Below Average
#6467 of 8,552 schools in TX
Idea Academy
Elementary School · Idea Public Schools · Donna, TX
A charter elementary school in Donna, TX where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
401 S 1ST ST, Donna, TX 78537
- Math 33% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 45% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 24:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Idea Academy score 39% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 39% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Idea Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 19Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High6,078/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Donna), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$36,331
Median home value
$74,700
Median rent
$744/mo
College educated
10.3%
Homeownership
73.3%
Poverty rate
41.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78537; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J W Caceres Discovery Int AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | 2–5 | 0.3 mi | 285 | Compare → |
| M Rivas Pri Discovery AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–2 | 0.3 mi | 394 | Compare → |
| A M Ochoa ELEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 603 | Compare → |
| C Stainke ELEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 513 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Idea Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 123
- Rank in district
- #103 of 123
- District spending per student
- $11,857NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Idea Academy is listed in IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Idea Academy
Idea Academy is a public elementary school in Donna, TX, part of Idea Public Schools, serving approximately 767 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 24:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #6,467 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Idea Academy
What grades does Idea Academy serve?
Idea Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Idea Academy?
Idea Academy has an enrollment of approximately 767 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Idea Academy is 24:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Idea Academy rank in TX?
Idea Academy ranks #6,467 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Idea Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Idea Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Idea Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Idea Academy has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Idea Academy a charter school?
Yes, Idea Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Idea Academy a Title I school?
No, Idea Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Idea Academy?
97.8% of students at Idea Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 767
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 24:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Hidalgo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.6%
- Phone
- (956) 464-0203
- Area population (ZIP 78537)
- 51,346
- Area average commute
- 26.3 min
- Area median age
- 25.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 78537; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.