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Idea McAllen Academy

Q: Is Idea McAllen Academy a good school?

Idea McAllen Academy ranks 2939 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-5

2939^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Idea McAllen Academy is a K-5 charter school in McAllen, TX, serving 738 students as part of the Idea Public Schools district, where 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school was once a standout performer, ranking in the 84th percentile statewide from 2015 to 2018, but it has experienced a steep decline over the past decade, now sitting in the 36th percentile (2 stars). This drop is especially notable because nearby schools have maintained or improved their rankings—for example, Romulo D Martinez Elementary (0.73 miles away) ranks in the 85th percentile, and Thigpen-Zavala Elementary (1.49 miles away) ranks in the 87th percentile, suggesting the issue is specific to this school or its network.

A key differentiator is the school’s high student-to-teacher ratio of 21.4:1, which is much larger than nearby schools like Escandon Elementary (14.1:1) and Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary (14.9:1). Additionally, per-student spending at Idea McAllen Academy is $7,983, significantly lower than the $9,901 to $13,224 spent by neighboring Sharyland Independent School District (Isd) and McAllen Independent School District (Isd) schools. The school struggles most in mathematics, with 5th-grade proficiency at 31.25% in 2025-2026, well below the state average of 47.38% and far behind Romulo D Martinez Elementary’s 67.86%.

Despite the overall decline, there is a bright spot: the school consistently outperforms the state average in 5th-grade science, with 32.31% proficiency in 2024-2025 versus the state’s 29.57%. However, the most troubling trend is for low socio-economic status students, whose ranking plummeted from the 75th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile in 2025-2026. This suggests the school is no longer effectively supporting its core demographic. To reverse its trajectory, Idea McAllen Academy may need to address its high student-to-teacher ratio and learn from the successful strategies of its high-performing neighbors in the Sharyland and McAllen ISDs.

738

Students ?

21.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,327

Per pupil spending ?

78.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

201 N Bentsen Rd
McAllen, TX 78501

(956) 429-4100

District: Idea Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.0%

White:

4.3%

Asian:

0.9%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Idea McAllen Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2016 → 36th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (43% vs 51% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 48 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg40%

Texas avg51%

2,939^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 47 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^th of 62Elementary Schools in the Idea Public Schools

546^th of 951Idea Public Schools among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	37.2	2939 of 4627	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.0	2382 of 4651	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.2	1736 of 4710	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.1	1456 of 4647	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.4	1214 of 4581	73.5%	★★★★☆
2021	50.7	1992 of 4578	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.6	1001 of 4479	77.7%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	812 of 4359	81.4%	★★★★☆
2017	80.1	691 of 4329	84.0%	★★★★☆
2016	81.0	693 of 4286	83.8%	★★★★☆
2015	77.3	890 of 4320	79.4%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2018	81.0	88 of 1005	91.2%	★★★★★

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	83.0	351 of 4461	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	66.2	904 of 4331	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	88.7	188 of 4295	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	88.4	189 of 4240	95.5%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	55.0	1131 of 2918	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.7	1088 of 3668	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	687 of 3556	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	614 of 3487	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	63.8	841 of 3446	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.9	460 of 3333	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	79.3	337 of 3226	89.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	41.7	2647 of 4575	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.2	2057 of 3744	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.6	1711 of 4658	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.1	1308 of 4588	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	75.4	882 of 4561	80.7%	★★★★☆
2021	53.9	1809 of 4499	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.7	1414 of 4348	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.2	1028 of 4306	76.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	2776 of 4413	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.2	1510 of 3644	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.7	1425 of 4465	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.4	1125 of 4401	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	713 of 4376	83.7%	★★★★☆
2021	57.5	1481 of 4329	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.3	599 of 4188	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	561 of 4168	86.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	3161 of 4520	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.8	1365 of 3705	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.3	1134 of 4594	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.5	1100 of 4521	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	73.5	721 of 4477	83.9%	★★★★☆
2021	60.6	1361 of 4451	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.7	558 of 4309	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	78.4	481 of 4264	88.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	33.6	3197 of 4582	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.3	1436 of 3739	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.0	1882 of 4647	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.1	1698 of 4585	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.8	1671 of 4563	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.8	2094 of 4498	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	77.9	712 of 4357	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	77.9	722 of 4319	83.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	47.5	1901 of 4301	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	75.3	488 of 3549	86.2%	★★★★☆
2024	44.6	2256 of 4292	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.1	2139 of 4086	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	84.8	261 of 3952	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	63.9	764 of 3799	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	77.1	366 of 3558	89.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	67.4	765 of 2612	70.7%	★★★★☆
2024	52.0	1526 of 3108	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.1	1269 of 3106	59.1%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

