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Below Average

#7034 of 8,547 schools in TX

Idea Elsa College Preparatory

School · IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

431 S FANNIN, Elsa, TX 78543

Charter

Enrollment

632

Student-Teacher

16.2:1

Score

4.7

Grades

6th – 11th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Elsa

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#71 of 123

IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Academic performance

7.2 / 10

Strong

About Idea Elsa College Preparatory

IDEA Elsa College Preparatory is a charter school located in the rural area near the town of Elsa, Texas. The school serves students from sixth grade through eleventh grade and has an enrollment of 632 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1. IDEA Elsa College Preparatory boasts 39 full-time equivalent teachers committed to educating their diverse student body.

The academic performance at IDEA Elsa College Preparatory shows room for improvement, as indicated by the MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and a state ranking of #6884 among 8598 schools in Texas (20th percentile). The school's ELA/Reading proficiency rate is at 43%, while Math proficiency stands at 46%. These scores reflect the ongoing efforts to support student development.

IDEA Elsa College Preparatory sits in a rural setting near the town of Elsa, offering students a close-knit community environment.

What Parents Should Know

Idea Elsa College Preparatory is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Located in a rural area, Idea Elsa College Preparatory may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/3 metrics
Student Progress2.4Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-12.25 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency26%
Reading/ELA Proficiency39%
Overall Proficiency33%
Expected (poverty-adj.)24%
vs. Expected+8.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile58th
College Readiness4.2Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation16.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.0Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,912

Idea Elsa College Preparatory — Students at Idea Elsa College Preparatory score 32% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

91.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 46.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 43.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
39%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.4/10.

How Idea Elsa College Preparatory Compares

See how Idea Elsa College Preparatory performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.7/10
18th percentile in TX
Academic
7.2/10
7.2/10
Growth
2.4/10
Below average
Environment
5.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
92%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers

Location

431 S FANNIN, Elsa, TX 78543

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Idea Elsa College Preparatory may also want to explore other schools in the area. LA VILLA EARLY COLLEGE H S (rated 6.9/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby La Villa), which scores notably higher. Another option is EDCOUCH-ELSA H S ACADEMY (rated 6.3/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Edcouch), which scores notably higher. Additionally, JOSE BORREGO MIDDLE (rated 6.3/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby Monte Alto), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Elsa, see our Elsa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.3 mi
School Distance Rating
IDEA ELSA ACADEMY Elsa 0.0 mi 3.8
L B J EL Edcouch 0.3 mi 3.8
CARLOS TRUAN J H Edcouch 0.9 mi 4.9
EDCOUCH-ELSA H S ACADEMY Edcouch 0.8 mi 6.3
EDCOUCH-ELSA H S Edcouch 0.9 mi 4.8
RUBEN C RODRIGUEZ EL Edcouch 0.9 mi 3.4
JORGE R GUTIERREZ EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Edcouch 1.1 mi 4.2
KENNEDY EL Edcouch 1.2 mi 3.5
DAVID YBARRA FINE ARTS ACADEMY Edcouch 1.6 mi 4.1
SANTIAGO GARCIA EL Edcouch 1.8 mi 3.5
LA VILLA EARLY COLLEGE H S La Villa 3.5 mi 6.9
LA VILLA MIDDLE La Villa 3.9 mi 4.2
JOSE BERNABE MUNOZ EL La Villa 4.0 mi 5.1
MARIA ALICIA P MUNOZ EL Donna 4.8 mi 2.6
JOHN F KENNEDY EL Edinburg 5.1 mi 4.4
MONTE ALTO H S Monte Alto 5.9 mi 4.4
SAN CARLOS EL Edinburg 5.3 mi 4.2
ROBERTO GARATE EL Monte Alto 5.9 mi 4.2
JOSE BORREGO MIDDLE Monte Alto 5.9 mi 6.3
PFC MARIO YBARRA EL Weslaco 6.3 mi 3.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78543 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$47,657

Median Home Value

$85,900

Median Rent

$759/mo

Population

8,608

College Educated

9.3%

Homeownership

78.6%

Poverty Rate

20.1%

Median Age

32

Community Profile

The community surrounding Idea Elsa College Preparatory has a median household income of $47,657. It is a community where 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $85,900, with a median rent of $759/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Idea Elsa College Preparatory

What grades does Idea Elsa College Preparatory serve?

Idea Elsa College Preparatory serves students in grades 6th through 11th.

How many students attend Idea Elsa College Preparatory?

Idea Elsa College Preparatory has an enrollment of approximately 632 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea Elsa College Preparatory?

The student-teacher ratio at Idea Elsa College Preparatory is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Idea Elsa College Preparatory rank in TX?

Idea Elsa College Preparatory is ranked #7034 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Idea Elsa College Preparatory's MySchoolScout rating?

Idea Elsa College Preparatory has a composite rating of 4.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Idea Elsa College Preparatory?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Idea Elsa College Preparatory has 46.5% math proficiency and 43.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Idea Elsa College Preparatory a charter school?

Yes, Idea Elsa College Preparatory is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Idea Elsa College Preparatory a Title I school?

No, Idea Elsa College Preparatory is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Idea Elsa College Preparatory?

91.8% of students at Idea Elsa College Preparatory qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,315/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Elsa). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 11th
Enrollment
632
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
91.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Hidalgo County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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