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Average

#5112 of 8,552 schools in TX

Idea Frontier Academy

Elementary School · IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2800 S DAKOTA AVE, Brownsville, TX 78521

Charter

Enrollment

688

Student-Teacher

22.9:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#5,112 of 8,552

In Brownsville

#51 of 66

public schools

In district

#86 of 123

IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Idea Frontier Academy

5.8/10

Elementary School in Brownsville · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Idea Frontier College Preparatory

7.9/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lopez Early College H S

6.1/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Idea Frontier Academy

Idea Frontier Academy is a public elementary school in Brownsville, TX, part of IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Idea Frontier Academy serves approximately 688 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 22.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Idea Frontier Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #5,112 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Idea Frontier Academy show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.3 pts below district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.1
  • TX avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Idea Frontier Academy runs 22.9:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Idea Frontier Academy is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.88 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.7 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+17.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment2.2Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,857
Chronic Absenteeism8.6%

Idea Frontier Academy — Students at Idea Frontier Academy score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

95.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 61.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 65.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
94%
ELA
96%
2010
Math
97%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
60%
ELA
69%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
78%
ELA
83%
2015
Math
78%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
29%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
29%
2022
Math
49.5%
ELA
60.4%
2024
Math
47%
ELA
57%

* 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: 5.6/10.

How Idea Frontier Academy Compares

See how Idea Frontier Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
40th percentile in TX
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
5.6/10
Average
Environment
2.2/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
95%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.6%

Location

2800 S DAKOTA AVE, Brownsville, TX 78521

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Idea Frontier Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GARZA EL (rated 7.8/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is SOUTHMOST EL (rated 7.1/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, VERMILLION ROAD EL (rated 7.0/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Brownsville, see our Brownsville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.5 mi
School Distance Rating
IDEA FRONTIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY Brownsville 0.0 mi 7.9
LOPEZ EARLY COLLEGE H S Brownsville 0.3 mi 6.1
SOUTHMOST EL Brownsville 1.0 mi 7.1
BESTEIRO MIDDLE Brownsville 1.0 mi 7.2
AIKEN EL Brownsville 1.1 mi 6.8
PALM GROVE EL Brownsville 1.4 mi 5.1
GARZA EL Brownsville 1.6 mi 7.8
MORNINGSIDE EL Brownsville 1.8 mi 4.3
EL JARDIN EL Brownsville 2.3 mi 6.8
LUCIO MIDDLE Brownsville 2.4 mi 7.0
DEL CASTILLO EL Brownsville 2.3 mi 4.5
CHAMPION EL Brownsville 2.6 mi 5.7
BRITE EL Brownsville 2.7 mi 6.4
CASTANEDA EL Brownsville 2.7 mi 6.5
CROMACK EL Brownsville 2.7 mi 3.8
PERKINS MIDDLE Brownsville 3.2 mi 7.0
VERMILLION ROAD EL Brownsville 3.7 mi 7.0
PORTER EARLY COLLEGE H S Brownsville 3.4 mi 6.9
RIVERA EARLY COLLEGE H S Brownsville 3.8 mi 5.8
FAULK MIDDLE Brownsville 3.5 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78521 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$41,276

Median Home Value

$90,500

Median Rent

$864/mo

Population

87,860

College Educated

14.8%

Homeownership

59.4%

Avg Commute

21.8 min

Poverty Rate

30.6%

Median Age

31.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ALBERT & IOLA LEE DAVIS MALVERN EL Mckinney, TX 5.8
ALEXANDER EL Houston, TX 5.8
BEN NARBUTH EL El Paso, TX 5.8
BRANDENBURG EL Irving, TX 5.8
BROWN EL Irving, TX 5.8
CASEY EL Austin, TX 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Idea Frontier Academy

What grades does Idea Frontier Academy serve?

Idea Frontier Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Idea Frontier Academy?

Idea Frontier Academy has an enrollment of approximately 688 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea Frontier Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Idea Frontier Academy is 22.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Idea Frontier Academy rank in TX?

Idea Frontier Academy ranks #5,112 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Idea Frontier Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Idea Frontier Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Frontier Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Idea Frontier Academy has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Idea Frontier Academy a charter school?

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

Is Idea Frontier Academy a Title I school?

No, Idea Frontier Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Idea Frontier Academy?

95.1% of students at Idea Frontier 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
688
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
95.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Cameron County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.6%

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