year of preparing students for success in college and beyond. In the RGV, IDEA Robindale College Preparatory, led by Principal Jessica Hinojosa, will serve approximately 750 students in grades six through twelve this school year. Senior siblings Omar and Fatima Sosa began their journey at IDEA Robindale as sixth-grade students. After immigrating to the United States and overcoming various challenges, both have excelled academically and athletically, earning recognition as QuestBridge College Prep Scholars.
“The campus has seen both Fatima and Omar grow and thrive at IDEA Robindale, as well as many students who will become seniors this year,” said Principal Hinojosa. “We will continue to support our students their senior year to ensure they succeed in and out of the classroom.”
To honor the first senior class on the first day of school, IDEA Robindale seniors will unveil a Senior Wall and a Senior Class of 2026 “A” Marker, which consists of the letter “A” for Aviators and has the senior names engraved. For years to come, this “A” will mark their place in IDEA Robindale hallways.
IDEA Public Schools will also be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. IDEA schools in the RGV will provide nutritious breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge. No action is required from families for their child(ren) to participate in the free meal offerings and this will eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals.
For more information on IDEA Public Schools in the RGV please visit www.ideapublicschools.org/regions/rio-grande-valley/.
