Idea Public Schools

The Idea Public Schools district in Florida includes five schools—one elementary school (Idea Lakeland) and four alternative schools (Idea Victory, Idea River Bluff, Idea Bassett, and Idea Hope)—serving grades K-12, with the district ranking 67th out of 70 in the state and holding a 0-star rating.

Standout schools include Idea Bassett, which excels in mathematics, achieving a 97% proficiency rate in Algebra 1 EOC (far above the district's 74% and state's 60%) and leading in multiple grade-level math scores. Idea Hope is notable for a perfect 100% Algebra 1 proficiency rate, though this success does not extend to other subjects. Idea River Bluff spends the most per student ($31,103) but has mixed academic outcomes, while Idea Lakeland, the only non-alternative school, has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (81.86%) and excels in Civics (81% proficiency, exceeding district and state averages). Chronic absenteeism is a severe issue, with rates nearly double the state average of 31.4%—Idea Bassett leads at 64.6%, followed by Idea Hope at 59.9%, Idea River Bluff at 58.3%, and Idea Victory at 45.2%.

Key findings reveal a consistent "Math vs. ELA" divide, with schools performing better in math than English Language Arts. The high chronic absenteeism rates likely hinder academic achievement, and year-over-year test scores show significant volatility, complicating program assessment. The alternative schools' K-12 structure contributes to inconsistent performance across subjects, with pockets of excellence in math but struggles in ELA and science. There is no clear link between spending and performance, as Idea River Bluff spends the most but doesn't lead in scores, while Idea Hope spends the least yet achieves a perfect Algebra 1 score.