Excellent
#850 of 8,552 schools in TX
Top 10% in state
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory
Middle School · Idea Public Schools · Harlingen, TX
A charter middle school in Harlingen, TX where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
24240 CHESTER PARK RD, Harlingen, TX 78552
- Math 39% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 51% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 13:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Idea Harlingen College Preparatory score 45% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 13 points since 2020, reaching 45% in 2024, across a 5-year record (2020–2024).
Show all 4 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2020-2024) · reading/ELA 44% (multi-year average, 2020-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 8 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
86.3%
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 Harlingen College Preparatory 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 9Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,994/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Harlingen), 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
$67,183
Median home value
$154,500
Median rent
$1,054/mo
College educated
21.9%
Homeownership
74.7%
Poverty rate
20.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78552; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutierrez MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–8 | 0.2 mi | 806 | Compare → |
| Dr Abraham P Cano Freshman AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | 9 | 1.3 mi | 1,035 | Compare → |
| Jubilee HarlingenCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.1 | PK–9 | 1.3 mi | 421 | Compare → |
| Idea Burke College PreparatoryCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.1 | 6–10 | Not available | 478 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Idea Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 123
- Rank in district
- #4 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 Harlingen College Preparatory is listed in IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Idea Harlingen College Preparatory
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory is a public middle school in Harlingen, TX, part of Idea Public Schools, serving approximately 350 students in grades 6th-9th with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #850 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Idea Harlingen College Preparatory
What grades does Idea Harlingen College Preparatory serve?
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory serves students in grades 6th through 9th.
How many students attend Idea Harlingen College Preparatory?
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory has an enrollment of approximately 350 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea Harlingen College Preparatory?
The student-teacher ratio at Idea Harlingen College Preparatory is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Idea Harlingen College Preparatory rank in TX?
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory ranks #850 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Idea Harlingen College Preparatory's MySchoolScout rating?
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Harlingen College Preparatory?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Idea Harlingen College Preparatory has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2024).
Is Idea Harlingen College Preparatory a charter school?
Yes, Idea Harlingen 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 Harlingen College Preparatory a Title I school?
No, Idea Harlingen College Preparatory is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Idea Harlingen College Preparatory?
86.3% of students at Idea Harlingen 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 9th
- Enrollment
- 350
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Cameron County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.6%
- Phone
- (956) 272-3912
- Area population (ZIP 78552)
- 41,277
- Area average commute
- 18 min
- Area median age
- 33.1
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 78552; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2020-2024; 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.