At Risk (2022)92nd percentile+19 vs school

Asian (2018)91st percentile+10 vs school

White (2025)71st percentile+22 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)61st percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2026)56th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)42nd percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)37th percentile~ school

Male (2026)30th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading48%-7 vs state

Mathematics38%-9 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, June 29, 2015

Excellent quality education. The staff goes above and beyond in helping the students succeed. Our kids have had perfect attendance since the school opened. Our children have developed and sustained a passion for learning. Thank you IDEA McAllen Academy. Close Quote

Schools Near Idea McAllen Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)			STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2026)			STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)					STAAR Mathematics (2026)						STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Idea McAllen Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	201 N Bentsen Rd	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 429-4100	738	34	21.4	78.3%	32 (4.3%)	5 (0.7%)	694 (94.0%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37.2	2939^th of 4627 public elementary schools	36.5%		46	2382^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	48.8%	557									42.5	45.5	53.9			42.5	41.7	31.3					$9,327
Romulo D Martinez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2571 E 4th St	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	Sharyland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 584-4900	525	35	14.9	65.0%	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	504 (96.0%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	82.1	695^th of 4627 public elementary schools	85.0%		74	964^th of 4651 public elementary schools	79.3%	269	47.1	27.3	14.3	29.4	36.4	21.4			85.0	76.6	82.1	68.0		80.0	68.8	67.9	32.0				$9,076
Alvarez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2606 Gumwood Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4471	435	28	15.8	96.8%	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	420 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.3%)	35.2	3077^th of 4627 public elementary schools	33.5%		44.2	2485^th of 4651 public elementary schools	46.6%	592		30.0							58.3	34.4	43.6			47.5	23.7	36.6					$10,669
Thigpen-Zavala Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Galveston Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4377	470	32	14.9	96.6%	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	463 (98.5%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	84.3	602^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	87.0%		87.8	462^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	90.1%	140			80.0			20.0			60.5	71.4	78.3			53.5	74.0	65.2					$10,795
Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2101 S Taylor Rd	McAllen	78572	Hidalgo County	Sharyland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 668-0426	611	37	16.5	81.3%	13 (2.1%)	3 (0.5%)	590 (96.6%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65.2	1333^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	71.2%		69.1	1167^th of 4651 public elementary schools	74.9%	166	24.2	48.6	33.3	18.8	31.4	22.2			62.9	75.0	63.8	50.5		56.5	57.1	42.0	46.2				$8,511
Escandon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2901 Colbath Ave	McAllen	78503	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4511	478	34	14.1	93.9%	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	474 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45.7	2347^th of 4627 public elementary schools	49.3%		44	2496^th of 4651 public elementary schools	46.3%	149	44.4	66.7							46.4	39.0	57.8			38.9	41.3	56.5					$10,403
John H Shary Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2300 N Glasscock Rd	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	Sharyland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 580-5282	652	40	16.2	64.6%	61 (9.4%)	4 (0.6%)	575 (88.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	55.4	1831^st of 4627 public elementary schools	60.4%		64.4	1364^th of 4651 public elementary schools	70.7%	467	14.3	8.3	12.5	21.4	0.0	0.0			61.5	52.1	53.8	62.7		44.9	34.3	27.5	59.1				$8,148
Seguin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 N 29th St	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4565	530	37	14.4	95.8%	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	511 (96.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.7	2230^th of 4627 public elementary schools	51.8%		70.2	1130^th of 4651 public elementary schools	75.7%	1100	20.0								48.4	45.2	72.9			35.8	44.4	39.4					$11,174
McAuliffe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 Daffodil Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4400	385	28	13.7	85.2%	14 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	369 (95.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55.1	1852^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	60.0%		36.5	3021^st of 4651 public elementary schools	35.0%	1169	12.5								55.8	51.9	70.4			38.5	46.4	44.6					$13,491
Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	320 N Main St	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	Horizon Montessori Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 631-0234	331	22	15.2	81.3%	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	322 (97.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	51.2	2047^th of 4627 public elementary schools	55.8%		54.2	1897^th of 4651 public elementary schools	59.2%	150							31.6	73.7	30.4	54.8	78.6	61.8	47.6	43.5	32.3	37.0	44.1	14.3	42.9	31.6	$10,546

Frequently Asked Questions about Idea McAllen Academy

Is Idea McAllen Academy a good school?

Idea McAllen Academy ranks 2939^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Idea McAllen Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 738 students attended Idea McAllen Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Idea McAllen Academy?

Students at Idea McAllen Academy are 94% Hispanic, 4% White.

What district is Idea McAllen Academy in?

Idea Public Schools

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.